Exercise - Working Back to it After or During Treatment

TwoHobbies

I'm going at about the same pace as the last two weeks.  Did two 15 minutes walks during the week and walked today for 30 minutes.  It's been cold and rainy a lot and hard to get motivated,

SpecialK

Hi all - how is everyone - hope all had fun and/or interesting weekends, and that anyone feeling under the weather is feeling better soon! This morning was the second skin cancer surgery. I am missing the days when they could just burn or freeze these things off - not sure why the removal tactics have escalated for me! This one went smoothly, also about a 2" incision, but this one is completely stitched - no steri-strips - so hopefully we will have no allergic reactions! It is currently still numb so I am not sure how uncomfortable this one will be. Finding a good position to sleep in was a challenge last time - my solution was not to sleep! I don't recommend this, lol!!! Hoping to be able to walk tomorrow - my exercise over the weekend was some walking in the mall and trying on a lot of clothes and doing a bunch of laundry - I need to step up my game!

virginiab

I'm happy to report that my anemia seems to be resolving with the iron supplements my onc recommended, so I'm starting to feel a tiny bit frisky. I've taken 10 minutes walks 3 of the last 4 days and done a little gardening. It feels good to moving outdoors!

gonegirl

specialk. Is that the last surgery? Hope you can get sleep this time.

Virginia. Thank goodness the anemia is better.

Today was a medical day for me so lots of walking. Did OK considering have an infection on my big toe nail. Still post taxol problems. Oh, well. I'm still alive. More important than the nail.

SpecialK

gritgirl - wish it was, yesterday went fine but I have not seen this one yet - when DH gets home I will take a peek when he changes the bandage. I go back in two weeks for the last one. How are you feeling with regard to the respiratory stuff?

gonegirl

i started being able to breathe last Monday but the virus hung on for a bit. Feel like I have my energy back now. I'd been telling myself I'd go up a couple flights at work every day. Done it a couple times. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

SpecialK

gritgirl - every little bit is progress, glad you are feeling better. Sorry to hear about your toenail - I had one bad fingernail that had to be removed totally, it took about 6 months to completely grow back. Lost my pinky toenail but the new one seemed to grow back almost immediately. Today was a blood draw to check cholesterol - I came off Lipitor months ago and they have checked every 90 days to see if I am holding steady. Today will be the last one as long as the numbers are still good - hope so!

MaraUK

hi gritgirl and everyone

It's been a difficult month I finally told the immediate family about the stage 4 dx a bit traumatic at first but in someways it has helped me. I don't have to pretend everything is ok all the time.

So back to exercise one game of skittles some gentle walking and lots of housework because we are hoping to sell our home it's amazing how much dust collects when your not looking. Lots of exercise about to happen I think we need to clear the attic that should be fun and sad at the same time lots of memories to happen upon.

Mara x

gonegirl

Oh, Mara, I'm so sorry. It does help for folks to know so you can set expectations. I'm sorry you're selling your house. I hope you're moving some place nice. I am having work done on my house. Cleaned out a bathroom to get it ready and didn't realize how many toothbrushes I had in hiding. Guess I can stop buying those for now.

Got my walking in yesterday. Hopes for walking today. :-) Need to do yard work, but have the excuse that it gets dark early.

Susan

MaraUK

Hi Susan

Thanks for caring we are planning to move back to our original home town DH retired this year. So we can go back and be near our family. I am apprehensive and excited and at the same time. I will try and change my profile picture this weekend now that have told the important people in my life. I no longer have to be careful.

Have a good weekend

Karen x

TwoHobbies

Mara it would seem to be more stressful to keep that secret. I'm glad you can be open now and I hope your move will be good for you.

I raked some leaves from one small tree yesterday. Then I walked my dog for 34 minutes. Yes I count every minute! I was really achy last night but took two cancer killing aspirin(ha ha ha so they say) and I did sleep really well last night.

TarheelMichelle

TwoHobbies I like your profile pic. Good for you for the double dose of exercise -- raking and dog walking. :-)

curveball

today I dug in the garden for about 45 minutes and also walked to the grocery store and back, about a mile each way. I'm tuckered out!

MaraUK

Good morning everyone. I am just about to do my housework. I need to do more exercise or eat less I can't get into my jeans. This little letrozole tablet is adding pounds and pounds not sure how to combat It. Now winter is here it is so tempting just to curl up with good book by the fire.

