Exercise - Working Back to it After or During Treatment

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    And here I thought we tasting the rainbow (ad for skittles)



    Mara, for us life is short. Eat the cake. :-)

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  • rrefresca
    rrefresca Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2013

    Hello!

    I haven't posted much on this site at all since this whole thing started for me back in March. I am now 2 months post-chemo, in my 3rd week of rads. I'm back to work full time (office work) and really tired most of the time but desperate to get back into shape!!! I gained 10-15 lbs during chemo. Before diagnosis, I did CrossFit 6 days a week and was in great shape. It's not practical for me to work out in the morning- getting 3 boys ready for school and getting to work by 8 is a feat in itself. So I need to figute out a way to still have enough energy at the end of the day to work out regularly. This week I've only worked out one day, not sure I'll have the energy to this evening...

    Any tips for strategizing while still struggling with fatigue?? I need my work clothes to fit!! :)

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2013

    Walk during your lunch hour???  Free weights to use do during breaks???  Power nap....I would use the "recovering" card here.

    Also, make sure you are eating ENOUGH protein, especially in the AM.  It takes a while for your needs to go back to normal.  Four years later, I am still using that excuse to eat steak whenever the fancy strikes Laughing

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited September 2013

    Give yourself abreak honey. Its a marathon not a race. Rads can be exhausting

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  • TwoHobbies
    TwoHobbies Member Posts: 2,118
    edited September 2013

    I think we do have to give ourselves a break even though I am having trouble accepting that too. I would say find something low key to do during the week. Walk at lunch or can you bike ride with your boys or take a short walk after dinner? Then maybe do a workout on the weekend when you are more rested.

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Hey all. I've just been getting my regular walking in. I agree. It's a slow but steady progress back up after chemo

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  • MaraUK
    MaraUK Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2013

    Hi gritgirl

    I ate the cake I Also went for a walk by the sea it's was really windy so hopefully added to my energy use.

    Have great weekend

    Mara

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2013

    Great minds think alike!  I think I will do the 1.5 mile walk each way to the pastry shop where amazing confections await.  The baker is a retired former pastry chef for 5 star hotels in Europe, so you can imagine how amazing.  The problem is choosing.

    We have flood watches and a wind advisory (gale force winds) so not safe to cycle.  Getting slammed by a Pacific storm.  I may go out in it and do a run along Elliott Bay.

    I can do a hot bath and steak for dinner later.... - Claire

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Claire. Be careful. I'm loving this reasoning. Exercise with an end result in mind, cake. Today I actually got more exercise in since I had a dinner party and was rushing around getting ready. Fun evening and 10,000 steps. :-)

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2013

    Walk, pastry, and run were all great!  Off to bed now. - Claire

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  • RhodyMMM
    RhodyMMM Member Posts: 455
    edited September 2013

    Wow am I backsliding! My knee is finally getting better after getting it draining and injected while I was in the hospital. But still can't do a lot of walking. The went in on Thursday for port placement and chemo #2 so pretty beat this weekend. I did buy a yogo video a few weeks ago so I might try that today, at least to start.I was just getting ready to start at a gym next to work that has a pool (I don't like to swim laps but will if necessary,and they have an aqua arthritis class), but after the port placement they tell me no total submersion for two months!!  I have been doing all the exercises the lymphedema therapist suggests but back to weight restrictions from the port placement. Everytime I think I can start getting ahead I feel like I have a set back. My endurance is practically non-existent at this point. Any suggestions?

    Martha

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited September 2013

    Two months? That seems extreme to me. My instruction were no swimming two weeks

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  • RhodyMMM
    RhodyMMM Member Posts: 455
    edited September 2013

    Frednta, they said it's a foreign body in my system. I have had so many complications since everything started last spring that I really don't want to take any chances. I will wait to make sure all the sites are completely healed and then talk with my MO and my lymphedema therapist. I will go back for a post-op follow-up appointment later this week and ask them too.

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  • TwoHobbies
    TwoHobbies Member Posts: 2,118
    edited September 2013

    Walked for 30 minutes yesterday and my legs felt a little stronger and no major issues today unlike past weeks(although I did sleep10hrs). So late this afternoon I went for my first bike ride since June and it nearly killed me. So hard. My quads are just shot.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2013

    TwoHobbies....those loud mouthed quads just need to know who's boss.  Congrats on your ride.  It will get better. - Claire

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Two hobbies. You're in chemo. Take it easy on yourself

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2013

    Went to the Buccaneers game - my DH helps with the pirate flags - at the top edge of the stadium - so climbed stairs to the top.  Twice.  In the heat.  Since I was already a sweaty mess when I got home I went out and walked to the end of the bridge and back - 4 miles, pretty fast.  I wanted to be faster than the mosquitoes!  Now I feel good - had to burn off the pretzel bun and brat I had at the game :)

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Pretzel bun brat? I'm jealous. I'd walk 4 miles just to get that. :-)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2013

    gritgirl - the good news - it was super delicious!  Worth every step!

