Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2015

    Dr E- very clever on the fit bit! I think/hope you will love your slow cooker. I feel like s{replace1}amp;t when I don't get enough protein. I've been experimenting with Indian good lately, which offers many vegetarian protein options. So long as it doesn't fall into the blech gag spice category.

    Sloth- so happy that you were relieved and pleased at your physical performance at the first real test of things since chemo. I'm also very grateful for the often difficult and dirty work you do for our furry and feathered friends. It's not all about adopting cute puppies.

    I have been struggling (big time) with depression for weeks, off and on, and I am now under "orders" to walk 20 minutes a day. At least. I have not successfully built a habit, because I have been so non compliant. So I did walk today, and Tuesday. I'm not tracking steps or distance at the moment. Keeping it simple and just make getting out if the house first thing my object for awhile. Trying to get that habit formed. It's interesting some things (like recreational drugs, say) that seem to have the ability to form a habit after one event.

    Anyway, here's where I walked today. It was very pretty with the leaves turning.


    image

    image


  • MsBrompton
    MsBrompton Member Posts: 357
    edited October 2015

    Nice pictures jackiebirdie - keep it up! I find getting out of the house is the hardest bit.


  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    6 me jog, upper body stretches. Working toward full mobility as my road rash heals! Lots of pain in my hip area- I'm so glad I read about bone Mets on this site during chemo and made a list of pain that was part of my life pre-cancer, otherwise I'd be going nuts. Luckily this is pain from an old injury that has always bugged me.

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    ok, I posted exercise somewhere but don't see it here. Maybe I'm losing it! Did a 5 mile hike, and first 1.6 miles was 1387 feet of climbing, said at some points the grade we climbed was at 34%! We climbed up Snow Summit ski resort That hurt, and my hamstrings are mad at me lol. But it was beautiful.

    If I already posted and can't find it, my apologies. Some forum somewhere is probably thinking who is this nut case lol?

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    10/16: Fitbit steps + resistance band + stretches + 50 dead bugs = 5.16 miles

    10/17: Fitbit steps + stretches + 30 modified military press + 100 crunches + 60 dead bugs + 4# overhead lifts [10x3] + 15# lifts [30x3] = 2.06 miles

    Spent the night out at the coast with family. Saw a few whales and a group of 6 sea lions jumping beautifully and nicely synchronized in the waves. Many white pelicans, a common loon, and many cormorants, A pleasing salmon dinner at the Inn at Spanish Head. Stopped on the way home and bought a new flatware pattern. Ate Indian food. Looked at sleeper beds. Fed and hung out with a neighnors cats. Therefore, only a couple of miles today (but still 5000 steps).

  • JerseyGirl22
    JerseyGirl22 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2015

    Thank you ladies! I'm so glad I can be out here!

    ksusan, My onc wants very little exercise at this point, and much rest due to the Taxotere wrecking me... I had to have a blood transfusion two weeks ago, due to my hemoglobin dropping too low. Onc says it was "doing too much, and not resting enough" Personally, I think its the Taxotere nailing me. Still trying to move around and keep at it.... pheobe58 yes, the shortness of breath, heart pounding beyond reasonable measure is from the chemo and my onc says, dial down.

    In any case, I have a Fitbit Zip, and clip it on every day, so I can at least see movement. Ha! Onc says Taxotere and Carboplatin have done all they can do, so my last treatment (#6) will be Nov. 2nd, and only with Herceptin & Perjeta. Surgeon meeting end of month (10/27), BRAC1/2 testing blood draw on Nov. 3rd and then we'll see what the next steps will be... surgery, radiation, Herceptin to finish out year....

    I appreciate you ladies!



  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited October 2015

    I was just looking around on Amazon and there are lots of options for alternative holders for the various fitbit "brains." I have the flex model that came with the wristband and I'm finding keychains, pendants, shoelace attachments, you name it available for that model as well as lots of different wristband options that might be more comfortable than the one that came with it.

  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited October 2015

    also, and I'm almost afraid to say this because I don't want to jinx myself, but I started taking magnesium about two weeks ago and I haven't had night sweats the past three nights! I am SO hoping that there's a connection. Anybody else taking magnesium and sleeping better as a result? Thanks Theresa for the recommendation.

  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2015

    thanks for all the fit gadget reviews -- eheinrich -- what an inspired solution ......and you have the bonus of still strapping it to your wrist should you ever be dancing about nekkid under the stars...!!! :)

    listen to your body Jerseygirl,... I never needed a transfusion, and if the onc says you need to save your energy for treatment that's ok -- you will be able to notch it up later

    clever littleblue -- I find one of the worst things about all this is getting anxious over every stupid pain or tweak that I used to ignore

    jackbirdie and italychick -- I love walking out in nature too -- 'vitamin N' is soooo restoring. Heading to lake this morning and will do long fall walk out there and then move a bunch of not too heavy boxes of fragile stuff to basement, so when flooring guys come in and pack up next week nothing special gets wrecked -- so there is my strength training for the day!

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    I've been taking magnesium all along, so hard to say. My ND switched me to magnesium citrate. I've been taking a bath with epsom salts (which = magnesium) twice a week, which I think is helping with muscle aches in my calves, at least.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2015

    I have not posted much because this is my crazy busy time of year. I have walked and/or run some days, big mostly just focused on my 10,000 steps. I finished chemo in August, and finished rads 10 days ago. Today I put the exclamation point on F U cancer! I did the Des Mojnes half marathon

  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    I am sold on magnesium. Just be careful. If you aren't constipated all the time like me, it can cause diarrhea. I don't have bad night sweats at all. Just occasional hot flashes, which haven't been bad at all lately. Magnesium is also good for keeping blood sugar stable.

