Stage IV MBC Fitness
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I should add that my lovely aunt sent me frankensence when I was first diagnosed. I used it help me meditate and pray. I thought of it as love in a bottle... brought my aunt to me and helped create a sacred space. In that context, it's awesome stuff.
>Z<
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Yes, indeed. As I mentioned on another thread, I was given some holy dirt from a shrine, sent through a friend. I was touched that a stranger was offering me good wishes for healing in this unique way that reflected her religious beliefs. As for essential oils, I just bought two essential oils with lovely floral scents. I'll put a tiny bit in my bath, along with some super-moisturizing ingredients, and make it a time of relaxation and care for myself.
Dance and yoga so far today. Hoping to walk also to make up for yesterday.
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This week I was able to do 2 one hour swim classes, a gentle strength class and 30 minutes of Zumba today with my daughter! I spent a few hours in the weed garden pulling those bad boys out what a pain... Also I have been off and on hitting my goal of 8K this week but I keep on truckin...
Ronnie
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Whew! Good busy, active day for me! I brought my husband to the airport this morning as he's traveling to Europe (I get to meet up with him next week in Paris, yay!) and then I was off to the races.
I went to Costco which is always good for about 1500 steps. Then I tackled one of my raised garden beds and spent about 45 minutes working the soil so that it isn't root bound anymore and going back and forth to the garage for this and that which netted me another 3500 steps. Those weeds and roots are definitely a pain, Ronnie!
It was a gorgeous spring day here, so my son and I went for a walk around the University campus here in town and another walk at home, and I'm now close to 15,000 steps for the day. I made the mistake of trying to do the monkey bars at the local playground. I only did three rungs as my core muscles were not impressed! I'm planning to wind down with some yoga and meditation then off to bed for a well-deserved sleep! Thanks for the reminder on Frankinscense oil. Will be a nice addition to the meditation.
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Of course, just when I poop on essential oils, I find this study that demonstrates that lemon oil lifts your mood.
I still don't think essential oils are the go to complementary cancer treatment but they do have a place in our lives. Nothing wrong with being happy.
Quiet weekend for me. Trying to shake some fatigue. Coming down from scanxiety is a challenge regardless of the results ...
But you guys need to keep moving !!!!
>Z<
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Ronnie and DG, those gardening steps were harder-earned from the looks of it.
DG, I also brought DH to the airport yesterday and since I was there already with a car, decided to do some shopping. That was good for some steps plus yielded some new non-black sports clothes as black is allergenic for me now. Wow, wish I could meet you in Paris but DH is away and someone has to stay home with the defiant teen. Ugh.
Z, I need some of that lemon oil, too. I am surprised though that it decreased wound healing. OK, it would have been better for that endpoint if it were applied directly to the skin instead of inhaled, I would think. But that is another study.
I believe treating our skin well does improve our immune system as the skin is our biggest immune organ, our Vitamin D factory and has it`s own microbiome. Also in order to produce and store Vitamin D, you need fat. So I moisturize before I go out. Today there`s no sun but will pile on some coconut oil anyway.
Shetland, that bath sounds very restorative. Maybe I will do the same on a rainy day like today. Will go out first to get some humidity into my lungs.
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Very little activity for me this weekend, which is a bummer because I really enjoy walking. My painful pinky toe has improved but my right ankle is sore and slightly swollen and me left heal feels like I'm walking on rocks. I suspect a possible over use injury and/or that I have been standing at my kitchen table for hours each night working on this darn puzzle. Going to rest and ease into next week.
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Hello to all of you, I am going into my fourth year with Stage IV, and am worried about progression due to a change in some scalp lesions that have been painless and indolent for several years. My scans were stable a month ago, but in the last two weeks I have had increasing pain and lumpiness on the left side of my skull. I saw the onc. last Friday and had Doxil infusion #1 on Monday. I get to talk more with the onc team tomorrow, because I have been given no explanation as to what is happening on my head, besides that its likely to be progression. The big deal for me is, that I have not had cancer related pain before. I did have treatment related pain, but nothing from mets pressing on surrounding tissues and causing shooting pain. Hopefully I will have more info to report after that appointment. Can you say, "Yikes!!!!!"?
