Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

rainnyc

Jackbirdy, your goals sound excellent! I personally can't imagine biking in the street/road while having chemo. I can handle walking, but I'm only a menace to myself that way (or so I tell myself).

Evilmidget, good to hear one can go back to something like normal.

I don't know if this was my last taxol. Need to go back to the MO on Friday and find out the plan. She wants me to see the surgeon, who is out of town for another few weeks. So I'm in limbo 'til he gets back. Something tells me I'll be walking out of there with my first dose of A/C, but who knows?

Congratulations to all who are logging steps/miles/anything at all!

Scored tomatoes and cucumbers in the farmer's market and made gazpacho for lunch. Will try to get out of the house and walking later this afternoon! (Still somewhat energetic from the steroids yesterday).

pboi

Katy... I am impressed. You have come so far, and making great strides. It inspires me to keep going too.

I'm really struggling with the exercise. I just don't want to do it, I must confess. But it really does help lower my stress. Fatigue has a lot to do with it too. I have 5 weeks of rads, 3 weeks down 2 to go. The fatigue is getting worse, but I've heard exercise can help. Reading Evilmidgets post just reminds me it might get worse before it gets better. Sorry I'm in such a funk...just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Today's exercise

40 min T @ 2.3= 1.5 mi

30 min T @ 2.3= 0.75 mi

Thankful for this thread, really helping me keep accountable, and the support helps so much.

PB

Jackbirdie

PB- sometimes I just trick myself and say I am just going to the mailbox (down a steep driveway) and back, or I am just going to take Jack around the block. And if that's all I do, I try not to beat myself up. It was SOMETHING.

More often than not, I keep going.

I am not in love with the exercise either. I've been sedentary much I of my life. And at 58, changes are not going to come easy. Having Jack helps. It's not his fault I'm sick. And lazy. Haha. So sometimes that motivates me too.

Anyway, you're getting a fair amount of exercise in! Celebrate yourself! I'm proud of you. You have had a LOT on your plate lately

KBeee

hobbled 4 miles with my slipper boot thing. I am getting better at it and had a 16 minute per mile pace ... Not bad in this crazy heat.

Congrats to everyone exercising. Something is always better than nothing

rainnyc

Me: very little. I did go out in the afternoon, but the heat coupled with, er, some post-chemo gastric symptoms headed me back home pretty quickly. Oh, well! I could have done it if it were just the heat but not the other.

KBeee, 4 miles with the boot is just plain awesome!

SueH58

I'm a couple of pages behind but have to stop and marvel at you, Katy. A few weeks ago you were so ill and could barely move around. Now you and Jack are hiking your tails off. I'm so pleased for you (and Jack--he looks SO happy!). I hope you take a moment to reflect and acknowledge how far you've come.

Jackbirdie

thank you Sue- your encouragement, and that of the rest of you all here means the world to me. I have to say I am huffing, puffing, gasping, sweating, and all sorts to do this. I found a nature preserve we hadn't been to today. It does help to have beautiful surroundings. It was quite hilly, and I only met a little over half my daily goal. So I'll try just before sundown to get the rest in.

So far, 30 minutes active, just a little over a mile, 2500 steps.

Jack does think he's won the frikkin' lottery. He hasn't gotten enough exercise for a long long time. He sacked out in the car on the way home. I could barely get out of the car. My body is complaining loudly. But I know there is no way around this. Only through it.

Here are some photos of where we walked ( including the bench I was do grateful for! )

KBeee

Katy, what a beautiful placebo walk! I take the same boring sidewalks every day

molly1976

Me too. Same neighborhood walk for ten years. Is that close to your house, Katy?

Today I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer and 15 on the treadmill.

rainnyc

I love these pictures of everyone's walk! Jackbirdie, your nature preserve is lovely. On Saturdays, there is a huge flea market in my neighborhood, so tons of people also sell odds and ends on their front stoop. Even in the short time I was out, I must have passed a dozen or so stoop sales. (No, I did not buy anything!)

Jackbirdie

I usually walk in my neighborhood too, and it does get boring. Every couple three days i like to change up the scenery a bit.

There is a lot to choose from around here. That nature oreserve was a 15-20 min drive. Worth it. I never see any people on these trails. Love that!

I'm thinking I might have to blow off the rest of my goal today. Super tired and my quads and hams have seized up a bit. Wish i had a bathtub. There's one in the new house! Closing supposed to be end of next week. Moving the week after! For now, trying to massage my legs. I just may have overdone it a wee bit.

Italychick

3 miles hiking today, 500 feet of climbing. Jack, our 12 year old Italian Greyhound, couldn't do more today, but the scenery was beautiful and we also did a drive.

Jackbirdie

Rainny your post reminded me of when we all started chemo and were so jacked up on steroids we were all doing a bit of shopping "under the influence". I would love to see those stoop sales. Sounds fun.

karabesque

Katy- I love this quote from you " But I know there is no way around this. Only through it." Ain't it the truth!

queenmomcat

Jacbirdie: Oh no! No bathtub? That was one of the first things I did after my BS cleared me for "immersion in water". A bath with bubblebath.

molly1976

I love a bath with epsom salts. I started that during chemo but I think it is going to be a lifelong habit now. These scented ones are great: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Teals-Soaking-Solution-Bundle/dp/B00HMSU4ZE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1437920695&sr=8-5&keywords=epsom+salts&pebp=1437920686011&perid=0V3JBZD263SWYXMG3QBE

pennsygal

Molly - thank you for posting the link. Just ordered both - I forgot about epsom salts!

