Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I received over a thousand email and messages since last night. I am very lucky to have good friends in NY, especially Jacqui and Doc Judi who were constantly on the phone checking up on me.
I was supposed to leave for Texas yesterday morning for a couple days to promote chess. I felt something was wrong before I went to the airport so I decided to go to the doctor before I go. Luckily I did! I just feel very bad to let the local kids down.
It was quite a frightening experience fainting and having to go through an emergency medical procedure. But I feel quite good and upbeat now after a good night rest. I have to go back to the hospital every two days for a checkup but I should be fine.
Thank you again for all your well wishes!
Dear Susan,
I’m glad you are back at your blog. Please take it slow and get plenty of rest!
Sincerely,
Henry
I hope you get better soon and take care of yourself. You are so important to chess … especially in the US and even more directly to females of the sport.
Please let us know how you are doing!
If you can survive chess politics, a “minor medical condition” is a snap!
Susan: cuidado con el loco ritmo de vida americano!
jo egészségedre!!!
Please get some WELL DESERVED rest
and drink plenty of water, ESPECIALLY while flying.
“
In-flight cabin humidities gradually fall on long-distance, high-altitude flights in many cases approaching 1%.
Basically, there’s no way to avoid the fact that your body will become dehydrated to some degree as a result of flying long distances in near-zero humidity in commercial jet cabins. So we need to be mindful of our water intake en route, and also remember to drink plenty of pure water for several days after landing.
Without adequate water intake, both health and inspiration quickly deteriorate.
In-flight dehydration is one of the most serious hazards long-distance flyers face.”
http://www.paxpax.org/dehydration.html
thinking of you
Dear Susan,
Please take some rest and get well soon. USCF and the rest of us chess fans can wait. Take care of yourself and your family. My heart goes out to you, knowing how hard it is even with two of us (myself and my wife) to balance two jobs and two kids. Personal health, family and kids are the most important things in our lives, rest is peripheral.
Best wishes,
Ravi Kulkarni
Dear Susan,
I wish you get very well soon. Take it easy and rest well. Many people is on your side in your cruzade for giving chess in the US the place it deserves. I hope we can do something similar in Mexico, you´re an example for everyone of us who love chess.
Best regards,
Flavio
what Ravi said
I never went to a doctor until I had a problem. Now I go all the time. If I had gone earlier I would be better today. Modern medicine is terrific.
Do not do as I do. Do as I say. LOL. Go to the doctor on a regular basis and get a good full checkup.
And try to get a few minutes of sleep every night. LOL. You work long hours Susan and we all know it. It is good to listen to your body. Get rest when the body says it is tired.
It is not really good to push the body with stimulants like caffeine to keep going. It is really much better to just go get some sleep and get rested. For me today, I have cut way back on caffeine and I get more rest.
Two years ago I was working hard outdoors in the summer heat and started to feel weak and faint. I went to the hospital. In the long term end, today I think I was just pushing myself too hard that day. So now on really hot days, I listen more carefully to my body. I go a little slower. I dont push myself to exhaustion and I do even less caffeine today. Almost none. I do not think I have had even a cup of decaf in like 9 months to a year.
When you are working long hard hours and you get tired, the solution is not to take a stimulant like an energy drink with tons of caffeine but to get some rest.
It sounds like this was your “wake up call”, something that happens when you push yourself too hard. After you described your typical daily schedule, it seems obvious that your body is telling you to slow down.
So while you are taking a few days to rest (you ARE doing that, right?), get out a piece of paper and write out all the things you are involved with currently. Then rank them in terms of importance and how much effort you are putting into them. Identify the culprits that are eating at your energy and not really paying sufficient dividends, and resolve to CUT THEM OUT COMPLETELY.
You may think that the last step is impossible, as you are definitely a supreme workaholic and probably think the world will collapse it you don’t continue, but it’s something you have to do.
The benefits of doing this? You will be better off personally, and so will your loved ones, and you will be so much better able to do the things you decide to keep doing.
Namaste.
I’m happy that you are feeling better. Take care !
Szia Szuzan,
I am a Bulgarian, a Topalov fan needless to say, but a bulgarian maried to a Hungarian girl, living in Budapest! So I do have special feelings for you and your family!
I follow your blog for months now and find it as one of the most important info places for me.
I was very worried about you in the morning and I hope you are getting better, recovering and soon in full speed.
Your mission is one noble and beautiful. Keep it up, but please, look after yourself and your health the most. We all love you and need you.
Love
Atanas
Susan,
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. Take care, and do slow down if you must. You’re only human.
Best wishes from Greece Susan. Take it slow, get some rest!!
usy hi im glad your ok, it must of been the travelling and all the excitment, and if you kept on instead of recovering a little that must of done it.
good your ok again take it a little easier remember were not robots.
if it makes u feel better today i was feeling miserable because a hungarian beat me so easily in 25 moves, and more because i never really got my chance to say my bit and it was how i like to play, that hurt the most and he was elo lower than me (ipoint).
anyway good luck for this year!!
You’re patently a very busy lady but please find time to relax and regain your health.
Take care, Susan and don’t frighten everybody like that again!
Susan,
Good to hear you’re doing better. I had some similar experiences in the past. And believe me: you need to rest much more!!
This is a signal your body gives you! Do not ignore these signals! (i know what i’m talkig about!)
Greets and take care!! (and get much rest!)
You work way too hard!
Andy
Dear Susan,
Take care of yourself!Youre good for the chessworld!! Enjoy your logs!!
Sincerly,
Mart
Dear Susan:
I’m glad to know you’re fine again.
Please take it easy and care your health.
Chess World needs you.
Victor.
Hi, Susan! The school I volunteer at (I’ve just started again after a year in another career) was one of those you wanted to visit. I hope you can let us know if you get a chance to come back. We met briefly when you came to our university in November 2005, and it was very nice to meet you and Mr. Truong. Maybe next time you host a simul, I can play in it. If I get some money to help sponsor chess, you’ll hear from me again. I hope you are recovering well and can travel again soon!
test