The case summarized: • Former professional cyclist Anita Valen ignored intense pain and it almost cost her her life.• She often got a urinary tract infection after many bike rides in rain and sleet, which this time developed into pelvic inflammation.• Despite the fact that she was getting worse, she continued on holiday and avoided going to the doctor.• After the holiday, she collapsed and was admitted to the hospital in an emergency with pyelonephritis, and was on the verge of getting sepsis.• During a trip after the hospital admission, she fell and hit herself, and she even lost pulse and had to have heart compressions.• Sports doctor Ola Stamnes warns against training with a urinary tract infection and fever as it can lead to serious complications.• Anita Valen plans to run the Oslo Marathon next year, but must take it slow with her training after the illness.• She urges others to listen to their bodies and seek medical help when necessary. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by journalists at news before publication. – The body must always sort itself out. It has always been part of my philosophy, says Anita Valen. She has spent many hours on the bicycle seat throughout her life. There have been 14 NM gold medals, but the best known is probably the bronze in road cycling in the WC in 2004. 35-year-old Anita Valen is congratulated after securing bronze in the WC in road racing in Italy in 2004. Photo: Poppe, Cornelius / NTB scanpix But all the hours on the bicycle seat have also given him trouble. – I have often had a urinary tract infection after many bike rides in rain and sleet. That’s where it started this time too, says Valen. Don’t listen to your body Valen was worried that the infections disappeared if she drank a lot of water. But this time it didn’t work. Although she only got worse and worse, she went on holiday to the coast of Helgeland. She was going kayaking with her boyfriend. She didn’t go to the doctor. – I thought it would get better. If not today, then the next day. Or the day after that again. Anita went on a paddling holiday to the Helgeland coast with her boyfriend, even though she didn’t feel well. Photo: private After the holiday, the 54-year-old collapsed and was laid up for two and a half days. Then she had pelvic inflammatory disease without knowing it. – Fortunately, my son was at home and got me to the doctor. I was on the verge of getting sepsis, blood poisoning, which could even lead to death. So brutal, I must say. The trip to the doctor even with emergency admission to hospital and a course of antibiotics. – Afraid I had suffered a brain injury At home again the energy was at a low, but again Anita went on a trip. Now the long-awaited girls’ trip to the sisters at Hvaler awaited. Here is the group of girls on a trip to Skjergard in Hvaler just hours before Anita collapses again. Photo: private When they lacked salad for the barbecue in the evening, she offered to go shopping. The trip on the electric scooter even with Anita falling and hitting her face, head, chest and stomach. When the fire service arrived, they found no pulse and started CPR. At the hospital in Østfold, her sister Monica and her friend were asked to observe if anything was wrong with her. – They were afraid I had suffered a brain injury because my blood pressure had dropped so much. – I heard the fear in her voice. The heart compressions gave her broken ribs, but soon she will be able to take the stitch. The incident has nevertheless put a dent in him. When she went through her phone afterwards, she heard a special message. The hospital had asked her sister to pack a bag for her, but she had not found Anita’s phone. That’s why she had called. – Then the answering machine came on. I heard the fear in her voice. She thought I was gone. – Not good to train with a urinary tract infection Ola Stamnes has been a sports doctor for the football club Odd for 35 years. He says urinary tract infection is ten times more frequent in women than men, but that it can go away if you drink a lot, including cranberry juice. But one still has to be careful. – It’s not good to train with a urinary tract infection, because it can spread to renal pelvis inflammation. After treatment with antibiotics, however, it is okay to start exercising afterwards. Exercise can spread the virus in the body It is also okay to exercise calmly if you have a cold, but not if you have a fever. If the fever is above 38 degrees, there is a risk of viruses in the body – and complications. – The fever causes the immune system to be activated at all levels. Then a virus that is about to invade you will spread much faster if you exercise. It invades the muscles, not least the heart muscle. Odd doctor Ola Stamnes says it is not a good idea to exercise if you have a fever. Then rest and plenty of fluids are required. Photo: Roald Marker / news He once had three players with the kissing bug virus. Of the two who continued to train, one became very unwell while the other got an infection in the pericardium. He says people can be exhausted for up to a year afterwards if they do not rest long enough after a viral infection – as many struggle with delayed effects after corona. If you stand on the starting line of a marathon in 28 degrees, and with a virus and a slight fever, you are asking for trouble. Then the fever will rise more than usual. After a couple of miles you are up to 39, maybe 40 in temperature, says Stamnes. – Then you can quickly hit the ground running. Plan marathon next year Anita Valen had planned to run the Oslo Marathon with her son and daughter this year. Now the goal is to do it next year. But after a forest trip a couple of weeks ago, the training clock showed that she needed four days of recovery time afterwards. Therefore, it is important to hurry slowly. – I know there are more people out there who are probably like me. Contact a doctor sooner rather than later. You can end up with permanent damage, says Anita Valen. Anita Valen is in training again, but regrets not going to the doctor when she got symptoms that she was ill. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news
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Anita Valen refused to listen to her body – almost lost her life – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
