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Stage IV MBC Fitness

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Comments

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Z~ when my son was 12 he was rough housing outside and ended up hitting his shin bone directly on the corner of an air conditioner unit. It made a divet in his shin and you could actually feel it. It felt like a pebble on a bone. To this day it's still there, When I asked the doctor about it he said it was either what little cartlidge/muscle surrounding That shin bone formed a type of calcium deposit or a base tissue injury which grouped together to heal but never separated. They told me it was nothing to worry about. Almost like a hematoma type of thing but with tissue and cartlidge fibers. He said one day he may wake up and it may have dissolved on its own, or it may never go away entirely. It has never changed shape or anything and it always stays the same. He said at first it used to hurt when he touched it, but as it healed into what it is now , it stopped hurting. Don't know if it's the same, but it sounded sorta similar. Hope it's not hurting and you're feeling well on that bike ride. I spent the day shopping for a new dryer. Ugh!!! So expensive. I feel like someone kicked me in my rear end that price hurt so bad. Have a blessed day ~M~

  • Wiegp22
    Wiegp22 Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2017

    hematoma, hard lump following bad bruise! Z at least I think this is what it is. Hello all went for another walk today, going uphill outside on the first beautiful day here. Everyone have a wonderful day😁🎈

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 2,394
    edited March 2017

    never mind

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Today was the first day I finally made it to 10K steps!!! I was thrilled and it registered 40minutes of a run. Which I haven't done in over a year. I ran 2.5 miles. And walked two more. It felt like a dream. I am feeling stronger everyday, and just to report in on the addition to the Ridilan into my daily medicine routine. I haven't napped in five days and I don't even feel the need. I have been shopping the past theee days and running. I really recommend at least talking to your doctor about a very low doseage like mine. It has been tremendously helpful. It really has ended my fatigue! Also,when I'm tired, I can still lay down and rest. I am so much more productive that I have been since diagnosis. I want everyone to feel this sense of normalcy that I have felt for the past five days. Have a great nights sleep. I keep you all close in prayer. ~M~

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited March 2017

    All - thank you. I'll be googling hematoma when i find a minute on this busy vacation. 5-6 miles of cross country mountain biking and two hours of zip lining and hiking. Not super tired, although the hot tub will be the next "activity".

    7 mile downhill mountain bike ride planned for tomorrow, relatively easy day with some rest in the pm. Hoping to reserve energy for something EPIC on Thursday, our last day here in Moab.

    Micmel - I am beginning to feel the sort of normalcy you talk about. It's been a good vacation. But I definitely pondering "Ridilan", it is on the list of things to discuss with my complementary oncs. ... I want to check, is it Ritalin or Ridilin. There is a drug called methylphinadate that is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, brand name Ritalin. Is that what we are talking about? I wanna get the right stuff ...

    >Z<

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Z~ yes your spelling is correct Ritilan, also the generic is methylphenidate you are 100% correct !A lot of times my auto correct is my worst nightmare. I am so excited for you that you are pondering it. It truly is amazing. And I have never been so pleased ever since Ive been diagnosed.!! So happy to hear you're contemplating it. To me it's truly a blessing. Hope your doing well today!! ~M~.

  • livebig
    livebig Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2017

    way to go Micmel! 2.5 miles is no small thing! You are strong! Keep going! Who says you have to get double digit miles to experience the "runners high!" We can reinvent our own definition of that with all of these accomplishments! Way to go all of you

  • Ronnie3001
    Ronnie3001 Member Posts: 155
    edited March 2017

    Micmel,

    I am so happy for you, being able to exercise and have some sort of normalcy is such a relief and a great accomplishment. If you don't mind if I ask why were you prescribed Ritalin for what symptoms?

    Not a great week thus far for me not many steps or activity been dealing with headache, nausea etc.. but tomorrow is another day..