Sooo....., to combat panic and that depressed shock that I feel, I would like to focus more on activity. I will catch up on this topic soon. Monday morning at 9 I am walking our hilly road with a neighbor for about an hour. She is a fast walker, and we cover some ground. I will report in on that, also. Let's go do it!!!
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MameMe, welcome to our group. We love to hear updates on anything you do. It is so encouraging to each other too. Again welcome. They hilly walk sounds perfect to get the blood pumping. I am sorry you are having skull met issues. Edited my last response as when I reread your comment, you did mention having lesions before. I apologize for my previous response missing that fact.
Mae, love that puzzle. If my cats would let me, I would do a puzzle. No other room to do them in. Got a few old Star Wars ones I would love to do. Awesome job at it. Hope your feet improve soon as well.
I had a decent day myself. After a few days of punishing rain, got a sunny day today. Managed 20 min walk to enjoy the son, 10 mins on stationary bike and 25 mins on the treadmill at my gym. I am still playing with the incline on the treadmill more than the speed. Given my brain mets issue, not interested in running on the treadmill. I do a brisk walk, hold on the whole time and just add a hill whenever I feel like it. They are getting bigger and bigger. Love it, makes me feel good. Helps the appetite.
Great job everyone.
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I'm jumping in with both feet. I recently started swimming again and it's alleviated all of my hip and leg pain, and Is loosening up my side
where I had the mx. I got out for a four mile hilly walk/hike yesterday with my beagle and son. The physical activity is feeling so great! 0 -
Welcome Jen, to you and your son and beagle. Looks like you had lovely weather to go along with a nice hike. Glad to have you. You are completely right. Physical activity makes all the difference for my physical and emotional well being.
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Hi Jen - Your son is the cutest thing. OMG. Good to hear from you. Please check back and let us know how swimming goes this week. I could ramble on about the specific health benefits of swimming for cancer, but you've made a good choice.
MamaMe - I think I would literally s@#t myself if my head started getting lumpy from mets, but doxil is effective. Just as you felt them appear, you will feel them disappear. We have a special heroes circle for people who exercise through IV chemo. Everyone should do it as it helps with side effects, efficacy and recovery, but few do.
A daily brisk walk is about what you should shoot for while you go through chemo, even if it is hard. Sending a hug to you, and your neighbor, for getting you out tomorrow morning. Seriously, I would have a frank talk with her and tell her you need her to get you out for the length of this treatment.
Thank you for joining. Keeps us going to hear about your plans and accomplishments. If you've made it four years, you obviously know what you are doing.
>Z<
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I really like that my Fitbit tells me how much sleep I'm getting. It kind of explains why I've been so sick over the years. I get an average of six hours sleep a night. And there are many nights when I only sleep four hours. 5-6 seems to be my average. My problem is I have a lot of difficulty getting to sleep at night and most nights it's 12 or one. And then when I wake up I'm up. I do not have any luck at all going back to sleep once I'm awake. And in fact get very few naps in between. I take lorazepam at night to help me get to sleep so I'm afraid to take anything else, especially with the problems I had with that low heart rate. Any suggestions
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Gracie, my suggestion is cannibis oil. There is one especially good for sleep called indica. I'm an awful sleeper, and It got me off of Ambien.
Stefanie
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Gracie, how long have you taken the lorazepam? I found out that when I took it every night, I could not sleep as my body kept adjusting. The things that helped me most were two things. The first was this https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8
If you can do it, it will relax your body. I do this and listen to relaxing music through my earphones. My favourite is this one https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TDvIWDLoyHw. Doing both things are relaxing. I can usually fall asleep within 20 mins. A sleep mask is also helpful. I hope this can help. It even helped when I had to be on steroids Good luck.
Exercise is also really good. I would recommend not doing it less than 2 to 3 hours before bed.
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Steph, its illegal in Kansas. I don't see that changing anytime soon. So that avenue is completely closed to me.
Mara, will try those, thanks
Ps that first link didn't work
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https://www.drweil.com/videos-features/videos/the-4-7-8-breath-health-benefits-demonstration.
Sorry Gracie, the breathing is linked above. Not sure what happened.
