Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Z, you att such an inspiration and you to DGHoff, I am glad to know that any type of exercise is better then none, it's easy to get off track and it takes reading these posts to back on track!! Some days are tough not to focus on the cancer especially when your in pain
Thank u girls for being positive, I need to be to
Paula.
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good morning!
Colorado has been good for fitness... hiking on weekends and trying to get them in after work sometimes. It's so beautiful outside that the couch is less appealing. 11k steps yesterday and almost 10k at ten this morning.
I use the Fitbit flex and like it for the most part. It doesn't really capture swimming as advertised, but oh well.
Moving furniture definitely counts Z! It also causes back pain :-/
If you are near the Springs let me know.
In a brief update on Colorado cancer care in Colorado Springs...I like the oncology group at UCHealth. Not a fan of seeing PA rather than onc at appointments. Like that all related practices are right here: palliative, neuroncology, radiation, nurse navigators and hospice. Lab tests come back quickly but scans take a week. (I got them within 48 hours at NorthShore in Evanston) Not sure a Dr will prescribe EOL drugs when the time comes, although it's legal, due to conservative community. Like that medical marijuana is available. Tried it and did not like the feeling:-(. Love living within minutes of medical care instead of hours away.
Enjoy Sunday!!
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Kathryn - I am glad you are so well situated. I have an eye on Colorado Springs medical care.
Paula - I lean towards pushing myself, and that served me well until I started dealing with cancer. The book that keeps my exercise routine going now is called The First 20 Minutes... The main point is that you get most of the benefit of exercise in the first 20 minutes per day. Data shows that regular and consistent exercise is more important than how much you do. Basically a short walk is well worth doing and when you are dealing with cancer and pain and muscle stiffness, this is very important to keep in mind.
>Z<
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Z, you are so right! Anything you do to move is helpful, and yes, if I can start the day with movement, I do often find that I am eager to do more. The key is just to do something, even if it means going slowly and with less effort. I find that my body responds so much to my mental state. If I can get moving and out of my head and let the natural world around me set the tone, I always feel better mentally and my body follows suit.
That happened today! I did a pretty low key version of the "seven minute workout" in my backyard this morning. It revved me right up! I then went for a one mile run followed by a mile walk, some meditation, and then my son and I biked eight miles. I lead a yoga class in an hour and Ifeel so ready for it. But it started with just seven minutes this morning.
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DGHoff, I'm worn out just reading about the 8 mile bike ride, nice job!
Meanwhile, DH has grounded me to my recliner, as my axillary drain is leaking a little and he thinks it's due to my reaching, walking, etc. Anyway, I go in for H & P tomorrow and will have someone from the surgeons office check it out.
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DGHOff,
That's amazing!!
Paul
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I got a 2 mile walk in. I got my 30 minutes of yoga. This inspired me to make bratwurst. Not quite the same effect, DGHoff, but I get what you mean.
Illimae - your husband is a keeper. You belong in a recliner ... until that medical issue is resolved. But then back to a moderate routine with no reaching.
>Z<
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You ladies are awesome and inspire me to keep moving even if it is just a little. This week I continue to work on my backyard. I tell my husband I am working in the rock quarry as penance. On Sunday I spent over 5 hours weeding and moving dirt... I have managed to get my 8000 step goal in several days so I am happy about the exercise I have been getting. I am going to try the 7 minute workout this week, see how it goes. I also have my 6 year old grandson for the week (his summer vacation with grandma). We have a packed agenda so I will be moving around quite a bit this week!
Have a great day and God Bless.
Ronnie
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You all are awesome. I have been following though not posting too much. Had been dealing with nausea of unknown origin which prompted an MRI of my brain. I had been worried about the results since my RO said no followup MRI would be done after WBR unless symptoms presented themselves. Was panicked at first BUT it has been nearly two weeks. I know they would have called by now. The nausea is gone and no other symptoms have presented themselves so getting back slowly to normal.
Still physically active most days, lots of stationary bike, treadmill at the gym and of course Leslie Sansone. My weight is still coming off which is OK since it is exercise related. You all do inspire me so much.
Illimae, good job walking round the hospital. I did a lot of that for my hospital stays for while being dx with tumour and then my brain surgery. Steroids made it easy to keep going round and round.
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"Inspired to make bratwurst" has me laughing, Z. I think it would be safe to say this is the first time that particular effect of exercise has been noted.
