Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: oldsheep on May 13, 2014, 06:11:33 PM
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I have very long standing CFS and fibromyalgia and some weird neuro symptoms (that go away in sunny, windless weather :o). I swim a lot in the local outdoor 50m lido as it's pain free - until I get cramp!
My bone density wasn't great a few years ago when they did a scan. My mum died from complications of osteoporosis fractures.
I can't run - my ankles "lock" and it hurts too much to jog even slowly. I have really sore feet (even with orthotics) so can't walk far. I get dizzy if I walk for more than 30 mins.
I used to play tennis, but that's now too painful. I cycle around locally for transport, which is also not painful but doesn't help bones.
What would be the best weight bearing exercise please? I'm wondering if I should join the wretched gym for their resistance machines, but I hate gyms. Thanks for any ideas. x
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Walking is one of the best really oldsheep - twenty minutes each day would probably be enough if you find more than that a pain (literally). I too have fibro and have never managed to get further than two miles at a time which takes me 30 minutes so I know the frustration you are going through!!
Taz x
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Thanks Taz. I live near a lovely park so round it I will go...so boring and slow compared to cycling though.
I just thought - it's a 20 min walk to the lido. I could do that sometimes.
Must Have More Discipline ;D
Trouble is, I love swimming so save all my energy for that. Rest all day, then swim 2kms as it makes me feel human.
Everyone my age is at work in London, so whatever I do is going to be on my own.
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I really love swimming as its a form of exercise that does not hurt my knees. I have arthritis which complains if I walk up anything resembling a hill. Going up is ok, coming down is a challenge as my knees give way. Not very elegant.
My local pool is gross so unless I choose the sea ::)
I just try and walk on the flat as much as I can. Gardening is good if you can. Even energetic housework. As long as it's something that gets you active and raises the heart beat then it's good for you.
Honeyb
x
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I have recently starting swimming and find doing lengths a great exercise. Also perhaps you could do some sort of stretching exercise like yoga/pilates? Or maybe get some light hand weights and do some exercise at home. As I've got older I don't believe in too much strenuous exercise but keeping your body and joints moving to some extent is helpful. I think if you do something you enjoy then you are more likely to stick with it.
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Energetic housework! ;D
Yes, I love my swimming. Especially outdoors. Pool is heated and I quite often have a lane to myself, which is brilliant. All my stress disappears.
I'll try walking. The park is hilly and if it stops raining I can walk on the grass. We have a communal garden, so gardening isn't really possible. I do potter around, jumping on slugs. Discovered that they like the local micro brewery's out of date beer!
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If you can afford it, how about an hour with a personal trainer for advice?
There are balls which I see pregnant ladies using ………. :-\ when we were kids we had orange bouncy things too but I would probably fall off one these days ;D …. gentle, brisk walking is generally overall good exercise. Horse riding? Skipping would be too painful as would hoola hooping or roller skating ::) ……..
Hoovering ……….. :-X ;)
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don't know if you subscribe to any tv packages or not, but if so is there nothing on any of the fitness channels that you could maybe record and do bits of at a time. some time ago I recorded one - think it was called walking for fitness and you could do either a low intensity or a slightly higher intensity option.
or maybe a fitness dvd to do at home?
The main thing is to enjoy what you do.
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Do you have friends to walk with?
Your dizziness is a concern - after 30 mins. …………. do you mean light-headed feelings perhaps due to dehydration? Again a personal trainer will give advice or maybe a dietician?
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Would aquarobics be an option oldsheep?
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Hi, I think the light headedness is my variable blood pressure. I can't stand for long either. Part of my CFS/fibro. I drink (whether walking or swimming) that diet lucozade sport stuff, 50 cals per bottle. I find it helps with cramp.
I did nordic walking class for an hour yesterday. It's very gentle, nice people and ends up at the park coffee shop ;D Only once a week though.
I can't do exercises at home as we are in a top flat in an old building, so downstairs would think the world was ending! I'm too embarrassed to start hopping about with weights in the communal garden too.
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Do you drink other liquids? Cramp is usually lack of salt in the diet ;) ……….
