Doing el Camino with fatigue problems

[stenspanar]

Hi guys! Thanks for this source of never ending information and wisdom about el Camino. I have been a passive reader here since 2012 but now it is time to start a thread... (if I haven't already, don't remember). My question could be rather long but I could also write it short, so that's what I'll do.

Short: How would you do Camino Frances if you had fatigue problems and are travelling in a group?

Long: I did Camino Frances in July last summer (2016) in 27 days and 3 extra days nonstop to Finisterre. It was all so wonderful and I loved it. I didn't think I would climb the mountains of the Pyrenees towards Santiago but well who can blame me to take the opportunity when it appears again. (I like think of doing things just once to maximise being in the present of the experience)

On el Camino I had this vague feeling that I was sleeping much more than my newly found friends. I just had to take an afternoon nap for a few hours and always went to bed first. An estimation is that I slept in total around 10-12 hours a day. Coming back from el Camino I just drifted further and further into tiredness and by December I found myself sleeping 16-20 hours a day and barely functioning the other hours. I went to general practitioner again and again during the autumn because something was off, but it took time until doctor ordered the right tests and some blood samples indicating hypothyroidism (basically malfunctioning metabolism due to decreased hormone production by the thyroid). It isn't clearly stated if this is really the reason or not but it is likely...

After starting taking medicine this January, life has slowly come back though I feel it is still a long road to take back. Now I'm sleeping approximately 12 hours every day and managing to study a few hours a day (I'm a student at uni). Feels like I've reached a plateau and I'm not getting much better, it least not as quick as before. But I manage to cook food, meet friends and walk 7-10 k a day now which is great really. But still far from being able to have job or study this summer, so when my parents decided to do el Camino again this summer (they did it 2012) I decided to try and go along with them, at least for a bit, we'll see.

I'm excited and terrified at the same time. As I slept through much of the time I didn't walk last time, I'm hoping that I will be able to see and do more around el Camino, not hurry through it (I'm not even sure if I care to finish). My mother has a time limit of 4-5 weeks I think, though. I think days with 20-30 ks walking would be manageable but I just won't do these 40 k days I did last year.

Do you have any suggestions on what to make out of this? Take break days and take taxi/bus to catch up with my parents, if they wish to continue? Walk 20 k a day and take a taxi/bus the rest of the day?
Do you have any good resources on how to find local buses, what a taxi would cost and how to find?

Thanks a lot for reading through this essay. English is not my first language and I just woke up from my afternoon nap, so if anything is written unclear, please don't hesitate ask me for me clarifications. Looking forward to hear your wisdom in this matter.

Buen Camino / Fanny

 

[C clearly]

Once your thyroid medication has been adjusted to the right levels, you should be back to normal in all ways. It is a very common condition and treatment is almost always simple and effective. (It can take a few months to get the medication dosage right.)

On the Camino, you will have to make decisions like most of us do - based on how you feel on a given day and what your individual abilities are. There is lots of information on bag transport, taxis, buses, distances, etc. here on the forum.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I have absolutely no idea if this suggestion could be helpful or not. You might bicycle along with your parents. Coast downhill and after every few pedals when on the level.

 

[MinaKamina]

I have absolutely no idea if this suggestion could be helpful or not. You might bicycle along with your parents. Coast downhill and after every few pedals when on the level.

My thoughts exactly!

Take a bike. If you can walk 7 kms, then you can bike 20. And probably 30 if you take a long break.
Don't pedal along with your parents, that would make you extra tired, but speed ahead at 15 kms an hour to the next scenic view or interesting village. Wait for the parents with a nice cool drink if you want to.

 

[C clearly]

Trying to combine/coordinate one person on a bike with 2 walkers would be a complication that I wouldn't recommend, given that the OP is "far from being able to have job or study this summer." I would think that the medical issues should be resolved by then, but that wasn't the way the situation was presented.

 

[notion900]

I always recommend this to anyone with medical problems, but get a translated card with an explanation of your illness in Spanish, and how it manifests itself, and checked by a native speaker (NOT Google translate).

 

[Walton]

Hi Fanny

Your English is pretty good.

One thing that comes to my mind is this.

It is your Camino - you do it how you want to do it. On the one hand you probably would like to keep up with your parents but on the other hand if you don't manage to maintain the pace you probably wouldn't want your parents to be held back either.

Last September, my wife and I walked the Camino from St. Jean right through to Santiago. We are not young - 64 years old in fact. Our preparation was disrupted by events that were beyond our control and we really began our Camino with little fitness, brand new backpacks and so on.

Fortunately, we booked Orrison so we wouldn't have to cross the Pyranees in one day but that was the only booking we had apart from our flight date out of Santiago and Paris to home.

For the rest, we just walked as best we could and had rest days where we felt rest days were needed.

Our plans were to walk through to Muxia but we made Santiago and ran out of time. It didn't matter though - we had no expectations and we took things as they came along.

Some friends of ours left St. Jean earlier in September with two young children. They walked to Pamplona and then caught the train to Leon to walk most of the remainder. Like us, they took their journey as it happened and probably enjoyed their Camino just as much as someone who walked the whole way.

These is indeed much wisdom written by others in your tread and you won't go wrong following the advice given to you.

I would recommend a medical check up before you begin, a doctors letter explaining any medication you might be taking just in case customs take an interest in your tablets, a good discussion with your parents about expectations, what happens if, etc. If you buy travel insurance you might want to check what your insurance company will exclude given your medical history.

Also, if you buy yourself walking poles before you leave, these will help you ascend and descend those pesky hills. We used Pacer poles and they helped us a lot.

Best wishes

Graham

 

[Davie Blisters]

Hey Fanny,
To answer your logistics question, try rome2rio.com
Cheers
Davie

 

[David]

Hi - if you try to keep up with a group you will get exhausted so could I suggest that you do your own Camino again at your own pace? Ignore day stages, stop when tired, sleep when you want - siestas are brilliant!

hope you feel much better soon.

Buen Camino

 

[daesdaemar]

You should re-visit your physician or see a specialist (endocrinologist) if you are not well. If your thyroid medications are properly adjusted you should be having no symptoms.