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    Yes to everything Allison said. If it gives you diarrhea, just back down a bit until you find the sweet spot. As I have said before, my husband occasionally overdoses me and he gets in trouble lol. He tends to get extreme sometimes, and I have to rein him in. But hey, he makes all my supplement bags up for me, so I'm not going to complain too much. magnesium citrate is a good form too, I have taken it before, but find the glycinate and threonate work best for me. But everybody is different. For blood sugar, research Berberine. My integrative physician put me on it, it's pretty effective for me since I've had high blood sugar in the past and have some insulin resistance. But my blood sugar stayed dead solid normal all through chemo and steroids, I was really surprised

  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited October 2015

    Sloth...how much magnesium are you taking and how soon in relation to your bedtime?

    Thx!

    PB

  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited October 2015

    I've been taking a 400 mg tablet once a day around dinner time. I got a complex that lists magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurinate, malate and succinate sources. I don't know if that's a great choice but it seems to be helping!

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2015

    I am taking 800 gly and 75 theonate mag and taking lots of magnesium salt baths. I think it's helping with the sleeping too. I also always sleep with a fan on in the room now, and a sleep mask, so if I wake up with a hot flash I can get cooled down fast enough to get back to sleep. I just kick the covers off for a few minutes. I also added 6 mg IR melatonin. It might be helping too.

    Took another nice walk up the hill, through the woods, etc. probably 30 minutes. I'm just happy I managed to propel myself out the door again.


  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2015

    Ksusan- well done on some excellent well-being activity. I appreciated the wildlife report!


  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    I'm glad you were able to get out today, too!

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    5.3 mile hike, 748 feet of climbing, way easier than yesterday's brutal 1387 feet! My dog jack was tired, so didn't want to push him too hard. It was so nice and cool, I loved it!

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    Awesome Katy, two days in a row. Rock on!

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    sloth, those are all good forms of magnesium. And if it's working, all the better!

  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited October 2015

    Theresa...my endocrinologist has suggested magnesium citrate, so I was going to go with that one. I didn't know there were so many forms of it. Suggestions? Maybe I'll consider the complex Sloth is taking? I have osteoporosis and am hoping it will help with calcium/vit D absorption plus I have trouble sleeping.

    PB

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    pboi also consider adding K2. There is a metabolic pathway on the bone that is essential for the bone to absorb and utilize calcium, and the key in that pathway is K2. Just try the magnesium the endocrinologist suggests and see if it helps you. One thing you will know immediately is if you start sleeping better. If not, then try different forms until you find the magic that works for you. As for bone, that can be measured by blood tests, etc., however they normally monitor you. You will probably have to take the magnesium for a few months to see any bone results.

    For the K2 action, Google "matrix gla protein."

    Again, all my opinion, and stuff that seems to work for me!

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    10/18: Fitibit steps + resistance band + stretches + 30 modified military press + 100 crunches + 50 dead bugs + 20 reclined triceps extension + 15# lifts [10x4] + 50+50 biceps hand weights= 4.25 miles

    Took a walk with a friend and saw a lot of geese, ducks, grebes, coots, cormorants, egrets, and herons.

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2015

    Frau Doktor- 4.25 on your legs maybe, but a thousand miles in your heart and mind.

  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited October 2015

    I'll catch up on reading soon but had to post my so far almost 10 miles today shopping and eating in SF w my youngest. I think my hips are about to give out. But I have to be ready for tomorrow's adventures 😀

  • Andraxo
    Andraxo Member Posts: 410
    edited October 2015

    Yesterday was day 12 post my first chemo (TC) + Neulasta. I ran 10 miles!! It was much slower than I usually run, but I needed it mentally so I kept going. :) Ran 6 with my dogs and took my neighbors dog along too, then 4 more after dropping them all off.

    I ran 4 miles the first day after chemo and 4-6 miles every other day since no matter how bad my side effects were (mostly severe skull/spine/bone pain from the Neulasta; mild nausea but no meds for it). It was the best part of my day! My chest/heart and lungs also definitely felt *weird* running the first few times - can't find the worse to explain it, it was just not right....but glad I did it anyway. I felt pretty normal running this past weekend - though slower.

    This is such a beautiful time of year to be outside! How do you post pictures within a thread/post? I'm sure there are instructions somewhere. It's so nice to see your pictures of hikes and outdoor adventures etc.

    Staying optimistic that I may actually be able to snowboard this winter during chemo and radiation - probably the weekend right before the next chemo round (every 3 weeks) if the next 5 rounds go as this first one did. Not sure what to expect during the 6 weeks of radiation (Feb-March).

    So excited to read your posts! Thank you all for sharing! xo

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2015

    Andraxo, there is a little picture above where you type that looks to me like two mountains. If you click on that, you can upload a saved picture.

    Awesome on the running! I felt that exercise helped me through infusions, so stick with it!

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited October 2015

    Good work my fit sisters!

    Welcome Andraxo! I bet you will be able to snowboard. If you can run 10 miles now you will probably lose some fitness but you shouldn't be laid out flat or anything.

    Hiked a couple of hours today. Stretching now. Chest is soooooo tight..

  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited October 2015

    Today's exercise was a walk through the mall and a bit of retail therapy, followed by the C/T chemo therapy. Round three of four in the books! :-) I'd say that counts.

    Octogirl

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