Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

Thanks Andra, ksusan and CJ! I just did a 30 minute walk. It definitely makes me feel better to walk! I also did at 30 minute weight workout with an online trainer that I use sometimes. I think his service would be perfect for so many chemo patients who don't want to go to a gym. He is very reasonable (about $20 a session) and he works over Skype or Google. He will incorporate whatever equipment you have or none at all. Just having the appointment makes me keep to a regular schedule.

CJ, thanks for the comment about the cat boxes. I know I will end up scooping litter. We have seven cats and 6 of them stay in a big cat condo at night (because of multi-cat spraying issues if they are left free). Each compartment has a bed and a litter box, so there is a lot of scooping to do sometimes. If my DH is not home I can't stand to leave them dirty. I will wear gloves and a mask. And I'm trying to wash my hands every 30 minutes and after any germ-possible contact. But I've already had the toxoplasmosis infection many years ago before I was pregnant (showed up in my pregnancy bloodwork). I'm not exactly sure which things we are most susceptible to when our blood counts go down. I will avoid all public places because I think people germs might be my worst enemy. And because it is always dirty and dusty in a rural environment, I may wear a mask when working outside and be extra careful not to get any scratches or bug bites.

My MO will not give me the Neulasta unless I develop febrile neutrapenia or some other serious symptom. She says I am not eligible because I am not yet 65 and have no co-morbidities. And she made it clear (in a nasty way) that she will NOT make up anything to get it for me. I never even suggested that! I will be happy to switch MOs when my chemo is done. Good thing the nurses are so nice.

ksusan, thanks for the EMLA tips! I'm drinking as much as I can stand. I hate drinking when not thirsty.

Have a good exercise day, everyone!

Very interesting indeed about the Neulasta. They wanted me to have it (age 46) every round. I did for the first round and had an allergic reaction to it 3 weeks later (hives, angioedema, dermatographia - ended up on 3 antihistamines) and could not get it again. It sucked anyway in terms of side effects! I did just as well without it (never got sick and I worked...in a hospital). Hope you do well too Moondust!

Moondust - I had the same...only labs right before the next chemo. Twice my white count was too low for chemo (scary low) and I had to wait another week. SO I went back to work. I carried hand sanitize everywhere clipped to my jeans by a carabiner., but I still lived my life normally. I didn't hide out even when my labs were bad, but i did avoid sick people and my friends who were sick steered clear of me (yay!). Excited to see your henna when you get it! I loved mine!

I never got sore from the half marathon muscle wise. Maybe because I soaked my legs in a very cold river for 10 minutes after - that really does make a difference whenever I've had a river to do that in after am long run. My joints are still the same as they've been for many months. I ran 5.5 miles yesterday, lifted weights today, will run 6 miles tomorrow morning before hitting the road to Oregon.

Currently though...I 'm feeling a little off and have a rash again...kind of looks land feels ike the start of shingles again. *sigh* not sure if it is possible to have it twice in 6 weeks. hope not. Going on vacation anyway!

have a great weekend everyone! - xo

Hi Octo, and thanks! Yes, my MO meant I was not eligible for insurance coverage. She did not inform me about any assistance programs. But I'll try this first round without any boosters and see what happens.

Andra, sure hope you don't have more shingles. Boo hiss to these ailments! But it's great you are not muscle-sore from the run! Have a great trip!

Bubble Run done! It was a 5k through big clouds of bubbles. Fun times, although I think I still have bubbles in my ears.

ksusan, send over some of the burgers and beer. I could use them! (well, maybe not the beer).

Despite eating like crazy yesterday (over 3200 calories), my weight dropped to a new lifetime low of 119.5 this morning. For me that is scary. I've been fat for most of my life and don't want to turn into a skinny old woman. I'll try again to cram in the calories today and I'll take it easy too. I'd like my weight to get back up to 123. I've been eating high protein and I've upped my fat intake. But I'm not going to guzzle olive oil!

ksusan, great going with your 1000 miles! I started building up very slowly 6 weeks after surgery which was in January. I was paranoid about LE and measured my arm after every workout. Now I am just about back to where I was, but I will never again push myself to the point of really straining with a weight. My joints are too old for that anyway! My goal is to maintain what I have.

CJ, thanks. I do have a lot of hard-earned muscle, and hopefully it will mostly stay put through chemo! Being muscular is probably the only good genetics I have Your dogs are really loving your new program!

Octo, I hope biking doesn't bother your foot. I'm ready for a car camp and easy hike sometime soon, so maybe we can get together when you can walk again.

Wow, adarkadaptedi, thanks! You have motivated me to go and do my leg and butt exercises today when I probably would have skipped!

3.5 mile run/walk and 30 minutes of Yoga. I feel good.

Thanks, Jennie. I think I have the only MO in the country who will not order Neulasta for me and figure out how to get it paid for. I have good insurance too. But after hearing the side effects, I'm willing to try doing without it.

CJ, good going on the run/walk and yoga!

I did a 7.6 mile hike. Driving home I got really sleepy, so I pulled over for a short nap. Other than that, I felt pretty good, just slow.

Wow, ksusan, that was a lot of walking/zumbaing! Great going!

Azrescue, you look fabulous. Your arms are very toned! Hopefully it won't take you long to get back to top form.

I did my gym workout yesterday and walked 17K steps. Until next chemo round (one week from today) my goal is 15K steps. Most of those will be in the dark when it's finally cool enough to walk.