Exercise survey

[anonymous]

I know its been done before but there are also some new people around so I wanted to ask, how many of you guys out there exercise? Do any of you exercise with oxygen? Its AMAZING how low O2 sats go when exercising...even on normal people they go lower, (i tested it with my mother and boyfriend).

I used to run or exercise when I could but generally hate exercising so it was a struggle to get motivated. I did a walk test and they found my sats were dropping significantly during exercise even though they arent too bad normally, so they suggest I use O2 when I decide to work out. Only problem is I used to really like to run outside, and now also I dont really want to go to my school gym or any public gym w/ oxygen..that is just me. But I am working on getting something for my apartment just needs to be small enough...but good. Anyway, thats my story, or the exercise part of it...

just curious of everyone else

Caitlin

 

[anonymous]

I walk with my mother-in-law at the gym, dont need oxygen tho. I also do coed softball or at least I did this year and hope to continue next year.

Jennifer (PrincessJDC)

Peace, Love and Happiness <img src="i/expressions/angel.gif" border="0">

 

[candigirl]

Hi Caitlin, have you tried doing a breathing treatment right before you exercize? I do a albuterol treatment before and keep my inhaler with me. It works wonders!!!! And im able to finish exercizing without the shortness of breath. Just a thought, hope It all works out for you . Bye for now Candi

 

[serendipity730]

I second what Candi said. Exercise is considerable easier for me after a treament.<img src="i/expressions/nebulizer.gif" border="0">
I love these new CF smiley faces. I wish I could get them for AIM!

 

[miesl]

If we plan on running, Jeremy does his vest first - He coughs up more gunk, and he feels better when we're running. If we're hiking - he does an albuterol/atrovent neb first.

When we're walking, climbing or weight lifting - he doesn't have any problems.

 

[anonymous]

I swam competitively from age 9-18. I always coughed a lot at first, but then I would get a second wind. In college I went (almost) everyday to aerobics. Again, I'd cough and then be fine. The coughing was always a little embarrassing, but what could I do about it? Personally, I probably wouldn't have done it if I'd had to have had oxygen, but as Caitlin said, that's just me. After college, I haven't done as much rigorous exercise. I still swim in the summers at my dad's pool, I practice yoga every week and I played on a volleyball league this past summer. I noticed that I was breathing very heavily throught the entire games, but whether or not my O2 dipped, I don't know. I was able to play the entire games without being overly fatigued, so if it did drop, I'd guess it was minimal. Keep exercising! I can't help but believe it is part of why I have been able to remain pretty healthy.
wanderlost 28 w/CF

 

[Diane]

I walk on my treadmill here and there and on the days that i dont i try to do other small things to "sneak" in some exercise. Like parking farther away from a store entrance so i am forced to walk a little more. Walking just about every aisle in a store( keeps my mind occupied so it doesnt feel like exercise) Vacuuming a little longer than i need to, ANYTHING that keeps me moving , makes me feel like i am making some headway on the days i dont officially exercise. When i was younger i used to play soccer, roller skate, run, swim, this , that and just about everything without ever realizing it was probably what kept me so healthy. Gosh if i only had THAT kind of energy again.................................................

 

[anonymous]

I laughed when I read your response Diane, my energy levels have gone on a 'go slow', which can be very frustrating some days. In the past I have played alot of tennis, but since my diagnosis of diabetes and cepacia my mind is willing but the bod tells me otherwise! I am managing one night of tennis a week, It takes alot from me, I am pretty tired the following day, but the lungs get a good workout. I, too do alot of walking {supermarket aisles} and lugging the lux.......but always try to reserve energy for the best form of exercise... and as adults we all know what that is!!!

Cheers Eileen.<img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">

 

[cfgirl2008]

I love to do exercises especially when im in the hospital cause they have a gym. I like to do bicycling, treadmill, swimming, etc. I also want to try the ab lounger.