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Shetland - we are each unique, special in our own way. A meditative walk just happens to make me think ... sausage.
>Z<
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Good morning all,
I too have been following but not posting much; your energy and enthusiasm continues to inspire me to get out and move (almost) every day (some days I just. don't. want. to). The last couple of months have been challenging as I've been battling unrelenting fatigue with no known cause (yet). I had been teaching yoga a couple of times a week but had to give it up as my medical appointments were interfering with my schedule. :-(
I've been having myself a bit of a Pity Party over here - anyone want a cupcake?
I'm training for a run that's taking my anxiety over the edge right now - it's only 4.3 miles but the first 2 are uphill (bridge run). I just joined the FitBit group - love it, thank you!!!
Time to get moving!! Happy 4th
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Nancy, I know how the fatigue can put us in a slump and make more difficult to be motivated. It is the age old thing, we know it is good for us, we know we will feel good, energized, happier BUT it can be so hard to get started. It can be especially difficult if we were on a roll and got sidetracked with illness, appointments and fatigue. I wish our families could understand our fatigue better as well since it is not about just being tired. Fact is, you are doing it anyway as you say most days. That is helping you. Try not to pressure yourself with the run. If it is not possible to run the hill, walk it. Just getting over is an achievement for all we have been through. I remind myself of that all the time when watching people running on the treadmill etc. I do enough to raise my heartrate and go home happy. The more positive feelings will return once some of the fatigue lifts. That is like wearing a 100lb vest and trying not to feel weighed down. Sending hugs your way.
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Nancy - Exercising with cancer ... you really have to just show up each day and see what you can do ... sometimes it's impressive and sometimes it is not. I am not sure planning an aggressive run is the right thing to do, mentally. Whatever you can do is truly awesome, given what you are dealing with. Any plan like that creates the possibility that you might "fail" even if you had a remarkably consistent and positive training routine.
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Thanks for the perspective and support. I've been running for only 7 years (started the year before my first diagnosis) and I've had to take time "off" during treatments so I always feel like I'm "staring over" every few months. :-) But I keep plugging along because I know it's good for me to keep moving, and, on some weird level, I actually enjoy it (never thought I'd be saying that!)
The run is lottery based and only 600 runners participate. I was nominated by my director as one of 7 runners to represent our 14,000 employee department, and somehow I was chosen. She's been with me through my recent diagnoses and knows I'm sort of "bucket-listing" a lot of this right now and I feel honored she'd put my name out there. The race is non-competitive and untimed; panick only set in when I learned runners must be able to run a 12-minute mile because there are 60,000 walkers behind you. I run hills in my neighborhood all the time, and right now am at about 11:30/mile, so I feel pretty good that I can do this. However - I'm going to the gym after work today to get on the treadmill and check out the 5 degree incline I'll be up against, and keep reminding myself - what goes up must come down, so the second half will be ALL downhill and I can make up some time there. :-)
I'm nervous, but getting a little excited about the challenge. And worried that I might never have another opportunity like this so I should grab it by the horns, right? Besides, really, if I can't run the entire thing in 12 min/mile, what are they going to do, throw me off the bridge?0 -
Glad to hear nerves are starting to give way to excitement. Good luck!
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Well, I've only managed to get about 3,000 steps in today and the inactivity is very annoying, however, I've been told to move less to reduce output from the axillary drain. Also, I had to have my big toe nails removed (too much damage and pain caused by chemo), I was numbed for the procedure but I can hardly walk from the pain now. It goes from ok, not too bad to oh holy $&@! for the next few hours. These are the moments bowls of ice cream were made for.
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Illimae -
it sounds like your goal is to do less than X steps a day. but i am concerned about any advice to just stop moving. are there movements that do not involve the port area? how long is this going to last?
would taking your limbs through their range of movement periodically, but slowly and carefully, be considered? We have certain body functions that require movement to work, like digestion and the movement of lymph.
and the pain ... can you call someone and get pain killers ... pain is very dangerous for the mental state because it interferes with your ability to advocate and problem solve and relax and all the things we must do to stay healthy. I give your awesome husband on pain management duty. 600mg of Ibuprofen?
please take care of yourself.
Nancy - I see the circumstances. It was a very nice thing for your colleague to do. Think about the gesture and enjoy it. Who really cares if you end up with the walkers. I get a little miffed when ladies pushing strollers run past me in races, but hey I there.