Barb

queenmomcat

Another 'thank you for the link'. I'd only just discovered Epsom salts when I was diagnosed, and I suspect that I'll need to set up a subscription from Amazon for the stuff. It is available in other places--the Walgreens where I get my prescriptions filled carries a 'generic' version, both scented and unscented. But the sheer convenience of being able to mail order it would be lovely even if I'm only mildly sideswiped by rads fatigue.

littleblueflowers

Gooood morning! So yesterday I went fly fishing all day, and managed to wet wade the creek without losing my tonails...yet. Or falling in and getting my port incision wet. Got back late, so didn't make it out for a jog until 9 pm. Did 2 miles. I think today I'll get back into very gently upper body work if my incision doesn't get to angry! Fingers crossed!

On chocolate...oh how I miss it, but it still doesn't taste right..sadness..despair...

Jackbirdie

Little- amazing! fly fishing? Any pics? It must have felt so nice to be out there. And then jogging two miles when you got home- in the dark. a Rockstar!

Molly- and Queen- you may laugh but aside from getting Jack a much bigger yard, the first thing on my list when looking for a new house was a bathtub! I wouldn't even look at one without. I even am including in my loan a minor remodel of the master to include a deeper soaking tub haha! Will look into your links today.

I recently had a friend go to Alaska for two months. She said I could use their HUGE soaking tub while they were gone, I did regularly. Used all kinds of salts and soaks. Almond oil too.

Anyway, last night I really had to be a coach to myself. I was very disappointed that I just couldn't meet my goal yesterday. My legs were so sore. Once I got back home yesterday I could barely walk again. I reminded myself that I'm just 4 weeks PFC, and they told me (and so have many people here) that you really don't start to feel right until 6 weeks PFC. And that yes, only a couple of weeks ago I was as down as I ever was, physically, and mentally, from chemo. So today I'll try again.

queenmomcat

Trust me, it's a wholly sympathetic laugh. I can't imagine living without a bathtub.

Jackbirdie

Karabesque- I can't take credit for the quote. One of our sisters in the March chemo thread, DianeD, sent it to me. One refrigerator magnet! That looks like my dog! But I'm not above stealing it because it is good.

Above is the magnet.

Below is Jack, the wonder dog

KBeee

3 mile walk today. I will go for a bike ride if I can convince my daughter to join me later

littleblueflowers

Those are so cute, katie!

Kbeee, my radiologist recommended bike riding during radiation because it keeps your upper body still=less likely to rub your armpit hide off. If you are doing radiation, it's probably a good habit to get into now!

So, I'm sitting here reading up on safe sunscreen and cosmetics after Jackbirdie brought it up. I've been slathering up with copper tone and Neutrogena my whole life, even during chemo. Two of the most dangerous brands. This sucks!!! Would people be willing to share brands they like that are safer? I'm seeing Badger getting good ratings, for instance. About to purge my lotions and potions, that's for sure! ALSO, any good detox strategies? So much to learn!

Jackbirdie

I am also interested in sunscreen recommendations. I've had to be talked down off the ledge a couple of times lately over this matter, and all related matters of toxicity in our food and environment. Ugh. I know I have to strike a balance. I will strike a balance. And then live my life. But right now I need to know what friggin sunscreen to buy! Haha. Sort of haha

Italychick

I use the Honest brand on me and on my grandkids.

pboi

I've heard Badger is good. Because I have kids I've been using California Baby for years, and use it myself too. Wonder if they make something for adults?

45 min T @ 2.4 mph = 1.8 mi today so far, might try to walk again tonight

PB

ksusan

7/25: 1.0 hr walk + stretches x2
7/26: .5 hr T (2.6 MPH avg) + stretches + 1.5 hr gardening + stretches + .5 hr T (2.6 MPH avg)

My friend is visiting from the East Coast. The treadmill is in the guest room. I'm on it now while she's in my garden with my wife, moving posts around. I'll go out after half an hour to help with easier tasks. Yesterday we walked for an hour on hills, including about a 200' descent and re-ascent of a butte on switchbacks. We were rewarded with a view of one of the immature bald eagles flying, then resting in the nest.

Jackbirdie

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

PB- excellent work!

Frau Doktor- must be hard to get the treadmill work in, but worth it I'm sure to have your friend visiting. The hike sounded like plenty of work, though, and how special to see the eaglet!

I'm still laying here (west coast time mind you) figuring out how to get my walking in today. I did water the garden though. 😂😁😂.

rainnyc

Reporting in: I went out for an hour and 10 minutes. I confess some of that time was spent wandering around the air-conditioned drugstore, trying to remember which sunblock was safe for us and figuring out which acne wash to buy the 15-year-old. Close to 90 degrees out there, and I was moving pretty slowly toward the end. When I'd finished my errands, I asked my cranky digestive system how it felt about ice cream today. No, said my CDS, but I'll let you have a watermelon popsicle. So that's what I did!