Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited November 2015

    (gerbil-y list member pops up from the morass, cheek pouches filled with delicious seeds) But then I've been calling many of the machines in the gym 'gerbil machines'.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited November 2015

    Allison...I definitely am trying to get back to it. My motivation now has now changed to exercising in the hopes it will help my sleep. Thankful I'm not uncomfortable from the surgery. But either chemo or AI or quitting the rxsleep aids or all of the above is causing insomnia. Melatonin is helping, so I'm exercising as much as I can tolarate.

    PB

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

    Jen, how about audiobooks? For the half-year after dx, I could listen to something light but had a hard time reading text. BTW, I see that Audible now has rights to the Harry Potter books. On the Audible Platinum membership plan, that knocks it down to about $11 book, much less than CDs and more convenient on the MP3 player.

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

    my exercise and well- being combo today is kneading bread and tending the garden. Worked up a sweat! And really used my pecs. If I can knead whole wheat, I might be able to start quilting my own pieces again !!!

    image

    image

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

    Excellent, Jackie!

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

    image

    What is it with the weight loss thing?



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

    PB: Are you sleeping on your back? Having trouble getting comfy? I had to go from .25 mg of xanax to .5 to sleep at all. I am back to .25 now and I want to get off it completely when I am healed from rads. I have to sleep. Doesn't seem like the melatonin is working to well for most people I see talking about it. I agree about exercise helping though. The other thing that helps me is the black sleep mask. It HAS to be dark. They are hard to find.

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

    I hear you on the weight thing!

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited November 2015

    Allison...I'm comfortable in bed, just can't fall and stay asleep. Part of my problem was I was reliant on Ativan during chemo/rads. During rads I began to taper slowly, finally stopping about 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure if I'm going through withdrawal and can't sleep or was it the chemo, menopause, or AI. Probably some combo of it all. Using melatonin now, able to get some sleep but not as much as I'd like, hoping it's just that I need to figure out what dose works for me, or maybe it takes time to work? In any case trying my best to avoid rx sleep aids if I can. Definitely trying to increase the exercise to help.Good luck with your taper, it's not easy.

    PB

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

    I understand for sure, PB. I was all set to go off the stuff and was weaning off and then this radiation nightmare began so I was right back on it. I never got to the dose I had after surgery though. I have a million things waking me up. DH comes to bed at around 12 and promptly starts to snore and then I go into the guest room. I can usually get back to sleep with the xanax…not so much without it. At some point, I will start taking it only maybe every other night. And I haven't started my Tamoxifen yet so I am guessing that might make it harder, too.

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

    11 miles today. 16 seems to be my unicorn. I just get so Damn hungry at about 10 I can't go on! Gonna try for 5 more after the puppy goes down for a nap...

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

    littleblue, I've noticed a lot of bike rides carrying a pouch of baby food in their jerseys lately, it's a great idea. They are about 100 calories and might get you through the hump. You just pop the top and slurp it down. I particularly like any of the pouches that have bananas in them

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

    mmmm that sounds perfect! I can't stand the gel and goo stuff. Barf. But I could get behind some applesauce!

    Oh yeah, and I took your advice on the trashy romances and started reading some by laurel k hamilton. All vampires and werewolves and...such. Library was out of the ones you suggested..they are super popular.

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

    oh yeah, all that goo stuff is disgusting. I also get the kids organic cliff bars, chocolate brownie or oatmeal. They are perfect. 10 grams of sugar I think

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

    just watch out for washable cancer with those cliff bars!

    I'm titrating down off clonazepam right now and my doc says the trick is to go very slow. VERY SLOW. 2-3 weeks at 2/3 of original dosage, then cut that in half another couple weeks, then consider skipping a dose here and there. The body definitely misses it, and the trick is to not do anything to call attention to it so to speak. Nice and steady. The shorter the half life of the drug the steadier you should go. Clonazepam has one of the longest half lives and he still has me going that slow. Ativan and Xanax have shorter half lives. It's worth getting a pill cutter to do it.


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

    My wife brought in tomatoes from the garden this afternoon. They're not the best I've eaten, but better than most. Last of the season (and about time too).

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited November 2015

    6.5k steps hanging out with a gaggle of 2 year olds. Now I am wiped out.

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

    11/23- 1.5 hrs stairmaster, 100 abs, arms with 10 lb weights.

    11/24- 4 mile run through the snow. It was so beautiful, but I should have worn a headlamp. And my eyes kept wanting to freeze shut.

    For well being, made sausage balls yesterday- old southern family recipe. So bad for you, and Sooooooo good! DH also deep fried a chicken as a test run for the turkey we are going to do..it was delicious! The day before that, we had smoked elk ribs, which tasted fantastic, but were so tough that my jaw is sore even today from chewing LOL.

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

    Yum, Jen!


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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited November 2015

    ooooh - elk! We usually do a game meat of some sort for Thanksgiving - not big turkey eaters. This year my friend is making gumbo.

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

    Jen- that sounds really good. I've been eating fish this week. Seems like my body is craving the antithesis of Thanksgiving

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

    These dishes are ready to go: Sweet potato, yam, and orange casserole; cranberry-orange compote; cornbread, chestnut, and sausage stuffing; gravy; crudites.

    Still to prep or make: Turkey, potatoes, corn, peas, maybe sourkraut, apple crumble.

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

    yum. Just got back from bike ride, gonna start toasting the bread and make my traditional sage dressing so it's ready to stuff the bird tomorrow. And cut up the crudités (relish tray), which is actually one of my husbands favorite things at thanksgiving

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

    4 mile run today, hosted 12 people for Turkey day! I am so thankful for you all and our continuing good health and spirits !

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

    I'm with you littleblue! Hope everybody's turkey day was fabulous. All the family left, and I'm sitting here in exhausted contentment.

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

    I've been slacking, if one can call it that, PFC, but now that Thanksgiving is over I felt the need to get back into it, so 2.5 miles walking today...and discovered a new bike path that will take me all the way to work with no car traffic. Going to start upping my game again, in hopeful anticipation of winning the lottery to hike the Yosemite High Sierra Camps this summer....something to look forward to and to give me a training goal.

    Octogirl

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

    Octo- there is no category of "slack" for at least 6 weeks post chemo. So just stop that talk. Now.

    You are rocking it! Great job today. Just glad you enjoyed it. That's as important as ANYTHING!!!

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

    11/20: Stretches + Zumba + Fitbit + housework = 5.7 miles

    11/21: Fitbit + stretches + housework = 3.93 miles

    11/22: Steps + stretches + housework = 3.09 miles

    11/23: Stretch = stretch + 50 bug + Fitbit =3.47miles

    11/24: Fitbit + stretch = 2.5 miles

    11/25: Wed stretch + fit + Zumba + triceps = 8.41 miles

    11/26: Stretch + Fitbit + Zumba + triceps = 4.82 miles

    11/27: Stretch + Fitbit = 3.61 miles

    11/28: Stretch x 2 + Fitbit = 2.67 miles

    11/29: Stretch + triceps + Fitbit = 2.5 miles
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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited November 2015

    fitness today consisted of alternating between the couch and bed. Finally got the office superbug. Isn't it written somewhere that after cancer you get a free pass on all lesser ailments?

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

    Sorry, Jen. I had a cold late last week. I was indignant!

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