Exercise and CP

So... You all know how great I feel? I'm sorry I keep bringing it up but this is so newfor me. Well... I want to work on losing some weight and maybe even (dare I say) try dating again sometime next year. Now with my patch I know Iccan'texercise... but I'm considering making my patch exchange in the morning instead of night and on the day of the change, going to the gym and exercising for maybe an hour (if my Dr says its okay), has anyone tried that?

How do you workout or exercise with CP?

I'm not familiar with patches, so bear with me.

Why can't you exercise?  I'd think "exercise" is relevant as well as relative.  It doesn't mean you have to work up a sweat, go running, take a spin class,...

It can be walking....rowing,...using a recumbent bike.....

I walk on the treadmill and I walk slow, hands on the railings (but not a death grip)...it's just about getting our bodies moving, not breaking them down.

Just a bit, to get started.

As your stamina increases, you'll be able to walk a little farther or faster without sweating as much as you may now, the first time you start an exercise program.

I think some people get scared because they equate "exercise" with marathon training.

Be gentle with yourself, just be consistent. 

(hugs)

M.

I understand that raising your body temperature can potentially dump the medication into your system, but do the instructions specifically state to refrain from exercise?

I get things like avoiding hot showers, hot tubs, hot weather, excessive sweating, humidity, probably even fevers... but avoiding exercise?

Again, I'm a total noob on patches, learning more as I go.

Exercise doesn't have to be sweaty.  If you just walk.  If you live where it's hot, join an A/C gym, get on a treadmill and stroll. 

I think that's what I was getting at...the term "exercise" does not have to equate with marathon training.  Gentle movements to keep your body going,...(not knock you out!)

Does that make sense?  (Or am I still not getting the full understanding?) 

M.

PS:  It's cool to see you feeling so amazing!  :)

Ahh, okay, now I understand.  So it reads:  Avoid strenuous exercise, not avoid exercise all-together.  Gotcha.

Not sure if you recall, but for (almost) the past 20 years, I've worked as a personal trainer, and the majority of my clients were what might be classified as "difficult."  I was the "go to" when it came to back problems and joint replacements, and I had many clients who suffered from multiple health issues that most trainers shied away from.

Here's my opinion, just jot it down and mull it over:  I don't know your history or physical condition or limitations, so please understand I'm sharing ideas from the standpoint of a trainer, not a medical professional.

You said you do "light exercise" now.  What does that include?  For how long?  How often?

You can also do "moderate exercise"....(as long as we avoid "strenuous")...  The big, huge, and definitive marker here is "strenuous."

Bearing in mind I know very little about your specific circumstances, if I were to work with a client with similar concerns, one of the last things I would do is get them on an elliptical machine.

I would also make sure they understood all those little "labels" on the machines that talk about "target heart rate" and "fat burning zone" are wrong and off-base entirely.

I'd be happy to share some thoughts and ideas with you on what I would do....

As a CP patient myself, having had many clients, (more than most personal trainers) who also suffered from CP, my insight includes a lot of instinct and being able to relate because I, myself, have experienced so many of the typical CP symptoms.

That's why I view my "curse" of CP has also been my "blessing," because it gives me compassion, insight, understanding,....

It's exciting to see how motivated and eager you are!  Plus how happy you are about doing this. 

M.

Sorry it took so long to respond.  I was at PT.  :)

What is your resting heart rate?  (Take it first thing in the morning, again in the afternoon, again at night,...tell me what the 3 numbers are, as generally, they will vary).

Realistically, how long do you want to spend at the gym per exercise time?

Realistically, how often per week do you want to spend at the gym exercising?

Do you have any physical limitations?  Restrictions? 

How does your CP figure into your mobility?

M.

So if we work in one to two week increments...

Each time at the gym will be 15 minutes?  You can dedicate 15 mins each time you go?

How often per week, again, realistically.

And when it's 15 minutes, it means 15,...not less, and even nor more!  There's math involved and truly, a method to how to calculate this.

I need to know where the CP affects you, what triggers it, what limitations you have.

And your resting heart rate is how I'm going to get guidelines to you to make sure YOU do not get your HR too high.  It's personal and individual.  So what one person's "range" would be may be quite different than yours.

Does the equipment at your gym have a treadmill or recumbent bike that has HR monitors (so you can grasp onto the silver handles and it'll give you a read out?)

You'll get up to the elipticals!

Again, it's important to know how CP affects your activity, and what physical restrictions you have.  (It'll all make sense as we go along).

M.

If you get me the information re: YOUR resting heart rate, I can help teach you  how to keep your exercise to "moderate" and steady so you don't overheat.

Do the machines have those silver handled heart rate monitors you can hold onto that will read your rate?  That's the crucial part of the puzzle.

And 3-4 days is fine.

One week, 15 minutes maximum per day,....and I'll give you an example of how to gauge your HR, etc., and what a good "range" is for you.

Week two will be different.

Treadmill (no incline) or recumbent bike to start...but need to watch the heart rate.

Let me know your pulse, and I'll work the specifics out for you!

M.

And yes, they have the heart monitor things on the handrails. They also beep audibly if my heart rate goes too rapidly.

Thank again so much!
Linds

That's the thing though,...those machines don't know what YOUR healthy range is for now.

You may need to slow down before it beeps.  That's why I need your resting pulse.  If it's 60, your guidelines are different than if it's 90.  And I still need to tell you what to do when your HR gets to a certain number.

M.

I'm sorry Susie. I was hoping more folks would offer some advice... Especially those with Fentanyl. But I'll take the conversation to Merrida to email. Is it okay for me to keep the thread up?

Glad you're feeling good Linds.My buddy's been going to Absolute Fitness for about a month.There's a class 1x or 2x times a week.It's for people in all of our conditions.

It sounds like a cross between Yoga,Palletes(sp),and Physical Therapy.

I got a 7 day guest pass off their Website and am going next week.

All I may do is lay on the floor on a mat.

I've come to the realization that if I don't do something to stop the advance of my arthritis that I'm not going to be able to walk in a couple of years.

I'll keep y'all posted,
Rick

Good morning Linds! I am on the fent patch (12 and 25 every other day). Even if you ran a marathon, your core body temp shouldn't go higher than, say, 103. The body temperature thing is really about hot water and having fevers. You'll notice when you exercise that your actual arm skin is super cool to the touch - just as nature intended. I probably wouldn't put the patch on your lower back or your chest when you work out but there are definitely some spots that get cooler when you work out.

I also think that your idea is totally valid, if you're still concerned. My ONLY concern is that these patches are sensitive enough that missing two hours (working out, followed by a shower/getting dressed & re-patched), you will notice that dip. I have accidentally missed the time of my patch by a few hours and definitely started getting the chill/sweat thing until the next patch began to enter my system again. Do you have any B/T meds that you can take immediately after so that you can keep your base opiate level fairly even?

Overall what exercises and/or stretches do you think are good for people with chronic pain and illness?

"Thanks!