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Exercise and UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/22/2014 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not exercising....I was always a bit lazy with regard to exercising, but I did it, and now I find that the slightest bit of exercise leaves me feeling very tired, for example I walked my dogs the other day, and I felt so tired afterwards that I had to have a nap, the same with gentle swimming. Is this the norm? Do you exercise, and if so what do you do?
Posted 3/22/2014 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I'm probably not the best one to answer, since I haven't dealt with much of the fatigue that many with UC have to suffer through. However I have always felt strongly about the power of having a strong core, a la Pilates. As such I do about an hour every other day in the gym, with a heavy focus on ab exercises. When I was flaring badly a couple of months ago I found that those ab exercises helped to relieve bloating gas, which came with great relief. Running, if you can do it, offers the same benefit. Some years ago I could tell when my UC was not completely under control because my gut would ache. I swore that increasing ab exercises for a time warded off further issues. Probably more placebo than anything, but the results were still good.

Oh, exercise doesn't come easy for me either. Just went two weeks without stepping foot in the gym, but got over it earlier this week.
Posted 3/22/2014 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Fatigue is a symptom of UC for most people, particularly when their disease is flaring. Be a little gentle with yourself, maybe just a short walk to start with. If you need a nap, take one. If you're like most of us when we're in a flare you don't get a really good night's sleep anyway, and sleep is important for healing. Right now healing is your most important priority. Try to maintain as much tone as you can, and you can get back to regular workouts when you get the healing well underway.
Posted 3/22/2014 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I exercise everyday. When I am flaring, I am usually too tired and drained to exercise daily so I will just do my best. I am usually dealing with fatigue to some extent, it's always a challenge to motivate but I find that once I get going, I can get into it and complete my goals. I do basic cardio/running.
Posted 3/22/2014 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
My GI is strongly against exercising during a flare. When I first became her patient I was actively flaring but had been stubbornly sticking to my normal workout routine, which was intense, and she insisted that I had to dial back to nothing but easy walking. Her argument is that when you're trying to come out of a flare, your body needs to focus its resources on healing your intestine and working out would divert resources to building/healing muscle.
Posted 3/22/2014 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
yup, I would just focus on the napping part = do what you need to do and put everything else on the way back burner -
Posted 3/22/2014 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
when i'm flaring, i put exercise on the back burner. i figure my body is too sick enough to even absorb anything let alone stand so there's no point in adding extra exertion. when i feel good, i exercise most days of the week. i don't always have time with work but if i can squeeze in 30 minutes of high intensity exercises in the morning, then i feel better during the day. i prefer morning exercise since that helps me poop in the morning. i hate going somewhere when i haven't pooped and it seems exercise helps with that.

i'm generally tired ALL THE TIME but after exercise, i usually feel energized for a few hours.
Posted 3/22/2014 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
I work with a bunch of nurses and they all believe exercise is important, at least 30 min. of something every day. Of course they don't mean to exercise if you have the flu, or a fever, but regular body aches and pains shouldn't stop you - and yes I put UC into this category.

Another thing to remember is exercise creates energy. Just so I don't sound too preachy here, notice I'm typing this at 3:30am! That's because after my morning coffee "gets the UC out of me," I plan to go on another hike this morning up a VERY steep mountain. I'm early because I also have a work event to attend later this morning. After I'm empty (thanks to the coffee) I use a Mesalamine enema - try to retain it for at least 5-10 min, and then empty again. I've noticed this routine keeps me really stable for the entire day.

On other mornings I may walk my dog for an hour (it's about 3 miles). Again...only after I'm empty! :)

John
Posted 3/22/2014 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have learned to not exercise when flaring. My body is unable to extract sufficient nutrients just for normal everyday activities so I am usually fatigued and ravenous. Once the fatigue and hunger vanish then I start exercising again.
Posted 3/22/2014 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
So thats my problem. 

I did intervals on my treadmill yesterday morning and had to take an hour nap by 1:00pm.  I've been mentioning to my oncologist that I'm ALWAYS tired and even had a thyroid test taken.  Thyroid disease is rampant in my family.  Beside everything else, I figured I was becoming old and lazy.

I have always been getting at least 4 workouts a week and never knew about fatigue and U/C.

Guess I'll tone it down a bit.  Currently working my way out of a flare.

Meds-Lialda 3 in the a.m. 1 nightly.  Did that for 4 days with 1/2 Rowasa nightly and its working.  A full bottle was like flushing a radiator.
  Today I'm going down to 3 lialda daily.

I'm so grateful for the support boards!  I have mentioned to my GI, GP, and Onc about the fatigue and none of them mentioned it could be from the UC.

 

Posted 3/22/2014 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies...I was diagnosed on the 8th February, not that long ago, I'm doing really well, no blood now for about 2 weeks, and I don't have pain. Judging from your comments I think I need to start doing some gentle exercise, maybe every other day, and I can always take a nap If I need to afterwards, without feeling guilty. I really had no idea whether it was a good idea to exercise or not, so thanks for the that. smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/22/2014 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
There's research been going on in the UK to try and do more to understand and help fatigue in IBD
www.fatigueinibd.co.uk/

For me, finding the balance in exercise is key. Over exertion definitely makes things worse when my immune system is fighting. Under exertion when I am well often seems to be part of the puzzle of a flare.

I have often heard autoimmune disease clinicians talk of how their patients need more rest and how vigorous exercise often is counterproductive - however, a sedentary lifestyle is not great either. Probably this is going to partly depend on your genetics as some people's genetics mean they do better with short, sharp vigorous activity and others not for instance.

I am sure I read some research recently on what happens to the gut microbiota during marathon running, they were looking into why a good proportion of distance runners develop IBS.
Posted 3/22/2014 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Im a full on outdoor bum. Ski almost everyday in the winter and run and bike in the summer. Last year I ran a 40 mile trail race. For better or worse I try to stay active even when flaring. Last summer I went into my worst flare a couple of days after hurting my knee. Stress was probably the main cause. I have been very active my whole life but my uc started when I started running. My doc thinks there is no connection but im not sure. Biking seems to be much better for my system and seems to shut down my symptoms while riding. Still have not decided if im going to run this summer. If my UC gets too much in the way of my outdoor lifestyle then out comes the colon.
Obviously if you feel like total crap then maybe a nice walk in the woods would be the best option.
The world is my toilet
good luck
Posted 3/22/2014 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
As mentioned I'm a bit lazy with exercise, and I've put on weight since being diagnosed with UC, so I know I'm not doing enough. I know finding the right balance in exercise is important, so I'm going to try walking my dogs in the morning, early, as last time I took them out it was hot as hell!....In hindsight that probably did not help. Thanks for the link I'm going to look at it.
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