    Ronnie

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Ronnie~ I was suffering with terrible fatigue and I was sleeping too many naps during the day, and wasn't falling asleep at night until well after midnight. I would fall asleep around like 2:00pm and then wake up around 5:00 and be wide awake, pain medicines or not until like 1:00 am. The next day I was not moving the way I wanted, and wasn't gaining my stamina back. I went to see my pallative care doctor, explained this to her, and she was like BOOM! Try this! the next day I took one and have everyday since and I haven't napped once and it's been five days, today will be the sixth. I'm thrilled. It has changed my attitude and ability to keep motivated and moving! It's not a big dose only 5mg, so I know that it's not all the medicine that's making me work up my energy, because it just takes the edge off. I've been shopping running and visiting with friends and I couldn't be more thankful to that doctor for actually listening to me!!! I hope that you ladies consider discussing it with your doctors, I also highly recommend pallative care doctors, they are the angels In this awful stormy story of ours, they will do whatever they can to alleviate our pain, and trust me. They have so many ideas and tricks to help. I pray it helps all of you as well. Keeping you all in prayer! ~M~

    P.s. Are you drinking a lot of water?. I noticed when I didn't have adequate water in take, i developed headaches ,also make sure you always have something little in your stomach, all these chemicals are always running through our bodies and it's like a buffer so to speak for stomach aches and nausea.

  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,255
    edited March 2017

    I haven't been in on the Fitbit weekly challenge this week. I just can't keep up with you all! Maybe later in the month after I see the cardiologist. Am watching you all make great strides though

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Gracie~ if your body needs rest, get rest. Always listen to what it says, if it says nap, then nap! I have found if I just start the walk a few steps , then I realize that I'm already up and I try to get those steps in. Even try slight stretching, nothing overally painful.

    Of course or strenuous. Just small steps, once around the house, the smallest thing keeps you up right and not dormant in one position all the time , I started to notice my back weakening because I was spending more time laying down then being up right and it was making me weak. I didn't like that feeling. I hope you're feeling stronger soon. ~M~

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited March 2017

    Gracie- we miss you in the fitbit challenge, but it's all about YOU and what motivates you and gives you health and peace. That means saying no to many things... create a protective bubble around yourself and only let in the things that feel healing and supportive as you deal with this heart thing. You are taking excellent care of yourself, keep it up.

    I did 4 hours of downhill mountain biking insanity today AND 2 hours playing keep away from my tweens in the Moab aquatic center.

    I am surprised at my energy level. I can do TWO big active things a day, which is not what I expected. Still far from 100% but maybe this lower dose of Ibrance is helping.

    Or maybe it's because I've been washing my Ibrance down with beer, a healthy fermented beverage with a lot of vitamin B. It's certainly hard to be mountain biking in Moab and avoid the beer. I get punished with immediate hot flashes, so this beer thing will stop the minute I show Moab my tail lights on Friday.

    >Z<

  • dghoff
    dghoff Member Posts: 237
    edited March 2017

    Hi All!

    Welcome to Paula, Shetland and livebig! Glad you joined the fitness crew!

    Micmel - So glad you are feeling so much more energetic and able to do more. That's fantastic, and I'll keep Ritalin in mind if i start to see my energy diminish. Thanks for the tip.

    Z- Sounds like an awesome trip and way to go with all the biking and activity!

    I just got home from five days in New Orleans. We brought our folding bicycles and biked all around town and walked all over too. So much so that I might actually win one of these Fitbit challenges for once, although now that I'm back at work tomorrow, I probably won't be able to rack up 15,000 steps in a day anymore. I'm in two challenges this week. In one of them somebody already has 70,000 steps in and it's only Wednesday! How do people do that? It took me walking all over New Orleans all day in addition to a morning run to get to 20,000 in one day.

    I was super happy to discover that I had enough energy every day and felt really good. I think my body likes the warm, humid air better than 30 degrees and dry.

    -DeAnn


  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    DG~ Amazing! Way to go. That is some serious stepping! My highest I reached today was 13.7k steps which for me is amazing. I jogged 5 miles today steadily and had activity for 86 minutes, which is also another high for me since the day I was diagnosed. It was quite a feeling to ever think I would be able to work out like that again. I feel so hopeful for all of us!

    Z I know now that the time difference allows me to see your postings at night. Always looking forward to see what new adventure you've conquered each day. More power to you. So! Fantastic!