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited October 2013

    Hello everyone. I did yoga tonight for the first time in 6+ months. It was intense. There were headstands and wheels (full backbends) and some position I'd never seen where you squat sideways and supported all your weight on your hands. I didn't do any of that stuff, just smiled and did what I could. To celebrate I'm having a glass of champagne and some tiramisu before bed. Just as satisfying as a pretzel bun brat, I guess, which sounds pretty darned amazing.

    I hope everyone is feeling OK. I'm recovering from shock of being told (by secondary oncologist) I needed to start chemo right away, and making preparations, then being told (by primary onc, after biopsy) that I don't need it. I'm thrilled but a little shaken.

    Martha, is there chair yoga or gentle yoga offered at your hospital or nearby? For me, I found gentle yoga was satisfying not just for mild exercise but camaraderie of others going thru similar treatment.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2013

    tarheelmichelle - your treat sounds yummy!  Glad you enjoyed the yoga and sorry about the yes/no from the onc!  I did chair yoga through Livestrong and really enjoyed it!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2013

    Got a call yesterday regarding the biopsies on my back - I had already been alerted that they were all malignant.  I have had them removed a number of different way previously but they are telling me two can go by electrodesication or regular excision - a back lumpectomy, lol! However, the third one requires MOHS, and I may be there for six hours!  My BMX didn't even take that long.  Apparently the entire biopsy was malignant and they need to keep cutting inward until they achieve a healthy border - fun times!  They do immediate path on each layer so that is what is so time-consuming - but I am wondering what I will be doing in the meantime - playing cards, telling jokes, eating lunch - who the hell knows?  The good news - the one on my lower eyelid will be a 90 day watch and wait.  The biopsy for that one is the surgical removal of the whole enchilada in a pie-shaped wedge of my lower eyelid.  Sheesh!

    Of course - guess what I can't do - exercise.

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited October 2013

    What's MOHS?

    I'm sorry to hear of the malignancies. 😞 Are they big? (Do you mind if I ask questions? It's so curious to me that you have all this skin cancer going on at the same time. I am sending healing thoughts your way.

    If you can't exercise, then you must continue on this thread as coach or brat adviser or something, until you recuperate. 😉

    Gritgirl, was there any special occasion for the dinner party?

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited October 2013

    YIKES Special K.  I am so sorry you have to go through all this.  Lots of good energy your way. - Claire

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2013

    tarheel - "brat advisor" - lol! Don't worry I won't go anywhere - and I might sneakily exercise and not tell my dermatologist.  MOHS surgery is skin cancer surgery where they cut a layer and the pathologist looks at it immediately (kind of like a SNB) to see whether or not the margin is clean, if not they take another layer, and keep going until they get a nice clean margin, then they stitch it up.  Apparently, this is pretty tedious, so they warned me I would be there a while.  The skin cancer thing has been going on for more than 20 years - this is nothing new, this is just my first one that needs this type of surgery.  Here is a link if you are curious:

    http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/mohs-surgery/mohs-overview

    Claire - thanks for the good thoughts - I appreciate it!  It's all good - I am not worried, this is nuisance stuff.  I will admit - I was freaked out by the eye but that has turned out to be less of an issue.  I get frustrated because my exercise plan always seems to get derailed by something!

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  • MaraUK
    MaraUK Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2013

    Hi special sorry about your forthcoming ops. I know you will be frustrated at the no exercising regime.



    Tarheel sorry about your confusion with your onc's I bet the tiramisu was so good.



    Can someone please explain what a pretzel bun brat is is it savoury or sweet.



    Gritgirl hope you have recovered from your trip

    Mara

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2013

    mara - a pretzel bun is like a soft pretzel, but it works like a hot dog or sausage bun. 

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited October 2013

    tarheel. that does sound like challenging yoga. the dinner party is what i call For the Love of Books. we get together once a month and just talk about what we're reading.

    specialk, sorry about the biopsies. hope all goes well with the procedures. oy.

    i go for my uterine biopsy tomorrow.  perturbed because it's scheduled at 11:40 so that's half a day without food and smack dab in the middle of day.  good part is my friend mary rose is coming with me, and i'll be damned, we're going to lunch.  not much extra exercise on my part.  just getting by.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2013

    gritgirl - hope all goes well with your biopsy and enjoy the lunch!  I hate it when they schedule this stuff later in the day and you have to fast!

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited October 2013

    yeah. me too. i realized last night that i'm actually pretty nervous about this. i asked them to do this one conscious sedation to spare myself the stress, but still, the whole thing just triggers me emotionally. i hate this disease.  just hate it.

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