What to do to regain my strength and energy levels
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Hi @ChezaH
I feel i will need to do the exact same thing in a few weeks. Let me know how you go. I start 5 weeks of daily radiation on Thursday. Due to the blood clots I now have on my lungs and my heart I have to watch my heart rate and that I dont exert myself. Going for a walk around the block I now have to stop 4 or 5 times. My little dog wonders what the devil is going oin when we are going for a walk and there is not much walking going on. I feel so pathetic. I think once radiation is over and I am healed I will look at water aerobics. I found and purchased a cute cap to wear in the pool so I dont scare anyone with my bald head with stand up fuzz growing. Sending you hugs xxx3 -
If you have access to aqua aerobics I'd recommend it. I also benefited hugely from yoga and body balance/pilates classes. I found organised exercise classes worked for me (until work got in the way) as set times and group motivation made it easier to make myself actually do it. Yes, it costs, but I had the benefit of an 'open door' grant from the local sports complex that was available when I wasn't working.
In the end, I think it takes time. I'm 3 years post my last treatment and have resolved that I will never get my old energy levels back. That said, even twelve months ago I would not have imagined I would be able to be working full time (and some) now.
I can be my own worst enemy and I'd probably be better off if I was more rigorous about my diet and gave up the wine. Life is all about compromises--I've accepted that my vices cost me but that is my choice. Hang in there. Mxx4 -
Hi @ChezaH and @Locksley. I think you're tumbling headfirst into the reality of the 'new normal'. My oncologist told me it takes a year to recover from chemotherapy. Everyone who's actually had chemo told me two to five years.
The first thing I did was an oncology rehabilitation course. I had to go onto a waiting list at my local public hospital but it was 100% worth the wait.
After that I was fortunate enough to take part in the pilot program for ExMed Cancer. If you are in Victoria you should check them out.
https://www.exmedcancer.org.au
Otherwise, an exercise physiologist is the way to go. They are trained and skilled in tailoring programs for people recovering from illness. Your GP should be able to refer you to a good one in your area. Failing that you can use this online tool:
www.essa.org.au/find
You can get five subsidised appointments on an allied health plan through your GP.
I did a lot of walking, and it's a great place to start, but I think to really start feeling stronger again you have to work more muscles! Like most exercise the key is to find one you can bear, if not enjoy! I love pilates, and the right kind of yoga can be a good thing as well. I can't abide a swimming pool but others love it!
You are going to have to be patient though. It doesn't happen quickly.
Personally I am unclear how much my current physical limitations are due to chemo damage or Letrozole. Or a combination of both. I'm hoping that when I eventually come off Letrozole I will be pleasantly surprised!
Good luck, and take care, K xox6 -
Hi @kmakm I've been told Letrolze will be the drug I am to go on after radiation. I have read a bit and hope I dont have too much joint pain. Already have dodgy knees! I did look into exmed and may look into this after radiation. @Zoffiel I think you are both right about the new normal. Cheers xxx1
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kmakm said:Hi @ChezaH and @Locksley. I think you're tumbling headfirst into the reality of the 'new normal'. My oncologist told me it takes a year to recover from chemotherapy. Everyone who's actually had chemo told me two to five years.
The first thing I did was an oncology rehabilitation course. I had to go onto a waiting list at my local public hospital but it was 100% worth the wait.
After that I was fortunate enough to take part in the pilot program for ExMed Cancer. If you are in Victoria you should check them out.
https://www.exmedcancer.org.au
Otherwise, an exercise physiologist is the way to go. They are trained and skilled in tailoring programs for people recovering from illness. Your GP should be able to refer you to a good one in your area. Failing that you can use this online tool:
www.essa.org.au/find
You can get five subsidised appointments on an allied health plan through your GP.
I did a lot of walking, and it's a great place to start, but I think to really start feeling stronger again you have to work more muscles! Like most exercise the key is to find one you can bear, if not enjoy! I love pilates, and the right kind of yoga can be a good thing as well. I can't abide a swimming pool but others love it!
You are going to have to be patient though. It doesn't happen quickly.
Personally I am unclear how much my current physical limitations are due to chemo damage or Letrozole. Or a combination of both. I'm hoping that when I eventually come off Letrozole I will be pleasantly surprised!
Good luck, and take care, K xoxThank you, and the oncology rehabilitation course, are you a nurse or med person, I did a search and it says it add training courses ? I tried ExMed have sent them an email, as I could not find anything about it being in Queensland, I am on the Gold Coast. Yes I will certainly check out a health plan from my GP.Yes I am thinking that because I am on Als I wont recover as quickly as I want LOL. But I am starting to walk, and I am also looking into water aerobics as well.Really appreciate your suggestions Cheers Cheryl x0 -
Zoffiel said:If you have access to aqua aerobics I'd recommend it. I also benefited hugely from yoga and body balance/pilates classes. I found organised exercise classes worked for me (until work got in the way) as set times and group motivation made it easier to make myself actually do it. Yes, it costs, but I had the benefit of an 'open door' grant from the local sports complex that was available when I wasn't working.