    Hope everyone rests well and nightly prayers coming your way! ~M~

  • Wiegp22
    Wiegp22 Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2017

    I think all of you ladies are incredible, I am happy walking a mile and am tired but after reading what all you gals do I'm exhausted lol keep inspiring me so I can keep going💕💕

    Paula

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited March 2017

    Paula - One mile a day walking ... you will be so much better for it. Way to go.

    A half marathon that I love to do took place here a week before I got here. I am glad I wasn't. It would have been painful to watch and I would have felt left out. Instead I have been able to focus on what I can do. I've had a great time.

    The point of this group is to show up for your workout and enjoy it. whatever it is. period.

    Keep moving ladies.

    >Z<

  • livebig
    livebig Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2017

    Well said Z! I've had a hard time letting go of my usual running group as they push more miles and much faster. They are training for different races that I would have loved to join in on. They still love to run with me and are dear friends, but they can do much more and it sometimes makes me sad too. Anyone here have to communicate how to step back from a close friend fitness group? I am now running by myself a lot which I really like, but also hard to do. And I get a sense that they feel guilty if they don't include me, which is totally silly I know.

    I was diagnosed January - so all new to me and know I have much more time to figure it all out. Any advice

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,560
    edited March 2017

    Tell your friends the truth. Let them know you feel that you may be holding them back. It is easier said than done I know but ultimately beneficial to both parties. Chances are they will let you know not to worry and they still want to run with you. At this point, if they still say yes let's run together and you can do it guiltfree.

    Having said that, I would not always look to run alone UNLESS you really prefer it. Don't do it if this is only about not holding your friends back. They will run themselves outside of what you do together if they honestly feel they are missing things. I would think just the spending time together is the most crucial thing. But be honest with them. Good luck. Keep us posted, we are happy to have you here.

  • livebig
    livebig Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2017

    Thank you Mara! Honesty really is the best route always! Apparently there's not a cancer social skills 101 handbook - good thing they are close friends so we can fumble through together.

    I appreciate your advice!

    Ran again today about 3 miles. Doing my very first yoga class tomorrow. Looking forward to something new to try! Thanks all and keep it up

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,560
    edited March 2017

    Awesome run livebig and enjoy the yoga.

    No formal exercise Toda but will resume tomorrow. Have a good night everyone.

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited March 2017

    Livebig -

    I used to have great fun with a kettlebells group 3X a week at 6am. I used to embarrass the men in that class, swinging hunks of iron twice what they could. I haven't seen 6am since my diagnosis and if I did, I couldn't make it through an hour of kettlebells. Fortunately, no real close friends in that group and frankly, it's harder to explain why you would go to kettlebells at 6am than why you are not going.

    So no advice on the friendship issue, only empathy with these changes. FWIW, I don't explain anything regarding my cancer to anyone except my family and one close friend. No one else knows except for folks on this thread. It's not my job to explain cancer to the world, I find it very tedious to discuss this condition with people who don't have cancer.

    Energy inches up each day on this lower dose of ibrance. I am just finishing the first week of cycle 16 on the lower dose. I used to get one burst of energy a day, then it seemed like i might have two, then I really had two, and today I had two and a bit ... biking 11 miles, 3hr shopping trip through downtown Moab ... and goodness i was able to pack up the family tonight rather than leave it for the morning. Packing involved both correcting issues with the bike rack installation (brain) and heaving mountain bikes onto the car (brawn). I had a little chat about this improvement in the hot tub with my 13 year old daughter, who had the same day, and she said, excitedly "yeah! I'm tired too!". As in... you're Okay! Makes me feel good.

    6hr drive to ABQ tomorrow. DD1 has a soccer game in bernalillo, then home to the kitties. Miss my kitties.

    Hope every one got a good taste of normalcy somewhere in their day today.

    Keep moving.

    >Z<

  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 3,063
    edited March 2017

    I feel my stamina is better with Afinitor and Faslodex than it was with Ibrance and letrozole. Today, after a busy day, I did a moderate-speed walk AND cooked dinner!