>Z<
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Z, I had been feeling up to resuming most normal activities this week but the volume of fluid from my drain is still more than the BS would like, so the advice was to take it easy and move less for a little longer, not stop altogether. I am going in today for the pain and to have the drain incision site checked out. It's all a bother but I know it's temporary and I'll be back to normal soon.
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Hope you are back to normal soonest, toes included, Illimae. I was given painkillers for at least a week after my mastectomy, so it was all quite painless. You shouldn´t have to suffer.
Nancy, way to go on your training. We´ll be cheering for you. I am also always starting over, but that´s because of laziness. I think it was back in March that I ran 5K on the treadmill. Maybe it will happen again in August...And I said I would get to 10K this year. Not likely.
Swimming in the lake is my new activity for the summer. So refreshing.
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Zarovka, thanks for the fitness mantra "Just show up". Much less intimidating than my big weekly plan. Anything I do is a win.
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Illimae, I found that all my excercise was doing was making me extra juicy for the drain. I had to dial down to about 20 mins instead of the 80 to 100 mins of bike I was doing at that time. Once I slowed down some, I finally started to slow down my draining. Did not think that all that exercise was bad, it probably helped me heal quicker, though the drain was a huge issue for me. Hated the feeling of it. Stuffed it in my bra eventually. Worked pretty well up there on my mastectomy side. Stopped feeling like it was pulling out of me.
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Thanks Mara, I have slowed it down but not stopped. I'm hoping I can get it removed late next week, it certainly is testing my patience.
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I finished 4 days of mountain biking in Colorado with DD today by flying over my handlebars on a jump. Completely knocked the wind out of me, which was a first and scary ... could not breathe for way too long. I understand the purpose of body armor in downhill mountain biking now and plan to get some.
Lay in bed watching sappy movies for the rest of the day with DD.
Illimae - your attitude is awesome. As you can see, I preach moderating but rarely can I execute as well you have. You have this girl ...
>Z<
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wow, I hope your on the mend, take care
Paula.
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Z, I love reading about your adventurous outings. Meanwhile, I have been known to fall walking upstairs (trip on my own big feet, lol), so I don't dare mountain bike.I'm glad you aren't seriously hurt and resting well
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Oh my gosh, Zarovka. Please take good care of yourself. I'm glad you are going to get body armor. Also, if your helmet hit the ground, replace it as it can have unseen damage that would make it ineffective in a second crash. Like bubble wrap with the bubbles already popped.
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Oh no, Z. Glad you are in one piece. Body armor is important. Do you have a full face helmet? DD and DH rent them together with the special downhill bikes. I just keep as far away from those trails as possible. Uphill is safer for me.
Played volleyball yesterday and tested my knees digging for balls in duck squats.
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I have had to stop reading these threads for a bit It is painful to laugh and you are all so funny. My effervescent DDs are not permitted to make jokes in my presence ... which has resulted, of course, in endless giggling and .... lots of pain.
Tip toed back into the forum today. Big mistake. But he only thing that still hurts significantly is my shoulder blade so it is worth it. I am guessing fracture. Not sure it is worth even going in to get it checked. They will tell me ... oh you've fractured your shoulder blade. Bummer. If I wait until my net scan it will show up in the comments.
Thanks for all the advice. Maybe I will just wrap myself entirely in bubble wrap. But can't stop. Too fun. If my tombstone says "She Fell Off Her Bike" that's the way to go.
>Z<
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I have had to stop reading these threads for a bit It is painful to laugh and you are all so funny. My effervescent DDs are not permitted to make jokes in my presence ... which has resulted, of course, in endless giggling and .... lots of pain.
Tip toed back into the forum today. Big mistake. But he only thing that still hurts significantly is my shoulder blade so it is worth it. I am guessing fracture. Not sure it is worth even going in to get it checked. They will tell me ... oh you've fractured your shoulder blade. Bummer.
And, I keep thinking of the guy who manages my case at the insurance company at the water cooler ... "okay, no, I can top that ... I got this lady who has MBC, a tapeworm infestation and ... she fractured her shoulder blade falling off her mountain bike."
Thanks for all the advice. Maybe I will just wrap myself entirely in bubble wrap.
If my tombstone says "She Fell Off Her Bike" that's the way to go.
>Z<
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