Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | May 15, 2020

In reply to @fiesty76 "@becsbuddy and @contentandwell, I’m not sure the best thread to use to post this…just want to..." + (show)

@fiesty76

@becsbuddy and @contentandwell, I’m not sure the best thread to use to post this…just want to talk, caregivers? Friction between my stage 4 cancer friend’s hubby and daughter continued to escalate with the d. attempting to take over all of friend’s financial and health decisions through legal and medical poa’s. Friend finally issued ultimatum for d. to return to out-of-state home.

It has been a mixed blessing having the d. here to take over the mom’s care…while overly aggressive with medical and home health, it was a relief for me to know my friend was getting needed med. attn. Also d. provided daily healthy meals which was a wonderful comfort.

The d. is emotionally disturbed and needs prof. help and medication. Her erratic mood swings and verbal attacks on both friends became untenable. The d. left after I insisted that friend issue a date and time ultimatum deadline. D., 2 grands and 2 dogs left Sunday.
Yesterday, friends called to say hubby is having progressively painful back problems but doesn’t want to seek immediate med. care. Wanted the name of my kidney specialist. He’s had kidney stone surgery in the past and had told me 2-3 weeks ago that he’d “twisted his back” but nothing since.

Discussion about the need for referral to specialists and being told that friend’s pcp had turned down hubby as “new patient” a couple of yrs ago, had me urging to seek emergency visit to hospital branch where diagnosis and immediate treatment plus referral if needed was refused.

He agreed to check pcp for appt today but wants to “put off” any treatment for another week because of scheduled treatments this week for wife. With my severely compromised lungs, I cannot spend the night with wife if he requires surgery but suggested hiring a home sitter who could also make meals through current home health group if needed.

Guess I am just needing to “vent”. There are no magic bullets but am feeling that elderly hubby is unequipped to handle all that will be required of him now. Also feeling stressed because I no longer feel safe making face-to-face contact with them because of weekly cancer treatments, home health workers, and their exposure to others. Thanks for listening. Let’s hope I can persuade him to seek immediate help today. Don’t know if anything could burst like appendix but need to get through to him that he needs to be in top form for ongoing care of his beloved. A prayer for us would be appreciated.

@contentandwell, Yes, my neighbor was wearing her Apple watch when she had a terrible fall in her garage. Thank goodness, her adult son saw her and called 911. The watch did not send the help signal. Perhaps, the watch wasn’t programmed correctly? This happened after the stay-at-home-order and she hasn’t yet taken it back to the store?

@cindiwass…Wearing your cell phone around neck is another enterprising idea to use as an alternate way to summon help. One advantage of the Alert 1 system is that it is waterproof so can be worn while bathing.
I have owned my home in TX for many years and have great neighbors who have lived at our end of the street for decades as well. I share the same concern you have about making a move to Boulder/Denver area because my family moved there from IL this past August. My sil loves the challenge of trying new career options and another move for them would complicate things for me as well.

@lilypaws, Unfortunately, like your dear husband, there are many who don’t understand the value of wearing masks. Seems like there was an earlier thread about how to explain good reasons for wearing masks, especially in hospitals or crowded areas?

@lioness, I got so excited by a Bonnie Bell ad stating that “starter plants” could be ordered and shipped directly to homes. However, their costs were far higher than I want to pay at this time. Home Depot has advertised home deliveries as well but not sure about the inclusion of plants and the min. order is rather steep. That may be my best option though.

@jeanette527, Great idea! “I also have my advance directive on the spare end table by the bed.” I’ve been wondering how to alert EMS to my DNR and advance directive if summoned. I’ll put mine on a credenza in entry that fronts the front door. Thank you!
Also liked your idea for putting your cell phone in the waterproof packet while working outside. Such creative people gather here! Smiles

Oh, Wow! @robbie, this photo is gorgeous!

@becsbuddy, Becky, I need to post this all over my house!!! Thank you!

@gingerw, I’m agreeing with @contentand well 200%. Congrats on all you do and manage. Sigh…how I would love to be growing some of your blackberries. Just received a Mrs. Smiths cobbler in grocery delivery yesterday…maybe ¼ left after first 30 minutes??? Vbg

@funcountess, I’m with you on the hardscaping. I had patterned concrete installed in front yard with several flower beds and only a curving bed of New England asters and 2 trees remaining. It has been worth every penny spent. Another great boon for me was installing irrigation sytem for both front and back. It can be set for individ beds or to automatic for running all stations.
https://birdslife.co.uk/why-wont-birds-come-to-my-feeder/

@zeiracorp, Thank you for the link to this excellent hummingbird site! https://birdslife.co.uk/why-wont-birds-come-to-my-feeder/
Great new suggestions..set out more feeders/both sun & shade; perhaps the best is that nectar can be refrig’d for up to 2 weeks…what a time saver! Will add red streamers to tree for enticement. Also didn’t know that those pesky males were arriving first and “guarding” their territory..lol

Jump to this post

@fiesty76 You certainly have a very complex situation with your friend, her husband, and their daughter. Is this something that they want your help with, or do you think they can work things out themselves with their daughter? It sounds as if they are handling it themselves.

