Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Illimae - I will PM you. I need a Fitbit! Just looked at my phone today and I am only at 3K steps. I am headed to a Core Restore yoga class, which is really just stretching, but better than nothing! So glad tomorrow is Friday and that I can have 3 days of solid activity. I need to quit my job!
Philly, your comment about sex cracked me up....I laughed out loud. Sex is absolutely exercise, some sex more than other. (obviously. I probably don't need to expand on that sentence.) Hope your third date went well!
DeAn and Gumdoctor, I have neuropathy in one foot too - my left. It's totally numb every day, but I have also learned to ignore it. It's much better when I am actually active and I get some blood flowing through it.... worst when I wake up in the morning.
XO
Andi
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Has anyone used KT tape to relieve pain from exercising? I’m thinking about taping up so I can keep hiking with less lower back pain and less Tylenol.)
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Iwrite -
I did use KT tape as recommended by physical therapist for severe back pain. Used it for about 1 month. It helped to tell my brain when I was not holding my neck and back in the right place.
Gumdoctor
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So excited for you, Philly! (No pun intended.)
Gumdoctor, that is a lot of tape, but I can see how that might work.
Iwrite, maybe insoles might help, too? Or hiking/trekking poles? I use the latter as they are supposed to re-distribute the weight from the lower limbs and spine to the arms and torso. When my arms get tired I just carry the poles temporarily or use one pole on my non-lymphedema-at-risk arm.
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Thank you!!
Gum doctor - That’s a lot of tape, but if it helps I’m ready to try.
Heidi Hill- I’ll try the insoles. I do carry poles and find they are helpful. This is a recurrence of an old lumbar met pain. I may do some yoga to get the nerves back in the right place...
Would love to just go for a hike and not have to think about this stuff 🤬. Oh well...thankful to be up and about🙂.
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Iwrite -
The physical therapist and her assistant were experimenting. Even they said it was a huge amount of tape. Fortunately after 5 applications, it did the trick. I don't think this is a normal amount of tape. It took one entire roll for each application.
Hoping you find it useful if you decide to use it.
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hi everyone!
I woke up at 11:30am today (whoops!!) must've needed it.
I have had an incredibly busy schedule between work and visits to the hand specialist and PT therapy. I am not one percent positive, but ever since starting the meds (and I am thinking it's the letrozole) I have had some pretty bad neck, shoulder, and arm pain and both arms will fall asleep at night. The physiatrist I initially saw (who recommended the PT and hand specialist) gave me like 4 different diagnoses which in my mind reads = they have no freaking clue what is wrong with you.
The PT exercises seem to be calming down the neck and shoulder pain a bit but not so sure it's really doing too much. Arms still falling asleep at night. My right thumb has an extremely thickened base joint and my thumb gets stuck in the trigger finger position.
The hand specialist has me doing special thumb muscle stretching exercises - it's kinda cute, because it's such a small level stretching, and it does bring my thumb into a less tense state. But the joint being so thick is making me a bit concerned. I am also a bodyworker and have been doing massage for the past 12 years, so probably a combo of an occupational hazard plus the aromatase inhibitors reeking havoc. This is all new since I started the meds so it is difficult for me to not put two and two together here.
The hand specialist has taped my thumb and it does feel good but it is a difficult are to stay on especially with the work I do, so it basically comes off about one hour after she puts it on.
I have been starting to having painful sensations at the balls of my feet. Especially after sitting or laying down for about 15 minutes and then getting up and walking around. It causes me to hobble for a few minutes until the feet warm up. Does anyone else have this? Is this neuropathy?? This started about 3-4 months ago and at first was only on left foot and now the right foot too
I am hoping to get to exercise this weekend - I'm setting aside time tomorrow and Sunday to hit the gym!
Gotta keep moving!!
Love,
Philly
(PS pic of my thumb in its trigger finger position for those interested!)
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Namechanged, the thumb looks kinda swollen. I've had thumb, elbow and wrist problems on letrozole and it helped to move those body parts specifically as much as possible. The knee was a lot more challenging as I think I must have torn something. But lots of biking helped although it took a loooong time and a slew of NSAIDs until in the end it was Celebrex that got rid of the pain. The soles of the feet pain tends to go away after the blood gets circulating. The arms falling asleep can be remedied with Vitamin B12. I used to get an infusion at the onc's office.
You are right, we gotta keep moving!
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Reporting back on KT Tape effectiveness- Taped my lower back this morning and hiked 7.2 miles on Cheyenne Mountain with no pain! (4 hours) When I hiked 6.5 miles last week I was barely walking for the next four days. Gorgeous day! Met a guy on the trail who was 18 miles into a 21 mile run. Sheesh!
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Yay Iwrite! Great job 😀
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Great that it worked! Awesome pics
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lwrite. Thanks for the tips on the tape! I don’t have much pain but when I do, that could come in handy!
Philly, I think Letrazole could definitely be the culprit with the hand and finger joint issues. I will just be doing nothing unusual and all of a sudden my finger joints will lock up or go wonky. Very weird! Never happened to me before Letrazole. I suppose Perjeta could be doing it too, but I think the Letrazole is more likely.
