Just a Girl with GP

Hi! :)

Yeah, fainting has been a big issue for me, too! And I may not play on a team, but I’m in my college’s marching band, and it’s DEFINITELY athletic. Energy level with GP is always so up and down. I call it the blood sugar rollercoaster haha, and when you get to a point of weakness where you feel faint and light-headed, it’s especially unpleasant! >.<

I find that making sure I at least eat SOMETHING before a rehearsal/practice helps tremendously sometimes. I also drink a lot of Gatorade and Powerade, which is also good since I’m vitamin deficient.

Also, if you have not done it yet, I HIGHLY recommend making your coaches or team captains or WHOEVER you think needs to know aware of your condition. My band directors all know about my illness and have seen how sick I’ve been. They do care and know I’m not slacking or something if I need to take a break and sit down. Knowing that they don’t mind if I do that in itself is comforting. :)

I’ve heard a lot of good things about taking B vitamins for energy, so maybe you could ask your doctor about that? I have used an energy strip (like a shot, but in the form of a dissolving strip you put on your tongue like that Listerine tape stuff) before and it helped me feel a bit more alive and kickin’! :) But I don’t know necessarily if that’s just a quick fix for some occassions… perhaps not to be used frequently? I am too nervous to use energy shots or anything similar on a regular basis. Something about them makes me a little worried, haha.

No matter what, I’d definitely say talk to your doctor about your desires to try to continue soccer all that you can and your concern about your lack of energy. I talked about band with my doc before I started band camp these past two years and it’s been immensely helpful to just get some insight and advice that way.

Thanks so much for your message! Good luck, and I’ll be thinking of you! <3