Mara x

SpecialK

mara - I am having the same letrozole dilemma! I have been doing www.myfitnesspal.com and it is telling me that based on my exercise and food intake that I should be losing, but I'm not! I am walking 3 miles fast and running 1 mile, and eating good quality food and aiming for 1200 calories a day!

gonegirl

i found out that herceptin can cause weight gain in some women, so feel your pain. So frustrating. I have to remind myself to think in smaller chunks. Even if I just do one thing healthier in a day, that's a good thing. And if I don't gain weight, that's good too

TarheelMichelle

hey everybody. I've battled excessive hunger and pounds my whole life ... until my Stage IV diagnosis. I wish I could share my weight loss and lack of appetite with those of you who need it. It's frustrating to be in excellent health and struggle with weight, and with the challenge of cancer treatment, it's exponentially harder. But, like gritgirl said, no healthy activity is wasted.

I'm running a 5k on Dec. 7, my 3rd 5k ever. I've asked DH to coach me, and he has me on a schedule of 2 days running/3 days walking each week. I get tired just thinking about it. My goal is to run the entire 5k without walking (well maybe a few steps here and there). My lungs are weak and I just can't improve like a normal person because the cancer is in my lungs. But I'm hoping I can make a little progress. My 15-yr-old son is running with me and it's important to me that he sees his mom trying.

I'm wishing peace and strength to all of you.

Claire_in_Seattle

Rooting for you Michelle! You have the best coaches ever, and I know you will do great. So glad you are going for it! - Claire

TarheelMichelle

thanks so much, Claire. Support like yours runs through my mind when the going gets tough, and keeps me pushing forward.

gonegirl

tarheel. Good for you. Even with my lungs, I'd walk the thing. I'm impressed

curveball

I worked in my garden at least half an hour a day for the last several days, and today an hour and a half, although some of that was just trimming a lilac bush to get small enough so I can dig it up next week.

I am impressed too, Tarheel--I'm pretty sure I couldn't have run nonstop for 5K, even before I had cancer!

Ginger48

Tarheel- great job setting a goal and going for it! I know I have never run a 5k...

Walked a couple of miles today in the beautiful sunshine. Tried to jog a bit but it is just too hard on the knees. I have lost 11 pounds so hopefully as I lose more, it will get easier.

Also washed 7 windows; that should count for something

SpecialK

tarheel - I will try to train with you! I am going to try a 5K the first weekend of Feb. and I am slowed down by this stupid skin cancer stuff - they don't want me to exercise. Tomorrow is the last one, then I am getting out there next week. We can cheer each other on!

gonegirl

ginger, speed walking is just as good as running and much better on the knees. I'm very careful with my knees, so only fast walking for me.

More exercise than usual this week. Birthday party last night with dancing. That really loosened me up. Think I'm tense because I have scans this week.

SpecialK

gritgirl - glad you did some dancing! Good luck on the scans - I'm sure they are always anxiety producing. I will be sending you some positive vibes!

Ginger48

gritgirl- speed walking is what I do when I can. Good luck with your scans.

TarheelMichelle

gritgirl, I'll be thinking about you, too. What day are your scans? And what day do you expect to get results?

Curveball, I'm envious of your green thumb although I know how much work outdoor gardening is. Hope the beauty of your plants is a satisfying reward.

Thanks everyone for your sweet encouraging words. I'm new to running and it's a very solitary effort (which is both a positive and a negative). You help me stay motivated. SpecialK, what 5k are you going to run in Feb.?

gonegirl

tarheel. Scans are this Friday. Hopefully will get results the next Tuesday. Nerve wracking

curveball

@Tarheel, there isn't much to look at yet in the garden. I got the lilac bush almost dug out yesterday, and plan to finish today if it doesn't rain too much. Just now, there's just a lot of shaggy grass, which I plan to replace with flowers, shrubs and vegetables. There are also a number of other plants that are too big for me to dig out by myself, to be removed the beginning of next year. Then the planting will start.

@gritgirl--good scans to you. I have a bone scan coming up Dec 2, for a baseline before starting Zometa. I think my tumor markers are going to get checked this week, but I am not sure if they are a reliable indicator for me. If they go down I will take it as a good sign until proven otherwise.

SpecialK

tarheel - it is the Best Damn Race in Safety Harbor on Feb. 1 - which actually would have been my parents 70th wedding anniversary! My DH and his sister ran it last year (I sat in the Starbucks, lol!) and this year the three of us and my younger SIL are doing it. My DH and I are hopefully running and the SILs are walking it. Do you run with music? I have found that it helps me a lot - we put together a playlist with all up-tempo songs, but a while back I linked some sites on this thread that will formulate music that helps pace you.