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think my cramp is my CFS/fibro as it's pretty common I believe. Happens some days and not others.
Today was fine and brilliant with the sun out. Everyone was smiling at each other at the pool -and talking to each other (in London! gasp).
this is it
http://charltonchampion.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/20140324-074352.jpg
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A proper lido! we used to go to one in Dunstable ………. now concreted over ::)
I've walked miles between kitchen sink and dishwasher; kitchen sink, dishwasher: down the garden to the compost and back; weeds to the bin, up and down a ladder with pruners in hand ::)
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Travelling tomorrow and all the swimming has caused nasty pain when I pee. I used a barrier cream today and had a shorter swim than usual, but ouch, burning. Going to see the trainee duty GP later on as I'm in France for the long weekend (no swimming there and forecast is cool and rainy!)
I can't stop my swimming so any ideas on how to stop irritation? The cream I have been using is a barrier cream. I could try a healing cream?
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Somebody spoke about this before, fairly recently I think. Have had quick look, but can't find it. Will try again & let you know. Maybe somebody else will remember.
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Look up Aquaphor & swimming oldsheep.
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That's what I use. Dipstick test (too late to send sample off) at the GP says mauve = infection apparently. They always use Trimethoprim which makes me ill, so have been given a week of amoxicillin.
Last time I was in South Africa my wonderful old GP was horrified that they use trimethoprim here and said amoxicillin doesn't work on UTIs but suppose I'd better take it! I'm nervous of ABs as OH had C Difficile from a course of them and at the same time, I had a one day, really violent diarrhoea bug that the specialist he saw said probably wasn't a coincidence.
Just hope some AB that doesn't work that well on UTIs doesn't complicate things.
She didn't think the pool could cause infection, just irritation.
I'll have to work this one out for myself I think - the swim thing. Off to France until Monday so impeccable timing!
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I'm awful with antibiotics too. However, I do hope you don't suffer too badly whilst you are away. Drink plenty water, but guess you know that. Could you get some cranberry capsules/tablets before you leave. Might help.
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thanks x
always tricky when you're travelling. We'll be flying out early and then on the road for a few hours, so most of tomorrow.
Feeling quite rough tonight now. Not helped by the wood floor installer leaving the whole lounge in a complete mess, with the skirtings bang in the middle, so am still sitting in the bedroom! Have a whole week's cleaning to look forward to. He did a good job but I won't miss him, his noise/dust/radio blasting!
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had severe pain and pressure discomfort, and a runny tum this morning so went to the GP and saw a trainee doctor. She told me I shouldn't have been given amoxycillin as last time I had a UTI, the lab said it was resistant to it.
The GP who gave it to me a week ago was busy and didn't check my notes ::)
Sent off a sample to the lab - may be back friday, otherwise monday - and they have given me trimetheprim to take if I get a fever or back pain or it gets much worse.
I'm hoping to avoid more ABs. I never used to get tum troubles with ABs, just since my OH had C Diff from taking one, and I had one day of terrible diarrhoea at the same time he was ill, it seems to now happen. (I tested negative but his consultant said it was almost certainly a cross infection that my body threw off).
It's worrying all this AB resistance and stomach reaction to them. I've always taken them responsibly, finished the course etc.
chucked it down with rain, but was so great to see my close friends in France, one of whom is terminally ill. She's an incredible person.
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Odd because I thought that C.Diff is treated with anti-biotics in high doses :-\ (off to do a GOOGLE)
ADs can cause runny tums. How about LIVE yoghurt? Eaten and applied ……… eat large spoonfuls every hour and applying is cooling if nothing else, do keep pots separate though - 1 in the fridge, 1 in the bathroom ;)
Chorlenated water can be drying ….. if you can smell the chemical then there's too much in the water! The only answer is to stop swimming or use a saline pool ……….. is there a canine hydrotherapy pool in your area? Might be worth asking ;)
Your GP SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YOUR NOTES - info like that can be in RED at the top of each page, i.e. ALLERGIC TO PENICILLIN is on the top of mine ::)
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Interesting:
Apparently C.diff can be created because the ABs prescribed for certain conditions kill the 'good' bacteria in the gut and bowel therefore allowing the bacteria to breed quickly and produce toxins which is what causes the illness. THis causes diaherrea which then spreads due to the C.diff spores :o
"You will only need treatment for a Clostridium difficile infection if you have symptoms.