    Micmel, I am so thrilled that the palliative care specialist came up with Ritalin for you. Now your health will spiral upward.

    Z, I get the left-out feeling as I had to withdraw from an event due to fatigue last year. But I am going to try again this year. Your words about focusing on what you can do are wise; as are your words, Mara, to livebig about talking honestly with her running friends.

    Livebig, I hope you enjoy the yoga class! And if you don't, try a different teacher or class. I tried yoga several years ago because I had heard it was helpful in a holistic way, but I didn't really like it because I felt I was always being asked to do things I couldn't do. But I tried again with my second diagnosis, starting with restorative yoga, and moving on to beginning and slow-paced classes with a different teacher. I like it now!

    DeAnn, it's great to hear about your awesome trip to New Orleans, with all the biking, running, and walking. Do you think going to a new place was part of your energy boost?

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    yesterday as some of you know my mom was re hospitalized with some really serious leg issues and she had fallen and broken her arm in four places. Now she is facing losing her legs, the tissue is so bad. After i got off of the phone with the nurse, my legs went limp and I collapsed and cried. I realized at that moment, that I could either go lay down and cry, or I could get up and run off the stress , so I grabbed my music and started slowly, 55 mins later had jogged three miles! That used to be 6 before diagnosis, but I still felt like it was good progress. I ran for her and I ran for me. I also realized, I run for all of you because you motivate me! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a lovely group of ladies!!

    Z~ I completely understand how tedious it is dealing and trying to explain,or talk with people who don't have cancer is, I have narrowed down my pool of people who are in possession of knowledge of what's happening. lol I think you and I are a lot alike lol. Keeping you all close in prayer. ~M~

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited March 2017

    micmel- running or walking to work through those emotions is effective but takes great personal strength. You are amazing. Please use all the tricks you have to take care of yourself (first) so you can be strong for your mom. This is just terrible news. Your mom is in my prayers. This is a devastating loss.

    Z

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited March 2017

    Z~ wipes a tear that escaped 😔Thank you so much for your uplifting words. I did send her flowers the delivery guy could barely carry, and did heard her laugh. So I laughed. This entire time since I have been disagnosed has been one up one down , one up one down. Never steady. I miss the old days when everyone was healthy and living life without such worry and painful emotional trauma because, that is what all this is for us all. Does one ever really get over it.? All we go through, it's almost as if we should be given special wings to fly because each and everyday in some way we all do amazing things. Our children learn from watching us, so I have no intention of laying down anytime soon. I just cleaned 2.5 bathrooms and a kitchen counter and sink.jogges a little although I might fall over a few times, I'm pushing on just like all of you ladies do as well each day. Warm hugs. Thank you!

    ~M~

  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,743
    edited April 2017

    imageA friend wants to do the 5k with me, so today we decided to start slow with 1 mile but this was only my second time to the park and I parked far from the starting mile marker. We ended up doing 3 miles in all. We got this! And I hit my step goal before lunch, bonus 😀

  • Ronnie3001
    Ronnie3001 Member Posts: 155
    edited April 2017

    Illimae,

    Beautiful scenery for a nice walk! Awesome job meeting your step goal before lunch the rest of the days steps are gravy!

    Headed to the Gym with my daughter this morning to kick off the weekend.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Ronnie

  • livebig
    livebig Member Posts: 60
    edited April 2017

    Yoga update: why have I never tried this before?

    And way to go Illimae! No small thing!

    Thinking of your mom Micmel. Sorry to hear that news

  • micmel
    micmel Member Posts: 10,057
    edited April 2017

    live ~. Thank you so very much. 💜

    ~M

  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 2,959
    edited April 2017

    For those of you in the Fitbit community, be aware that the group is so large now that we split up the challenges into two groups. The challenges only allow 10 people in each group. Dana K has been starting one challenge per week and I have been starting a separate challenge.

    I am quite not sure who Dana K is on BCO but if you are out there, can you send me a PM so we can coordinate a bit, or look at your fitbit messages.

    LiveBig - yoga is awesome. It can be done at home, 20-30 minutes a few times a week. Game changing.

    >Z<

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