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hello beautiful people, just checking in!
Gorgeous pics Iwrite!!! Keep me coming everyone!
DGHoff I think you may be right about my thumb. My MO has approved a two week letrozole break to see if that helps make anything better! 🤞🏽
I have been a little slow lately. Last week I did go to cardio kickboxing and tai fit class each once. Then I went out salsa dancing Thursday night and that pretty much did me in 😂 I felt tired and the club was packed. Tons of fun but my body felt like it was dragging along. Hopefully it didn’t feel and look that way to my dance partners!
I got the weird super deep achy sore hamstring thing again and lo and behold developed a small cold that started on Saturday. I’m sensing a pattern here. Achy sore hamstrings = I’m probably getting sick. Weird canary in the coal mine!!
I had my Lupron and Xgeva shots on Monday and have been exhausted since but today I am feeling more like myself! I could either go to the gym and do tai fit and abs and be indoors or take a lovely sunshine-filled walk and be outdoors. I am leaning towards being outdoors. These spring days are too lovely to pass up!
Hope all are doing and feeling well!
Hugs,
Philly
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Hi all. I've been stalking this thread since December when my bone mets was discovered. I'm trying to figure all this out, so thank you for being here!
I'm on day 18 of my first Ibrance cycle. I don't feel the effects, but my platelets and neutrophils were low enough at the 15-day blood draw that I just eeked by and was "allowed" to continue with Ibrance. (Ha!) With that knowledge and the lingering productive chest cough, I'm leery to do just about anything. I typically do 4-6 boot camps, 5-8 miles, and a mountain hike each week, so this is really killing me.
Questions to you all:
How much weight do you give your bloodwork when considering your appropriate activity level?
Do you push through a cough/cold or take it easy?
Thanks again for the motivation. I look forward to learning much about this new life!
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Piksie, I only consider mets locations and related SE’s with regard to my activity level.
Personally, I stay away from the gym if i feel like I’m getting sick, for everyone else but if it not too bad, I’ll walk alone around my neighborhood.
Welcome to the group!
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Hi again everyone. I was active with the group last year and participated in Fitbit challenges but I hit a rough patch emotionally and quit working out. *shakes head* bad idea. I took a break from BCO too, dealing with my own stuff. Pretty much a hot mess for a hot minute there. I was really saddened to read about Z, she was so lively and supportive and encouraging.
I started running again a few months ago and upped my game with a new yoga studio (I’m taking a break from teaching to work on myself for a little bit). My oncological pain management doc wants me doing shoulder and upper back strengthening exercise to better support chest and ribs (where my bone lesions are) so I’m adding light weights too. Gotta get back to it; once I stop it’s too easy to not start again
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hi everyone!
Welcome to the new folks and welcome back Nancy. I’m sorry to hear about your rough patch but isn’t it lovely when we emerge from that cocoon? Not always easy, but somehow the clouds start to disperse and we can see more clearly again. Truth be told, I’m not always so aware of how deep in I get until I start coming out of the other side. It’s the Reflection that helps me make sense of it all to some degree.
I have finally succumbed to having a cold and am giving myself one more day today to recover and then fingers crossed back to the gym tomorrow. It’s been a week since symptoms first appeared.
Piksie i second what Mae said - you have to trust your own instincts on what will be best. It’s been a learning experience for me, for sure! My personal belief system is that if I’m feeling sick or am sick, even a little, that my body needs it’s reserves to work out whatever’s happening, so rest is the best option and maybe some gentle stretching if it feels good. Hence, with my cold, I haven’t exercised this past week except I took about a 4 mile gentle walk on Tuesday and on Wednesday. Springtime is so beautiful and I needed to get outside. I’m not doing anything hardcore until I’m feeling more “normal”0 -
Question for those of you who do yoga. My silver sneakers instructor is going to learn/lead a beginners yoga class. I’m interested but I also have knee issues, it’s painful to be on my knees for even a minute. So, is it worth trying or is it all on my knees?
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Hi Illimae,
Yeah, there are definitely some knee based positions, but many ways to adapt poses to avoid hot spots! If you ask the instructor he/she will be happy to help. There would still be benefits for you!
3.6 miles this morning. Pretty day and met some nice folks at the Live by living hike:). Have to torture you all with my grand daughter...
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Beautiful grandbaby lwrite.
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illimae - some yoga poses are knee-based, but many are not. Don’t hesitate to let your instructor know your knees need to be protected; there are always modifications that can be used in any pose to lessen pain or danger to joints or other areas. Our Silver Sneakers instructor also offers chair yoga, which uses a chair as a prop for almost all poses. I love chair yoga; it sounds easy but it’s really quite a challenge.
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Iwrite - your granddaughter is adorable!! Thank you for sharing her precious ❤️
ichanged - yes! I can’t always tell how down I am until I’m on the other side and starting to feel better. I usually deal with stress well but lately it’s been ... difficult. Exercise makes a world of difference. Today the sun shone bright and the sky was blue and the wind was warm and I ran 4 miles without a hitch - it was magnificent. Love to us lol for example every step forward we take, even when it feelsimpossible.