In the end, I think it takes time. I'm 3 years post my last treatment and have resolved that I will never get my old energy levels back. That said, even twelve months ago I would not have imagined I would be able to be working full time (and some) now.
I can be my own worst enemy and I'd probably be better off if I was more rigorous about my diet and gave up the wine. Life is all about compromises--I've accepted that my vices cost me but that is my choice. Hang in there. MxxThanks for that, yes I used to do water aerobics so I am looking into that, as well as walking, so a good start, but not too fast. What did you mean about drinking wine , as I do ?Cheers Cheryl x1 -
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Cath62 said:Hi @ChezaH,
I am sorry you are feeling as you do.
I must have been really lucky as despite all the fatigue I never stopped walking all through chemo and radium. I have been taking tamoxifen for about the same time as you. I take it every morning an hr or so after my thyroid tablet. I have battled fatigue with my thyroid for 8 yrs and now have fatigue post treatment but I just push through. I find no matter how fatigued I am a good walk helps me. I have rebuilt some fitness and now my walks are 50 mins 6 days per week.
I added pilates once a week to help build muscle and it really helps. I do mine with a physio. I also started water aerobics once a week. It is so lovely in the water and everyone works as soft or hard as they want but it sure feels nice in the water and it is easy on the joints and muscles. Is that something that may work for you. Our local council pool in Brisbane has classes and it is $10 per class for 45 mins. I just love it.
I wonder if an exercise physiologist would help. I saw one during chemo and they gave me a few exercises to help the bigger muscles like the thighs. They are really good and it may help motivate too especially if there are any around you that have classes for ladies who have had BC. The one I saw had a zoom pink class during the year and I did that (I did what I could).
These are just s few ideas for consideration.
I hope you feel better soon. Be kind to yourself, maybe chat to your doctor too. Not good to feel that way.Thanks for your suggestions, Yes i used to do water aerobics so I am going to chase that up and start, as I really liked it.I guess I am frustrated that I am not back to me, and I realize that maybe I won't, but at least I have a plan
to start. Thanks again Cheers Cheryl xx
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Good on you @ChezaH. The water feels great. I am not back to how I was either but I think I had bad fatigue before I was diagnosed with BC. It is a symptom which I never new. I thought I was just getting older. I still get days I can't do anything and I just go with that. I want to go to bed by 7.30/8pm and if I do then that's how it is. I just accept my limitations and when my energy is there that's great. I guess what I do is prioritise my exercise as that's for me to rebuild. Having the plan helps gain some control. Just make the plan achievable so there is no failure and bit by bit you will get there.0
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@ChezaH It's no secret that wine adds weight, which doesn't help if your energy levels are low and are struggling with keeping yourself sufficiently mobile. It's also not good for any inflammatory conditions.
In my experience, it can also cause falling down--an added risk if your balance is already shot--but you have to progress to advanced plonk consumption before that little challenge presents itself.
Some expert opinion is that there is no safe consumption level if you want to avoid harm. Those experts can fuck off and spoil someone else's party as far as I'm concerned. As I said, we all make compromises. Marg XX4 -
Hey @ChezaH. No, not medical. Just have a mind that's curious and traps the stuff!
I think ExMed is only Victorian at this stage. There have been some good recommendations for the Gold Coast here over the years. Perhaps do a search on this website using that phrase ('Gold Coast') and see what turns up. K xox0 -
Hi @ChezaH
I’m still on oral chemo for a couple more months, but my last surgery was in June last year following chemo and rads. It’s been such a long frustrating and hard road back to where I was with my fitness.
I started with barely able to be able to walk to the house next door, then to the corner, then around the block, and now I am up to over an hour. It helps to have two big dogs that won’t take no for an answer!!
Im also lap swimming and stationary bike riding now, I built those up very slowly too. Bike riding started at 2 mins a day, now I’m up to 20!
I feel so much better too. It takes a long time, but you will get there, and you are worth it. My onco gave me a pep talk when I was feeling like you, she told me I had to extend myself beyond my comfort zone as I was too weak. I did the it with guidance from a sports physio.
Rehab is hard work..... I kind of look at it as my job now!
I’m also thinking of doing pink Pilates, it’s a specialised Pilates for BC people like us.
I am not a fitness junkie, I just do all this to keep myself strong and to feel better
Caz xx
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