No treatment is needed if the bacteria are living harmlessly in your digestive system.
"Mild infection
"If you have mild symptoms of a C. difficile infection, it is best to stop taking the antibiotics that may have caused the infection, if possible. This will allow the natural mixture of bacteria to regrow in your gut.
"In many cases where the symptoms are mild, stopping the antibiotics is often enough to ease the symptoms and clear the infection.
"Moderate to severe infection
"If you have symptoms that are more troublesome, such as severe diarrhoea or colitis (swelling and irritation of the bowel), you may need to take an antibiotic that can kill C. difficile bacteria.
"The first treatment will usually be metronidazole, but vancomycin or fidaxomicin may be used as an alternative in severe cases. This should ease the symptoms within two to three days, though it can take around 7 to 10 days to make a complete recovery ………… "
Do you drink Actimel-type yoghurty drinks? These are supposed to line the gut, some people swallow the acidophille (sp) tablets …………
Did you get to France?
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Yes thanks, got to see my friends in France.
I tried a short swim yesterday because had a lot of (other) pain.
I used the aquaphor but it seems to cause burning and a pinched feeling of the last bit of the urethra. Are there any alternatives?
Going to ring the doctors today to see if the urine culture test results are back. Hopefully not another 3 days of trimethoprim!
Yes, my husband took strong ABs for his C. difficile. And then took £90 probiotics VSL3, which the specialist told him to. They are not NICE approved in England but are on prescription in Scotland apparently!
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C.Diff is a horrible infection especially when it affects people who are already ill. My poor dad suffered so much before it killed him. A truly horrible few weeks which I would not wish on my worst enemy. In my opinion it is not taken seriously enough by some hospital staff and there are not true figures either as to how many people are affected. My dad died from it but it was only what it did to his body i.e. perforated septic bowel which was shown on the death certificate - no mention of C.Diff at all. I tried to get this altered but to no avail which left me wondering how many people do die from this but it's never logged.
Taz x
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Oh I'm so very sorry Taz.
I just read a short piece in Wired about a new tech co that's working on a super strength probiotic to counter C Diff. They call it an ecobiotic. I hope they succeed; early days.
http://sereshealth.com/technology/ecobiotics/
It seems obvious that the way to combat it in an era of resistant A.Bs is to strengthen the immune system of those who either are at risk of it, or have it.
On a trivial note, my tests came back "satisfactory". At my doctors, the results they give you are either that, or "see doctor". That's how the resistance to amoxycillin slipped by - I wasn't aware of it. Suppose no time to explain to patients, especially if they are getting better.
We are now down to 2 doctors at the surgery, with an ever expanding no of patients. The only good one works 3 days a week. The trainee docs are from Kings or Lewisham so probably ok unless you have anything complicated. London! I'd not work here either if I were a GP.
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Trainee GPs are on a 6-months rotation usually, in that they do 6 months in each speciality throughout the NHS system. They are usually kinder ;) as they haven't sussed the system yet and are still keen ::)
Taz that's awful. My Dad had MRSA twice apparently.
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just seen Amazon has started selling the v expensive probiotic that the specialist recommended, VSL 3.
Their price is over £35 cheaper than the pharmacy :o
awake all night with severe, nagging back pain and in both sides and lower ribs. I have no fever. My urine test result from weds was ok.
I do have bad IBS (hiccups, coated tongue, blocked tum) and I know my fibromyalgia is reacting badly to a week of antibiotics. So another day plonked on the sofa with a hot wheatbag on my back.
Suppose I'll worry if I start running a fever.
I'm hitting the D Mannose big time and revolting peppermint tea.
Just shows you - start a thread about exercise options, then I can't exercise at all for quite a bit! ::)
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Oh poor you ......... :foryou: ..........
Is that sore area dryer than usual? Have you thought of LIVE yoghurt applied the moment you get home from your swim? Bit difficult to take a pot with you ::). At least your urine test was clear which indicates that this is probably more of a VA type problem?