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Iwrite - Adorable baby! I almost died when I saw that picture.... SO cute. I want one! I am in between kids and grandkids - kids old but not old enough.... really hope I live long enough to see them. That's a terrible thing to say, I know.
Welcome to new folks and Welcome back to Nancy. I have been absent for a little while - I was doing really well - running, walking and yoga 3X week and then about two weeks ago I seem to have over done it. 6 mile run - felt great, but seemed to have injured my back. It's my lower back, where my mets were/are, so I have started to freak out. The problem is getting worse and worse - called oncologist and she wants me to get an MRI this week. I just had CT scan that was all clear - on April 5th, but OF COURSE this time I decided to forgo my bone scan until September...… no sooner did I do that and wham, this problem. I am literally in so my pain right now I am considering driving myself to Urgent Care for some pain meds, which I hate. My oncologist feels that it's not cancer related - muscoskelatal or something like that since I have some pretty bad scoliosis from all of my compressions, etc..... but it feels exactly like it did 7 years ago when I was diagnosed. I am not a happy camper right now!
Philly - love the new name!
Mae, thank you for PM. I did not get email with Fitbit thread, but I will PM you again. Not that it matters right this second... I am not walking 10 feet, let alone 10, 000.
Sorry - I know this post wasn't exactly uplifting or inspiring, but I appreciate you all listening!
XO
Andi
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I'd like to join this group! I need the motivation.
I had mastectomy and ovaries removed 3 weeks ago but last week we were hiking a moderate trail (we did 5k). We want to get up to 10k and try to camp in between. Some days I don't want to get out of bed but I think it's more emotional than anything. Love hearing your stories!
Bec
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I'd like to join this group! I need the motivation.
I had mastectomy and ovaries removed 3 weeks ago but last week we were hiking a moderate trail (we did 5k). We want to get up to 10k and try to camp in between. Some days I don't want to get out of bed but I think it's more emotional than anything. Love hearing your stories!
Bec
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hi everyone!
Oh Andi I am so sorry to hear you are in pain
that sucks!!! I am hoping for you that it is simply musculoskeletal and not anything "deeper." I wonder if scheduling yourself a couple massages would help too? I am a huge fan of massage (and acupuncture for those who are able to handle it). Sending you lots of positive healing thoughts that your back gets better ASAP and you don't have to be on the pain meds for long - I don't like them either. They make me very wonky and woozy. But if they give you relief and help with the pain and help you to be able to get the rest you need, then sometimes a good thing.Bec - welcome!! Sorry you are here but happy to have you join us! Please feel free to ask questions and vent and cry and feel proud of accomplishments no matter how big or small (sometimes sleeping is an accomplishment!).
Iwrite - agreed about that delicious looking baby!!! Oh so cute and sweet!!!
I have been slacking off last couple of weeks from exercise but then got back to it on Sunday with Zumba and yesterday with my tai fit and abs class. Today at 5:30pm I am going to try a kickboxing class that I haven't been to yet - different instructor. My current instructor just had serious oral Surgery yesterday and I feel annoyed with him that he's being "macho" and insisting on teaching class today while on a bunch of pain meds and in my mind, should be home resting and recovering. So I'm going on a personal strike from his class today 😬 to show that I don't support this style of self-care....I'm nuts, I know!!!
I'll do one more workout tomorrow and then I'm completely booked solid with work until Monday. I leave for Italy next week on Thursday and trying to get in as much exercise as I can before I go on an eating and drinking craze throughout northern Italy!!! Can't wait!!!
Love,
Philly
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Welcome Becks!
No gym this week since I’m traveling but will try to get a decent step count.
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Woohoo, illimae! I love your fitbit collage and the numbers of course. Such feminine wiles already, I write. Couldn't get cuter.
Andi, I hope your pain has subsided. Sometimes those pain meds are worth taking for our sanity and Quality of Life. Definitely ask about physiotherapy or acupuncture or medical massage. Best to have all three in my book.
Have been hiking and biking for our spring break. Resting today. Back to the gym tomorrow,
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illimae - love the Vegas collage! So glad you are having fun...I seem to remember that was on your bucket list? Gambling counts for activity in my book!
Philly - have so much fun in Italy! Where are you going? You will have so much fun... great time of year to be there. Probably lots of walking, too.... so you can walk off all that amazing food!
Heidi - I will ask for all three. Pain hasn't subsided. MRI tomorrow night at 10pm! That was the only time they could get me in. Apparently MRI's are in demand in Denver. I am starting to freak out, both because I am worried it's something not good, and because I haven't been able to do anything besides some walking. I miss my running and yoga! This is going to force me to get in that swimming pool! Anyone who has been following this thread since whenever I joined knows that even thought I keep threatening to swim, I have never done it. A few weeks ago I even bought two new fairly cute suits - the kind specifically for swimming. I put one on, went to the pool on a 85 degree day ( I was in CA) and watched everyone else swim laps and then I got up and left!
So glad to see that everyone else's activity is making up for my lack of it! I love this group.... keep moving.... I'll do something soon, even if it involves water.
XO
Andrea
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