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.

@mayofeb2020

@fiesty76... My sentiments exactly. I have never taken any meds until I went back to work after a nasty divorce and I had to go back to work in my 40s. The job was a very stressful one and I was put on hypertension drugs. I managed my cholesterol with lifestyle changes. Fast forward to beginning of this year when I had TIA, and right away, my cardiologist put me on Xeralto, I had a loop recorder to check fir afib.. So far no indication that I have that. And in addition, I was put on statin even though my lipid level is not high. I read about all the bad side effects of statin. I'm 5'3" and weigh 104 lbs, so I fall in the small body frame category. My legs have been hurting very bad and I start to wonder if it's not the statin (I've try 3 so far) but that I may have PN or even PAD. It's very frustrating. I'm sure my cardiologist thinks I am a hypochondriac. My father and brother both died of strokes at an early age, so I am very aware of it. I eat very healthy, and I walk everyday. But my leg pain makes it harder and harder. Thinking back 10 years ago, I was hiking and feeling great. Now I'm getting depressed over my health. My cardiologist would not even entertain my suggestion of lowering my cholesterol with supplements. I've done it before. He doesn't think I should risk having a stroke, the same with the blood thinner. What should I do???

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What statin are you on? I'm on generic Rosuvastatin Calcium 10 mg. I have no side effects and it has lowered my cholesterol. I have been on others that made me ache. That might be what's wrong with your legs. My sister had a stroke I feel so bad for her, she has done a lot of PT and exercises at home. Walks with a cane outside when it's nice. Now the doctor tells her she's not going to get any better.

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@mayofeb2020

@pollyanne.. Thank you. I'm very sensitive to meds, so is my daughter. I have many leftover meds because I just couldn't tolerate them, I feel bad because it's such a waste. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and our director is a herbalist. Never even had any western medicine until I moved here. It's not that I don't trust doctors but sometimes I don't think they listen enough.

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2mayofeb2020 I think a mixture of Western and Eastern medicine is great because they each excell in different medical problems. I believe that a lot of the herbal medicines are very powerful and probably less harmful. Did you know that the Queen has always had her Naturopath Dr and uses those methods a lot and look at her longevity. Of course she would have the best of care no matter who she uses. I am planning on seeing a Naturopath and herbal Dr when all this virus problem is over because I have found many problems that Western Medicine cannot help. They hand you dangerous prescriptions and half the time they are probably not appropriate.

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@funcountess

Have you ever heard the expression BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE with Rx, you weigh the good with the bad.
Personally The newerRx seem to have more side affects then older Rx does.
Can you get off statins, or lower dosage? Maybe watch diet more?
It was once said by a well known doctor, that doctors prescribe so much Rx is because patients want to walk out of office with a prescription in their hand.
There is a lot of truth to that.
Funcountess

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@funcountess I forgot to put your code name down the last time I sent a message. I told you what statin I'm on and the success I have had with it.

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@lilypaws

What statin are you on? I'm on generic Rosuvastatin Calcium 10 mg. I have no side effects and it has lowered my cholesterol. I have been on others that made me ache. That might be what's wrong with your legs. My sister had a stroke I feel so bad for her, she has done a lot of PT and exercises at home. Walks with a cane outside when it's nice. Now the doctor tells her she's not going to get any better.

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Hello Lilypaws,
Happy Memorial Day,
Another doctor playing god huh.
Sorry for your sisters stroke, but with physical therapy, and proper living(diet,etc.) she could improve.
You did not mention her age, and how long ago she had the stroke. People do improve, modified exercise to suit her needs should be a help.
Wishing your sister well,
Funcountess

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@pollyanne

2mayofeb2020 I think a mixture of Western and Eastern medicine is great because they each excell in different medical problems. I believe that a lot of the herbal medicines are very powerful and probably less harmful. Did you know that the Queen has always had her Naturopath Dr and uses those methods a lot and look at her longevity. Of course she would have the best of care no matter who she uses. I am planning on seeing a Naturopath and herbal Dr when all this virus problem is over because I have found many problems that Western Medicine cannot help. They hand you dangerous prescriptions and half the time they are probably not appropriate.

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Very, very true, I know you are in Maui, but it’s interesting to note UCLA has alternate care doctors that department is called East-West medicine. Their doctors are booked months in advance.
Funcountess

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@funcountess

Hi Sue,
I’m with you on this one. I to think too much pill popping is going on.people think a magic,pill for this and a magic pill for that. All that magic is still a CHEMICAL.
I come from a long line of medical professionals, and have been to many medical conventions thru the years.
One of my uncles would say “ what I prescribe for my patients, is not the same as i would prescribe for my family.” My other uncle was a pharmacist, and he would always say
Pills are not always the answer, but I fill prescriptions be cause that is my profession.
Kind of makes you wonder?
Funcountess

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@funcountess Unfortunately we all want immediate cures and solutions and that really isn't practical.

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@pollyanne

@contentandwell I was measured for my orthotics and my podiatrist fitted me. I have never had any trouble with them except they are wearing out and I need to see the podiatrist again. I had some orthotics once before from a company that did this for a living and they measured me and looked at my gait etc and I picked up the orthotics a week later. However I had nothing but trouble with them. I had 2 toes that went numb and it took a couple of years for them to come back to life. The orthotics were too rigid amongst other things. Tthey do tell you to gradually wear new orthotics for a longer amount of time so you get used to them slowly. If you wear new orthotics for too long right away you can have problems just from doing that.

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@pollyanne These are orthotics but generic for either overpronation or the opposite, not custom made. The store does not say to break them in but just by how I used them I probably did it that way. I only wear sneakers when I am actually exercising.

@sueinmn I think my cholesterol was higher than borderline, that can be a side effect of the other medications I take. That makes it difficult though - risk having a stroke due to high cholesterol or continue taking them and have leg pain.
JK

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@funcountess

Hello Lilypaws,
Happy Memorial Day,
Another doctor playing god huh.
Sorry for your sisters stroke, but with physical therapy, and proper living(diet,etc.) she could improve.
You did not mention her age, and how long ago she had the stroke. People do improve, modified exercise to suit her needs should be a help.
Wishing your sister well,
Funcountess

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@lilypaws I don't think Drs should ever say that. My friend had to have terrible back surgery due to Melanoma. She was in rehab for ages and the Dr told her she would not walk again. Well, guess what, she is walking and further all the time. My friend is a fighter and when the Dr told her that, she decided she was going to prove him wrong, and she has. There is always hope and with determination who knows what is possible.

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@funcountess

Very, very true, I know you are in Maui, but it’s interesting to note UCLA has alternate care doctors that department is called East-West medicine. Their doctors are booked months in advance.
Funcountess

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@funcountess It just shows how many people are looking for answers and are not being helped by Western Medicine alone.

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@pollyanne

@funcountess It just shows how many people are looking for answers and are not being helped by Western Medicine alone.

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Western medicine has one answer, it’s called high price. High price to see a doctor, even on Medicare and insurance, someone is paying. Same for drugs, got to keep the share holders happy.
It’s true pills are not always the answer, and talk about those expensive tests that have their own risks.
Yes, I read once Read the queen does not always use western medicine. The queen mother lived well past 100.

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