Great Information about physical activity to fight fatigue

Posted by Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn, Jan 19, 2020

Hello everyone, fatigue associated with MAC is a frequent complaint in many of our discussions. Today as I was browsing through the Daily Digest from Mayo Connect, I happened on this article. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/physical-activity-as-medicine/

Although the focus was on cancer survivors, I cannot help but to believe that it could help some of us as well. So, now I'm off to do my morning walk. And next time I go out to shop, I plan to find some resistance bands. Mine have been neglected so long that they are not good anymore.
Sue

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@sueinmn Thanks!! Excellent suggestion!

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My cutesy motto: Walking is to my overall fitness program what compost is to my garden. Resistance training is to the program what a bit of fertilizer is to the blossoming plants.

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@thumperguy

My cutesy motto: Walking is to my overall fitness program what compost is to my garden. Resistance training is to the program what a bit of fertilizer is to the blossoming plants.

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Love the analogy!
Today's tally for me 4.75 miles and 75 min of sustained activity, including a walk and line dancing. Plus 10 minutes of stretching. I find at least 30 minutes more of restful sleep when really active over an hour compared to my lazier days. Trying to get to an average of 5 1/2 hours of good sleep out of my nightly 8 hours in bed, but my eyes often pop open at 6 or 6:30 am, and it's useless to lay there.
I use a Fitbit sent to sensitive to measure my sleep. On Mondays afterman active week (4 or more days over 30 minutes) my oxygen sats measure at least 2-3% better than lazy weeks.
Now I'm looking for a more flexible device because it only registers intervals of 10 min or longer. On bad days, I may only be able to mange 5-7 minutes moving before I need to pause, and if the pause is more than a minute the counter starts over.
What method do you all use to track activity or sleep?

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Impressive Sue. You put me in the shade.

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@thumperguy

Impressive Sue. You put me in the shade.

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@thumperguy - Everybody has to go at their own pace. I am just giddy right now that the fog that was with me for years while I had a really bad case of (undiagnosed) MAC and then endured the Big 3 for 18 months has started to lift a little. I can now manage to do something every day, and sometimes, like yesterday, I can have a great day. I can already tell you that today will be MUCH slower, probably with a nap thrown in. Do you think I might have overdone?
I am also blessed to spend my winter in a community of compatible and empathetic seniors. We accept each person's abilities and limitations, accommodate them by modifying activities where possible, and planning alternatives that more can do. We also encourage one another through health challenges and other life events. Most days the weather allows us to be outdoors, at least to walk, without struggling with cold and my nemesis, ice. When we return here each fall/winter from out northern homes, it is like a joyful family reunion. My life would be very different, and a lot less rich, if I didn't have this community to support me, and my tiny home (400 sq ft) to live in.
Sue

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I am a big believer in resistance bands, it's like having a big weight room in your house. I found these on Amazon and highly recommend them. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NZZH18/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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After my hospitalization last year, my pulmonologist, who runs the Bronch/Mac Clinic at university of North Carolina had to pound me over the head to convince me to enroll in the Duke Medical Pulmonary Rehab program. Now get this: five days a week for 3 1/2 hours a day for five weeks. A group of 19 of us, some pushing oxygen tanks, one recent lung transplant, I was only bronch/ Mac. Pulmonary therapists had us working out in a variety of ways 3 hours straight. Came home each day and fell on the bed, slept. Got up the next day and did it again. I’m 81. Dr promised me it would help prevent my next hospitalization. It worked until now, a whole year later, I have pseudomonas, inhaling Tobramycin, too pooped to exercise. But it worked!

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