Tiffany 15 w/cf

 

[HollyCatheryn]

I also swam as a kid (from about 12-18) on the city and school teams. It was great exercise and did wonders for keeping my lungs clear when I didn't want to do treatments - those were the days!End of August, I found a local pool and got back in the water. I started with 3 days a week doing 30 minutes (right after my early morning treatment). I try to go before everyone else is up, so that when I get home I can step right into the swing of the day. I notice a BIG difference on the days I swim. My breathing doesn't get tight as early in the afternoon and I seem to cough up stuff more easily. I've recently increased to doing 4 days a week. I didn't like how I felt when I had two days in a row out of the pool. It has been hard to adjust.I haven't actually used an oxymeter while swimming, but I do usually have a bit of a headache when I get out. I have assumed it was a low-oxygen headache. I also get a tiny bit dizzy sometimes. That signals that I need to ease up on my pace, but I usually try to push myself as much as I can take it. It is amazing how much just being submerged up to your shoulders challenges your breathing. I've thought that if I ever couldn't swim, I'd water-walk or something because breathing against the water-pressure is such good exercise itself. I haven't seen an improvement in my PFTs yet (only been doing this a couple of months), but I am sure I will. I want to slow or reverse some of the decline I've been seeing. If anything can help, I know exercise can!

 

[cfgirl38]

I too have to use O2 while exersicing. I have been on it since March. It is very hard to get over that phychological bump of wearing your O2 in front of people but once you do you'll feel better. People are much more accepting of it I think. Or they have been with me anyway. The more comfortable you feel about it the better they will feel around you. I exercised a bit before O2 and now my endurance is much better with the O2. Keep exercising it really helps to keep the illnesses to a minimum. I like the new icons too. HeeHee.<img src="i/expressions/oxygen.gif" border="0">

 

[jamey]

i go to pulmonary rehab 3 days a week for exercise. i do 20-30 minutes treadmill at 2mph,25 minutes on recumbant bike and 15 minutes of the arm crank thing. im normally on 5 liters of o2 but when i exercise i use 6 liters

 

[anonymous]

i guess the tough psychological thing about O2 is that people dont necessarily understand it, understand why you would necessarily EXERCISE if you needed it to begin with. its amazing how many people ask me if I shouldn't exercise, or if its bad for me....

i love stairmasters and wish i could get some kind of miniature kind, maybe even a stepper, for my apartment so i can do it here. something about stairclimbing i kind of like...
becky, how much O2 are you on for exercising? do you use it otherwise, like while sleeping?


-caitlin

 

[anonymous]

<img src="i/expressions/iv.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/nebulizer.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/oxygen.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/gas.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Caitlin,
I am also surpirized how many people think that we shouldn't exercise. When I first met my husband and told him about my CF, I remember him once trying to stop me from blowing up some balloons! It's hard for people to understand that it is GOOD for us! And all that coughing is actually cleaning out our lungs!
wanderlost 28w/CF

 

[JazzysMom]

***Does anyone remember, know or realize if the people that ??? us exercising do exercising themselves? It would seem to me that if you dont exercise & dont know the physical benefits (other than losing weight) then how would you know that its good for someone with a respiratory problem. Just food for thought!

 

[anonymous]

I don't use excersise but I probley should I do alot of weight lifting and try not to ever do cardio because it is to hard. I never thought and no one has ever said anything about using oxygen I should probley try using oxygen so that I do more cardio.
SHAVONICA

 

[anonymous]

Rather simple, exercise or die. In the 1950's and 1960's they told CF's not to exercise ( I paid zero attention). Hiked one hour today in the snow at 4,600 feet. Downhill skied on oxygen prior to my TX, rafted class 3 on oxygen (rowing the raft) prior to my TX.

CF TX (5 yrs) 55 cepacia

 

[anonymous]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr>Rather simple, exercise or die<hr></blockquote>


I totally agree with you. We kind of have to go by the "use 'em or lose 'em" approach. There are certainly exceptions, but exercise is the only way to keep and strengthen our lungs. Much of it is up to our parents. As a child with CF, it is essential that parents not shelter CFers and make them stay inside all the time, never "over do it", etc. I realize that its easier said than done, and sometimes kids dont want to go out and play and exercise, but it is absolutely necessary. Even if your PFTs are already low as a kid, you should still exercise as much as possible. Dont think that because your child is coughing and congested that he or she is necessarily "sick". Often times exercise is just the thing they need. Staying inside and resting and taking it easy is not going to make the coughing and congestion go away, at least I dont think it will. I wish that doctors would a bigger emphasis on this. Asking how our energy level is isnt going to get it done.

sunkistdrinker