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Thanks Mara
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Hello ladies,Walked a mile today, shopped, visited a friend and sat in the sun to get some needed vit d, it's been along winter. Had a pretty good day today and I hope u girls did to. This is my daughters wedding that I went to in March of this year, Anna Maria Island, Florid. Thx,Paula
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Wie~ absolutely beautiful, lovely surroundings and a lovely family. God bless them. Wish them nothing but happiness. ~M~
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Thank you Micmel, I am in the middle of my son and daughter
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I'm finally going to hit my step goal today after several days of foot pains, my new zcoil shoes are working their magic.
Gracie, sometimes I have trouble getting to sleep due to the steroid premeds for chemo but a free app called Calm has sleep stories and the BBC shipping forecast, 10 minutes and I'm out.
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wie~ you're a beauty. I can see why your kids are so adorable! I am so gladthat you all shared that happy moment, those are the moments that make life and fighting this horrible disease all worth it. Hugs ~M~
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Beautiful family, Paula! Looks like a wonderful day!
Not much activity for me today what with working all day and DH being in Europe, but I got out for about a 20 minute walk with my son. Better than nothing! Tomorrow I lead a yoga class at my local cancer center, so I'll at least have that. Hoping to get some cardio in tomorrow too.
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3:00 am. Breathing exercises and music do not work!!! Any other suggestions
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Gracie,
How about with meditation, or alsobwith yoga without the music and just focus on the breathing. Even when I walked try to focus on my breathing.
Thank you for your kind words Micmel and DGHoff and yes I guess going through this makes it worth it when we focus on all the good things in our lives.
Hugs, Paua
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I finally got to sleep after taking another lorazepam. I had warm milk at 9, which works sometimes, then breathing, then lorazepam, then music, then tossed and turned for hours!!! I looked at the clock at about 4:15. Then was up at 9:15!!!!! I hate not sleeping! I used to be able to sleep nine hours at a time, and that's not been too long ago. I don't know what to do. Can't take ambien because I have night terrors and they make that much worse
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Gracie,
I am in the same boat, I don't sleep well at all and it is really impacting my overall health. I wear the Fitbit and it shows very little deep sleep and tossing and turning all night. I am usually up two to three times each night. I have tried meditation, milk, melatonin, breathing, extra exercise everything and nothing really helps. Its frustrating in the morning I am sore and tired. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss options as I can't take this anymore..I will let you know what he says.
Hang in there,
Ronnie
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I know how hard sleep is. For me it's the heat flashes and my dogs!! Noisy little critters okay big critters. I went and saw a pallative care doctor. They are the people to seek out, believe me. No onc wants to prescribe anything other than the medicine regimens you are on. I walk into the pallative care doctors office and she actually listens and she is the doctor that is there to make me live a better quality of life. They have tons of tricks in their arsenals. Find a good one and I promise you they will help you. I have whatever I need or ask for, I use anything I can moderately so I don't develop a tolerance for it. Every month she changes my pills for sleep. I start the night off with a very small dose of methodone to calm my down in a way I never knew it could work, that starts the descent to relaxation, then I lower the lights and take a 10 mg Valium. I always read before bed because she told me it helps clear the mind and relax your body slowly, also she suggested white noise, believe it or not restlessness comes from outside sources during our sleep also. Like my dogs or neighborhood noises. I use a fan. My DH says it's industrial strength and it is loud but it works wonders. In the other months off of Valium, I take Ativan or 10 mg Percocet and switch them out each month. It helps tremendously. I highly recommend finding a pallative care doctor for anyone who is dealing with what we are dealing with. They don't play games. They give you what you need. They understand how complex things are for us and they deal with all kinds of side effects and symptoms. Sometimes people confuse them with hospice doctors , but they are not that and honestly have helped me tremendously with my fatigue and days where I can't walk another step. I explained things to her and she solved it. I would never give that doctor up. These doctors are meant to have the big guns andthey aren't afraid to use them. Hugs Gracie. I know how important sleep is for us all. You too Ronnie. I hope you all find your ticket. ~M~
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Gracie, hugs going your way. It does take some time for the body to adjust even with the breathing, music and sleep mask. I hope a solution presents itself soon. It took at least two weeks to hit at least a couple hours at a time and gain the ability to fall back asleep. I was persistent in the breathing and music since drugs made me groggy. I even had trouble with natural cures making me groggy. Eventually it does work but I do empathize.
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