Can you give us 5 words that best describe you, Tanya?
Pink, organised, colourful, creative, bossy!
What type of paddling do you enjoy most and how often do you do it?
Whitewater, but I prefer Class 2 with a bit of easy Class 3 - I like to chill on the river, enjoying paddling with my husband and friends, and don’t like scaring myself! Outside of the winter, I paddle most weeks. In winter, I don’t paddle.
How do you find your condition affects your paddling?
As it is a chronic pain and chronic fatigue condition, I just don’t have loads of
energy. I often simply run out of energy and have to get out of the boat and stop for the day. I have, a couple of times, blacked out and capsized - which is a bit scary! As mentioned above, I don’t paddle in the winter, as the cold and changeable weather really badly affects me, giving me a lot of flare-ups, exhaustion and pain, and making paddling a really unpleasant experience.
When did you find out about Fibromyalgia, did it change your life, not just paddling?
I was diagnosed about 8 or 9 years ago, and it just made everything sort of make sense! It gave a reason to how I was feeling. I didn’t take up paddling again until 3 or 4 years after that diagnosis (I paddled as a teenager into my early twenties - slalom and instructing - but stopped as I got more into sailing), so it’s never actually changed my paddling as such. However, my condition has got gradually worse over the last few years, so each year I am able to do less physical activity. I have had to stop work due to Fibromyalgia, but this allows me to save my energy for the things I want to do, not waste it on the horrible things in life, like work! It also means I have the time to volunteer - I am the Chair and Team Manager for GB Freestyle Kayaking, and am also on the Talent and Performance Subcommittee for Canoe Wales. These roles are really important to me as they allow me to feel I am still productive in my life, even if I can’t formally work.
How easy is it to work around your disability? What kind of things help/make it less painful?
In general terms, as long as I save my energy, I can manage most things. So if I know I’m doing something in the following days, I take it really easy in the run up, and then need to schedule in recovery time afterwards. This applies for paddling, too. I have to plan ahead, and know that I cannot paddle for two days in a row. With my Team Manager role, in the run up to a competition, I ensure I have plenty of rest, pace myself during the competition (early nights, etc), and then have sufficient recovery time afterwards. While paddling, I enlist help to carry my boat around so I can use my limited energy on the water and do as much paddling as I am able. I also make sure I tell the people with whom I am paddling about my condition and how it affects me, so they understand that when I say I’m done, I really am done! A quick rest or a bite to eat doesn’t help, unfortunately. My husband is super-good at recognising when I’m crashing, and I mainly paddle with my best mate, who also has Fibro, and so not only recognises the symptoms, but also fully understands the problems.
Do you find other paddlers treat you any differently, if so, how?
No!! Everyone is really helpful and understanding, but that may be because I am pretty open with the situation, recognise my limitations and don’t make a big fuss about it.
Do you have any advice to other paddlers that have found they also suffer with this condition or one similar?
Figure out what works for you. It may be getting people to help you carry your boat, etc. It may be using lighter weight equipment. It might be cutting back on how much you do, or what level of paddling you do. It might be getting more coaching so you improve technique, which reduces the amount of physical effort you put in. And make sure you are entirely open and honest with both the people with whom you paddle, and yourself.
Are there any things that you can no longer do that you wish you could? Or is it possible to find the strength to power through the pain?
I’m not sure if that’s Fibro or just getting older!! I’d like to be able to paddle a bit more, but I think I’m doing pretty well with my life. Unfortunately, mind over matter doesn’t work - when I’m done, I’m done, and no wishing will create any more energy or get rid of the pain.
