Those with chronic illness -- what do you do for execrise

[Anonymous]

I have chronic kidney disease and I am struggling with regaining strength.

I walk a lot, do yoga, but I have lost a lot of weight and am very weak. I used to lift pretty heavy but I really can't any more.

I have to watch the creatinine level in my blood and lifting heavy creates creatinine.

But honestly even when I lift moderately it leaves me exhausted for several days. And because I have kidney disease, I cannot eat a lot of protein, which you need to build muscle.

Anyone else out there with one of the big chronic illnesses (CKD, CF, ME, Lupus, MS) have any advice or insight?

[Anonymous]

Do you have access to a pool? I find water excercise to work well when I can do it. I do yoga but focus on poses that target certain areas (like arms, core, etc.). I have ankylosing spondylitis as well as early stage of iga nephropathy. Interested in hearing from others as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have access to a pool? I find water excercise to work well when I can do it. I do yoga but focus on poses that target certain areas (like arms, core, etc.). I have ankylosing spondylitis as well as early stage of iga nephropathy. Interested in hearing from others as well.

I have avoided pools b/c of covid, but come summer I have access to an outdoor pool. Pools are a good idea!

[Anonymous]

I have a cardiac arrhythmia that really limits my ability to do cardio. I have worked with my doctor on a walking plan. I also do strength/stretching workouts that are about 20 min long and keep my body feeling strong and limber.

I have had a really hard time with this because I used to be an extremely active person who ran and did HIIT workouts multiple times per week. The change in my body has been hard but also, I’m not getting the mental benefit from working out that I used to get. It’s depressing. I feel for you!

[Anonymous]

My 70 year old mother, who has had MS most of her adult life, loves to walk. Her handicap has spared her legs, although she has increasing balance issues and is at risk for falls. My father holds her arm and they walk an hour a day. They like nothing better than to go on walking holidays. She nearly drowned when she tried swimming, because of sudden and unpredictable inability to move her limbs, so swimming is out of the question. Brisk walking might be all the cardio you need, perhaps with small weights for your arms!

I heartily recommend yoga, OP. It makes you use all kinds of muscles you didn’t know you had. I love it. Hate cardio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 70 year old mother, who has had MS most of her adult life, loves to walk. Her handicap has spared her legs, although she has increasing balance issues and is at risk for falls. My father holds her arm and they walk an hour a day. They like nothing better than to go on walking holidays. She nearly drowned when she tried swimming, because of sudden and unpredictable inability to move her limbs, so swimming is out of the question. Brisk walking might be all the cardio you need, perhaps with small weights for your arms!

I heartily recommend yoga, OP. It makes you use all kinds of muscles you didn’t know you had. I love it. Hate cardio.

I have a mom with MS in her 70s who never exercised. She can’t walk, sit unassisted, or even feed herself today. Keeping in shape is even more front and center in my mind now after reading your post. I have long felt she should have exercised. I have RA and exercise 30 minutes almost everyday in hopes of maintaining mobility, strength, and stamina. Good for your mom!

[Anonymous]

I have a similar issue (extreme fatigue after working out). This program for autoimmune/chronic pain was recommended to me by my dietician. She’s recommended it to her clients fit years. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks very gentle & supportive.

https://www.getautoimmunestrong.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a similar issue (extreme fatigue after working out). This program for autoimmune/chronic pain was recommended to me by my dietician. She’s recommended it to her clients fit years. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks very gentle & supportive.

https://www.getautoimmunestrong.com/

Thank you! I will check this out.

[Anonymous]

Maybe invest in a really good personal trainer? Once you learn all of the exercises, you can discontinue.

[Anonymous]

I can sound too trite but I would recommend you not to give up, keep going and you will notice the results of your hard work soon. Even if you feel weak, your body is becoming stronger with every exercise. I would also recommend you to check some exercised and tips here. They helped me to deal with my back pain.

[Anonymous]

I have some chronic pain issues. For me, I have learned I need to progress really slowly with any type of exercise. It ca be really frustrating, but it is much better to go slow than have to backtrack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can sound too trite but I would recommend you not to give up, keep going and you will notice the results of your hard work soon. Even if you feel weak, your body is becoming stronger with every exercise. I would also recommend you to check some exercised and tips here. They helped me to deal with my back pain.

I know you mean well, but this is actually not true for people who have exercise intolerance. It can make us sicker.

So much of the norms of the fitness world simply do not apply to us.

[Anonymous]

You might like pilates or barre classes. Sometimes they use light weights in bar but mostly it's high repetitions/resistance work. Wishing you good health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 70 year old mother, who has had MS most of her adult life, loves to walk. Her handicap has spared her legs, although she has increasing balance issues and is at risk for falls. My father holds her arm and they walk an hour a day. They like nothing better than to go on walking holidays. She nearly drowned when she tried swimming, because of sudden and unpredictable inability to move her limbs, so swimming is out of the question. Brisk walking might be all the cardio you need, perhaps with small weights for your arms!

I heartily recommend yoga, OP. It makes you use all kinds of muscles you didn’t know you had. I love it. Hate cardio.

I have a mom with MS in her 70s who never exercised. She can’t walk, sit unassisted, or even feed herself today. Keeping in shape is even more front and center in my mind now after reading your post. I have long felt she should have exercised. I have RA and exercise 30 minutes almost everyday in hopes of maintaining mobility, strength, and stamina. Good for your mom!

I’m sure exercise would have helped your mom somewhat, but she does have MS. Please don’t blame her for her disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 70 year old mother, who has had MS most of her adult life, loves to walk. Her handicap has spared her legs, although she has increasing balance issues and is at risk for falls. My father holds her arm and they walk an hour a day. They like nothing better than to go on walking holidays. She nearly drowned when she tried swimming, because of sudden and unpredictable inability to move her limbs, so swimming is out of the question. Brisk walking might be all the cardio you need, perhaps with small weights for your arms!

I heartily recommend yoga, OP. It makes you use all kinds of muscles you didn’t know you had. I love it. Hate cardio.

I have a mom with MS in her 70s who never exercised. She can’t walk, sit unassisted, or even feed herself today. Keeping in shape is even more front and center in my mind now after reading your post. I have long felt she should have exercised. I have RA and exercise 30 minutes almost everyday in hopes of maintaining mobility, strength, and stamina. Good for your mom!

I’m sure exercise would have helped your mom somewhat, but she does have MS. Please don’t blame her for her disabilities.

I don’t blame her for having MS. She made excuses for not wanting to keep active or to do the PT and other things her doctors suggested. The role of exercise/maintaining muscles for stability is really important as we age and even more so with some chronic diseases. Truth isn’t always warm and fuzzy, especially when I’m left to see she gets round the clock medical care.