I don't like mint unless it's on new potatoes, I have trouble cleaning my teeth due to the flavour :D ...... however, spearmint is much more preferable.
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excuse ignorance, but what's the difference between peppermint and spearmint? OH asked me yesterday and I have no idea.
Nagging pain and slight nausea still going on and ribs are sore to touch. I am going to try to get the GP to check my kidneys as recall the one GP saying a few years ago that I had stage 2 kidney disease and not to worry about it, only for a physician I saw for something else to say the ratio (?) was within normal range so not to fuss either.
Me, not fuss ;D I was born to worry.
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Join the Q on the worry front, I'm first ::) - DH tells me that if I don't have something to worry about I find a problem ::) ::)
Peppermint and spearmint are different plants, certainly they have different flavours …….
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Peppermint is a cross between spearmint and another mint apparently there are over 200 varieties in the mint family. Certainly I prefer spearmint rennies ;-). I HATE toothpaste :sick02: - flavour, texture, feeling of it in my mouth and as for swallowing it :beaurk:
How are R today?
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getting nervous for tomorrow! Getting frustrated at the inability to go swimming too.
Q: how do you get OFF aquaphor? I'm not allowed to use soap or any shower gel, just water. It's water proof?!
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It will wear off as the skin erodes ;-).
I am sure tomorrow will be fine, do you have someone to go along with you? Take a list! Anticipation is worse than the event in most cases (try telling my gut that >:( )
Wish I lived nearer :-\
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Hi oldsheep, sorry you are having a rough time and that you can start enjoying swimming again soon.
Only mint tea i can drink is 3 mint by pukka, much nicer than anyone other one.
Take care x
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Hi oldsheep, sorry you are having a rough time and that you can start enjoying swimming again soon.
Only mint tea i can drink is 3 mint by pukka, much nicer than anyone other one.
Take care x
don't know that one, I'll have to investigate! Thanks x
I'm just going to aquaphor and go for a short swim as it's sunny and I'm going mad. I don't think it will make things worse (touch all fake IKEA wood in the flat).
I bought some teapigs mint tea at great expense and it's quite bitter.
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Mint is bitter ;) ……….. did you swim?
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I bought a little tin of Vaseline, like you use for lips. I used it elsewhere! Keep it in my swim bag though I think ;D
Seems a bit less irritating on the area than aquaphor. Maybe not as strong?
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Probably easier to apply too? It may attach to the skin in a different way which makes it feel easier?
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Well there won't be much non-weight bearing at the weekend for 1000s, booked into the London Marathon! Anyone going to watch? if I am up early enough I may watch on the TV whilst I'm eating brekkie.
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I had to go to physical therapy for my collar bone. They have me use resistant bands. You can start out light and increase as you feel. I use them for both my legs and upper body. They make various types. You can do them in the rain and when its snowing not like walking outside. :D
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It's been and gone again ::) ...... I didn't see any of it this year as we were already out and about. However: should a participant be as 'ill' as that person appeared as he headed to the finishing line yesterday? surely the Medics should have eased him out rather than another competitor taking his arm and assisting him over the line?
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He wasn't unwell though. He just was suffering from the end of marathon wobbles and was kn***ed.
Did you never watch one Brownlee brother do something very similar. He grabbed his brother and half carried and half shoved him over the finish line.
Thing was the cameras caught this happening to one young man. It will have happened time and time again on the race. It's what they expect to be honest. Some throw up and carry on, some lie down and need help, some just give up.
I'm very glad this young man got his opportunity to finish what he had no doubt trained for, for months on end.
Well done to the one man who did not just run past.
Restores my faith in human nature and this was it at its very best.
Mrs Brown
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His body was un-well. Lack of sugar plus dehydration? so he needs to learn when to eat/drink whilst running! I used to faint when cycling - we would have a 'good' breakfast then head out for a long ride ....... took a couple of trips B4 we linked the food and exercise to my keeling over. When I saw the Brownlee situation I wondered if in fact I would have stopped for my sibling :-X . Don't think I would have to be honest but left her to the medics..
Always knew that running is bad for us ;-)