Has your friend's husband not had a PCP? I think it's important to establish yourself with one so when you do need one you have already developed a relationship. I had to push my husband to do that and now he does have a PCP. A humorous aside, he is actually on his 3rd PCP in a couple of years. He keeps getting a PCP and then that PCP quits the practice and leaves the area! This has become a joke between us. I think the PCP he has now will be here for a while though, I hope so.
If he can't get a PCP now, then his best next option is to go to Urgent Care. I realize his wife is in the middle of other issues but it sounds as if he needs attention also. Stay safe yourself too. It is difficult these days, particularly if people are needing to go to medical facilities, but it is necessary, particularly for us older folk.

I'm surprised that your neighbor's Apple watch did not send a signal. I am not sure if that was always a feature or if it's a feature with later models. If so, perhaps she has an early model. Mine is a 4 and it definitely did go off when I fell, and I wouldn't say it was that hard a fall overall. Mine also shows heart rate and does EKGs! It does make me feel a bit better if I happen to be alone to know that an alarm would be sent off that I had fallen. I wish my husband would get one because he occasionally works in the yard and I worry about him out there.
JK

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 15, 2020

I got moving today, farther than just to my candy dishes. I walked 1.5 miles in the Cosco parking lot waiting for my brother to pick me up and haven't had any candy or sweets today. And some people don't believe in miracles!!!
Jake

lioness | @lioness | May 15, 2020

In reply to @jakedduck1 "I got moving today, farther than just to my candy dishes. I walked 1.5 miles in..." + (show)

@jakedduck1 That is great you did better then I did today . You deserve a treat so go for it only 1 now

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 15, 2020

In reply to @lioness "@jakedduck1 That is great you did better then I did today . You deserve a treat..." + (show)

@lioness
Only one? Well, come to think about it I might be able to get by on one. I'll start with my 5lb Hershey bar.
Jake

lioness | @lioness | May 15, 2020

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@lioness Only one? Well, come to think about it I might be able to get by..." + (show)

@jakeduck1 I didnt mean a 5 lb just 1 8 oz bar will do

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 15, 2020

I have done really well for the past two weeks - it helps that we haven't had any rain (I HATE walking in the rain) - this week I walked a little over 21 miles on my way from Minneapolis to my destination of Amana, Iowa.
I did figure out yesterday that walking in the morning does something good for my brain. I can settle down and get things done, but if I delay it seems like I just wander around and putter at things. My daughter thinks it's ADD manifesting itself - if my Mom was still here she would agree. When we were kids, if we had trouble getting stuff done, she would send us out to run around the block - no matter the weather.
A good quick walk also gets my anxiety under control when it flares up - these last two weeks I have worn a path in the pavement of our cul de sac if I mistakenly watch the evening news.
My goal for next week is to find a walking partner in the neighborhood.
Keep walking everyone!
Sue

pollyanne | @pollyanne | May 15, 2020

In reply to @jakedduck1 "I got moving today, farther than just to my candy dishes. I walked 1.5 miles in..." + (show)

I finished a big bar of chocolate yesterday. My husband put it in the fridge and it was sitting there so I have gradually gone through it. I'm glad it is gone and I can't eat anymore. I did my walk today and it was 87 degrees. I was running with sweat. Yuck. It was good for me though. Better than more chocolate.

lioness | @lioness | May 15, 2020

@pollyanne Did you enjoy it ? Guess you needed that walk to burn those extra calories of but wonder if it helped? lol

pollyanne | @pollyanne | May 15, 2020

@lioness I think I sweated some of it off! I am also cutting down on a medication that I think has put some weight on me. I hope I can stay off it but we will see. I had a lot of blood tests this week and everything looks good except for my white blood cells which are low. Neutrofils absolute and Neutrofils auto. Does anyone know anything about that. I am having to redo the tests next week.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 16, 2020

In reply to @jakedduck1 "I got moving today, farther than just to my candy dishes. I walked 1.5 miles in..." + (show)

@jakedduck1 You help us believe in miracles!

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