Any suggestions for individuals with Chronic Illness?

breharvey29

Hi everyone, I'm new-ish.

In 2013, I quit smoking, got myself a fitbit, got on MyfitnessPal and began what I thought would be the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle. It worked for about a year. I was doing HIIT, walking/running, and I felt amazing. I was measuring weekly, and noticed I was losing everywhere but my waist. Soon after, my weight started to slowly climb back up, and I was exhausted. I could barely eat, and had to stop working out because I couldn't eat what I needed to to sustain working out. By Feb. 2015, I was heavier than I'd ever been despite being the most active and healthy I'd ever been. (Which ended up with me in a nutritionists office having to prove it wasn't my habits. That was fun.)

Flash forward to today. I'm being tested for Cushing's (tomm. morning is my blood test), and had an MRI scan show two masses in my brain. I may finally be closer to an answer, but far from my old self, if Cushings is even the answer. I know health and fitness is important to how this plays out for me. I'm trying desperately to stay optimistic but depression/anxiety has started to creep in. I had promised by my self that by my 30th bday I would reach all my fitness goals. This is clearly not going to happen, and that reality has finally began to set in for me. I'm terrified whatever is happening is a lifelong illness and I will never be normal again.

I've found it very hard to create a light exercise routine that works for me and doesn't end up with me sleeping for days afterwards. I know getting up and going is so important, but I cant seem to fight through the initial fatigue of it all. Has anyone struggled with chronic illness, and how did they find a routine that worked for them?

Also, I struggle to maintain my salt levels. They drop frequently, and I end up retaining water in my legs, abdomen and chest which really agitates my symptoms. What is the best way to balance electrolytes, other than adding salt to my water, or over salting my food.

Thank you in advance, and sorry its so long!

RWayne48

Hello Breharvey29,
I deal with chronic back pain (20+ years) from a car accident - I also had goals to be able to do X by Y date...and typically the back pain flairs up and I'm curled in a ball on the bed in pain and there goes that goal, down the tube. I was in such good shape before the accident and it is so hard NOT to get frustrated with not being able to get back to that level of health and fitness I once had. Getting started is the hardest part but keep reminding yourself that what you are doing will help you feel better.

I lay out my exercise clothes the night before-I've got a Tshirt that says "Just Do It" which is exactly what the inner voice is telling me all the time - that sits where I can see it from the bed. Buy some sports equipment or clothes for the "new" you, this becomes part of your new start.

Normal, that's a loaded word, and you are right, things won't be the same but that's not to say it isn't normal-it's your new normal - and everyone's normal is different - and for me it is fluid - it changes with the weather, how I've slept the night before, what I've eaten, how much water I've drunk recently, etc. One of the first things I had to do was admit I'm weak physically but I DO have skills and abilities that don't relate to my strength or the ability to jog at a good clip and I try to focus on those things I can do and do them well.

For me moving is what keeps the pain away so my restarts are walks once a day, then I add a little distance (to the next phone pole or mailbox) with a future goal of getting to the end of the road (and back home ) I no longer put a date to be done by I just look at the activity, that way if I need to restart I'm not looking at a date as a failure. When it is really bad, I start with a slow walk, the next day I add a little distance, for a couple days I stay at that distance, then I up it a little more, after a week or so (the body will tell you when) I add more intensity by walking a little faster for the distance between 2 telephone poles. The first time I increase the intensity I only do one increase in the walk, then the next day is back to the old way so I can see how the body reacts. If there isn't a reaction I start gradually adding intensity. I don't jog any more but a good fast walk or going up stairs (the mall, parking garages-if safe, an office bldg, etc.) can get the heart going (always watching form, foot placement and not hunched over etc.). In the beginning it was hard not to jump right into something but I've been through that cycle enough to know that going too fast typically means I will be restarting in the near future- slow and steady is the key.

I find that walking alone allows me to adjust the pace or distance without having to explain it to anyone else so I am more likely to listen to my body when I'm alone than with the hubby along. A safety note (for guys and gals) - if you go out alone leave a note where it will be seen that you've gone for a walk towards X left at Y and back at Z that way if something happens (too many distracted, texting drivers out there) or if someone wants to join you they can, or if you aren't back because you over estimated your stamina that day they will come look for you (give yourself a couple extra minutes to talk to the neighbor or you'll have a frantic spouse).

I've also got really light weights that have helped - it is a velcro wrist wrap setup with 1/2 lb wts that can be added into the sleeves for a total of 5 lbs - I've had it forever so I don't know where you'd find it. I also have free weights in all sorts of increments so I can adjust as needed - I use the same formula from walking and add slowly - 3-5 reps per ex and when I can do 2 sets of 12-15 reps easily I go up to the next weight increment.

Good luck with the tests tomorrow
R