Hi, Those of you with ME/CFS, do you find yourself worrying about the impact of exercise intolerance on your health?
I sure have, but, I am not listening to news reports anymore as to what research studies are finding is the needed amount of exercise to keep one’s heart healthy and to live to a ripe old age. How discouraging for those of us with exercise intolerance. Since I can’t get to the gym or walk miles many times a week, does that mean I don’t have many years ahead? Phooey! I’m determined that it means no such thing!
Those of us with exercise intolerance can make our own healthy exercise programs (with the help of our medical practioners) that work within our physical limits and don’t flare us up.
Then we need to feel darn good about what we CAN do. As research points out over and over again, feeling good, feeling positive, and having hope are also extremely healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s what I’m doing and thinking lately. Walking up our staircase is a workout. On high functioning days I try for twice a day. I walk around the house as much and as often as I’m able. Some days my pace is fast and I walk from room to room straightening up and putting things in there place. On my toughest days, I need to “take a wing” as my Grandpa used to say, hold on to my hubby’s arm and do a couple laps around our living area.
Wheelchair walks, oh so fun! I walk behind the wheelchair, pushing it until my bod gives, then I sit down and my hubby gets a work out pushing me.
A new addition these past two weeks is using our treadmill in my own “exercise intolerant” way. On able days, I set the treadmill to an oh so slow speed and walk two to four minutes at a time. Some days I can do this once and some days twice or three times (and a good lot of days my bod isn’t up to it). To feel my circulation quicken feels wonderful. It clears my brain and I feel an all over physical lift. If I overdo it though it will flatten me…. so important to talk to our docs and listen to our bods and start out oh so slow.
Yoga! I love yoga. I have my teaching certificate which I earned when newly ill and could do much more than I can now. I wanted to work with others with chronic illness. I wasn’t able to teach long as my body couldn’t keep up, but I’m grateful to know how to do yoga. Oh so gentle, mostly laying down or sitting, I have created a routine for myself that I do whenever I can (usually three to four times a week). Stretching, breathing slowly and deeply, helps me feel grounded and peaceful. I feel in touch and appreciative of my bod and what it is still able to do. For Fibromyalgia pain yoga is my best medicine.
Any movement, no matter how slow, how small is better than no movement. I like feeling good about what I CAN do, and I know that positive feeling is good for my health, my heart and for keeping on a going a long time!
Have you been able to incorporate movement into your life in spite of exercise intolerance?
(I want to thank Connie at My Chronic Life for inspiring this post. I read a blog post of hers today in which she talked about the walking those of us with chronic illness can do and that it counts!)
*As I am not a medical expert any way shape or form, it is IMPORTANT before starting an exercise routine, to talk with your medical team about what exercise is right for you.
Bravo Kerry! I agree. Any movement is great. It doesn’t have to be hard core to be valuable. I love that you walk around the house and up the stairs. This is exercise! One of my clients does this same thing. She has CFS and fibro and does little walks around her apartment. Walks to her mailbox. Walks around the grocery store. Does very light stretching. It is what she can do.
Love that you brought this up! Great post:)
Hi Kerry
Wow, in my world you are doing alot of exercise! Stretching and walking. That is great. I know you want to do more but even being able to be on the treadmill for 2 to 4 minutes is so good! I am completely de-conditioned and overweight. I try to go oup and down our 17 stairs two or three times a day and walk around the lv.room to the kitchen, etc. I walk out on the deck to watch the dog when he is outside…I can do a little stretching with yoga for the bedridden but it is my goal to very very slowly add a bit more..I remember recently reading about one woman who was so severe she was bedridden for years and then very slowly was able to stand up by her bed, then take one step and then maybe a week later try two steps…slow slow slow, BUT any improvement is good…and when in a crash or down spiral…rest rest rest….
This is a good topic as it has been on my mind lately after watching Dr. Oz on tv say that if you cannot walk a half of block in a certain amount of time you life expectancy drops drastically…LIKE YOU I am through listening to all the horror stories or people telling me how very sick I am…duh! I say, we are still here, still able to be out of bed most of the time and still able to find joy in each moment….we are doing great, girlfriend!
Yes, Renee–Dr. Oz (he’s a good guy) with great info. (I get tips for my hubby ie. telling him about the red wine being good for health), but have to turn the channel on the exercise and believe that what I can do is good enough.
Going up the stairs two or three times a day–you got me on that Renee–awesome. Each day, week, month is different to how much we can do, isn’t it?
When I was training to teach yoga I remember the instructor telling us that for those who are bedridden, even bending a finger helps!
Lynne, Thank you for the kudos on the subject. It’s been on my mind and its affirming to know others are thinking about it, moving as they can and hopefully feeling good about it. I know you understand this well with your ME/CFS clients that you give such affirmation and support to.