Working Out with Ulcerative Colitis
I don't workout, not my cup of tea. - 20.7% - 6 votes
I don't workout because I find it makes my symptoms worse. - 3.4% - 1 votes
I workout and find that it doesn't make a difference when it comes to U.C. - 17.2% - 5 votes
I workout but find that it does have a negative impact on my U.C, though there are other positive things I get from exercising. - 13.8% - 4 votes
I workout and it actually helps my U.C. a little bit. - 6.9% - 2 votes
I am confident that working out is greatly helping me with my U.C. symptoms. - 10.3% - 3 votes
I don't workout, not my cup of tea. - 0.0% - 0 votes
I don't workout because I find it makes my symptoms worse. - 0.0% - 0 votes
I workout and find that it doesn't make a difference when it comes to U.C. - 13.8% - 4 votes
I workout but find that it does have a negative impact on my U.C, though there are other positive things I get from exercising. - 3.4% - 1 votes
I workout and it actually helps my U.C. a little bit. - 3.4% - 1 votes
I am confident that working out is greatly helping me with my U.C. symptoms. - 6.9% - 2 votes
Posted 10/18/2009 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
Just a survey in regards to how working out/exercising has helped or worsened your U.C.
Alan
Posted 10/18/2009 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
For some reason each survey option appears twice. Please choose an answer from the top set of choices. Thanks!
songlady
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2009
Posts : 3840
Posted 10/18/2009 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Alan -
How about
a yet different answer: I don't work out at the moment (arthritis issues) but when I did, it never affected my UC one way or the other.
Posted 10/18/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
songlady, is it osteoarthritis or from the UC? Since I've been riding my bike to class (it comes to about
four miles total I think, I park far away), my arthritis has been pretty good, even when the weather changes =) It is hard to get started, and it does hurt at first, but after a while it's good. Even if my knee hurts when I wake up, once I get going on my bike it usually stops.
And I don't want to answer the survey because when I worked out while flaring I was also on pred, so it would be a skewed answer.
Posted 10/19/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I would like to work out but I am so exhausted a lot of the time - it is hard to motivate.
Supa
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2008
Posts : 748
Posted 10/19/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
I do exercise regularly, but I have to do gentle exercises-nothing like I used to. As soon as I try to exercise the way I used to be able to, I start seeing more blood and having more issues.
Once recently I tried switching my workouts to the early morning and immediately started flaring. My acupuncturist was not surprised and said that UC'ers she works with often have trouble first thing in the morning. She said her daughter can't even schedule her college classes before 10am.
I wish I could work out like I once did. Alas, it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for me anymore.
pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 10/19/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have crohn's colitis, but I will say that working out has helped plenty with my disease as well as overall health...most docs will advocate daily regular exercise for IBDers because there are benefits and not exercising with IBD could be even worse because regular exercise can help keep some things at bay, like arthritis which can be asociated with IBD and exercise aids with bowel function...so even if you can't do intense workouts on a regular basis (due to severity of flares) mild is fine as long as you're doing something.
:)
subdued
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 3231
Posted 10/19/2009 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
It depends on how severe the flare and on what type of exercise it is. I found that jumping and spinning made me bleed worse when flaring. Other than that, exercise has been great for relieving my stress and strengthening my body, both of which are good for keeping the body healthy. Stress also increases the risk of autoimmune disorders. Exercise and meditation can help reduce stress--not just stress at the moment but also our ability to handle stress overall. I would imagine this would help reduce flares or the extent of flares, especially in the long run.
puffed rice
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2008
Posts : 495
Posted 10/19/2009 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I go to the gym every morning and workout for at least 60minutes. I find that it calms my stomach and brain and once I start exercising the urgency is gone. After I'm done I feel like I have so much energy for the rest of the day. It's definately a MUST DO for me.
mandalyn
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 25
Posted 10/19/2009 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I run every day, it does give me energy, but getting the motivation is sometimes hard.. :P
Posted 10/19/2009 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Pancolitisandfightingit,
My answers don't really fit into your survey. During a mild flare, moderate exercise helps a lot. During a major flare, I have no energy for exercise. I can exercise on prednisone but not during the taper. This time I was hit with really bad joint swelling at 10 mg. When I am in remission exercise is a must to keep my body healthy. Regular exercise during remission equals a longer remission. When I start skipping/missing activities, I start sliding into a flare. I also start eating my comfort foods which are all inflammatory for me.
Posted 10/19/2009 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
When I was flaring, exercise made me feel worse, it added to my fatigue and increased most of my symptoms. As soon as I started recovery, however, gentle exercise helped everything and now regular daily workouts are helping me stay in remission.
princesa
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 10/19/2009 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with pb4. I'd add that heavy weight training was key in helping me regain healthy weight. Weight training, combined with a healthier diet and healing supplements, helped me surpass my former "normal" weight and gain into the real normal range. Looking better than ever was a nice benefit, too.
songlady
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2009
Posts : 3840
Posted 10/20/2009 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Elephantpipe -
It's osteoarthritis. I was able to exercise despite it for a long time - a year ago I was walking 1.5 miles a day and horseback riding at least once a week, biking, and... we've been renovating our house. Now if I spend a couple of hours in the garden I wake in excruciating pain every night for at least 2 weeks after!
My bone density is good, so... I don't know if those 2 years of Pred contributed to this or not. I'm starting with a new ortho in a few weeks, so... we'll see.
kazygirl
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 955
Posted 10/20/2009 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
i think you need to add an answer on there...
i dont work out because i feel so terrible that the thought of exercise is incomprehensible!