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.

@becsbuddy

@jakedduck1 I love it! Why did you stop the fentanyl patch? Did the doctor replace it with something else? Becky

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@becsbuddy
I quit the fentanyl because I was tired of taking so many powerful medications so I thought I’d try and do without it. I also had some Dilaudid which I liked better. The fentanyl didn’t get rid of the kidney stone pain but the Dilaudid did.
My doctor ordered me some Percocet which is not strong at all, at least not for my pains.
What’s so weird is when I had a kidney stone the nurse said they would give me Tylenol. You can imagine what I thought about that but it was IV Tylenol which she said they give to patients with broken bones. Of course I was still skeptical. But to my amazement it got rid of my kidney stone pain. The nurse said they seldom use it because it’s so expensive.
I walked 1.6 miles today. I should go out and walk some more but I know I’m not going to.
I’ll find strength in pain,
Jake

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@wisco50

That meal sounds delicious! If you cook again, I’ll bring dessert! 🤗
After 2 weeks and a few days of no walking - due to sub zero temps and then ice surfaces as a result - it was 40 degrees today in southern WI! Icicles crashing off houses, snow melting. I walked 2.2 miles today, yay! Felt SO good to get out and move!
Then I spread some Ice Melt on my driveway in areas where it’s shaded by a huge old spruce tree. We had so much snow pack it’s going to take at least a few more days to melt. Supposed to stay above freezing this week!

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@wisco
I’ll do anything for desert even cook and dust.
2.2 miles. I walked 2 miles sounds like you are challenging me?
The guy from New Jersey looks like a go.
It hurts to walk but I’ll find strength in pain,
Jake

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Hard to believe that after so many days of sub-zero temps, most ice banks are melted and the temp shot up to 65 degrees! Whoo Hoo! I wore short sleeves for the first time in .... who knows how long?? Smiles Had never noticed how loudly birds can chatter until daily feeding them this winter.

I thought they were signaling others that the feeders had been refilled but on my neighborhood walk yesterday, I was surprised to hear many throughout the walk chirping away. Was it the sudden heat spell they were celebrating like me or were they putting out the word to follow this woman home; she hosts a daily smorgasbord???

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@jakedduck1

@becsbuddy
I quit the fentanyl because I was tired of taking so many powerful medications so I thought I’d try and do without it. I also had some Dilaudid which I liked better. The fentanyl didn’t get rid of the kidney stone pain but the Dilaudid did.
My doctor ordered me some Percocet which is not strong at all, at least not for my pains.
What’s so weird is when I had a kidney stone the nurse said they would give me Tylenol. You can imagine what I thought about that but it was IV Tylenol which she said they give to patients with broken bones. Of course I was still skeptical. But to my amazement it got rid of my kidney stone pain. The nurse said they seldom use it because it’s so expensive.
I walked 1.6 miles today. I should go out and walk some more but I know I’m not going to.
I’ll find strength in pain,
Jake

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@jakedduck1, When I was told to stop otc NSAIDS and to take Tylenol instead due to kidney issues, I was dismayed at having to give up Advil. So glad to learn that there is a much stronger prescribed Tylenol that brought you pain relief from your kidney stones.

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@fiesty76

Hard to believe that after so many days of sub-zero temps, most ice banks are melted and the temp shot up to 65 degrees! Whoo Hoo! I wore short sleeves for the first time in .... who knows how long?? Smiles Had never noticed how loudly birds can chatter until daily feeding them this winter.

I thought they were signaling others that the feeders had been refilled but on my neighborhood walk yesterday, I was surprised to hear many throughout the walk chirping away. Was it the sudden heat spell they were celebrating like me or were they putting out the word to follow this woman home; she hosts a daily smorgasbord???

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A smorgasbord for the birds, such a delightful thought. My walk was extra pleasant yesterday, as well, with the birds melodious tunes of happiness - all in harmony!

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@fiesty76

@jakedduck1, When I was told to stop otc NSAIDS and to take Tylenol instead due to kidney issues, I was dismayed at having to give up Advil. So glad to learn that there is a much stronger prescribed Tylenol that brought you pain relief from your kidney stones.

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I found better clarity of mind and as well as renewed strength once I stopped the OxyContin after my back fracture. I pushed myself, everyday, to get down my flight of stairs and outside. Sometimes only walking a very short distance, however adding a few steps each day and then one day making progress of walking up to the hill on my street. Once home I had to roll back into my hard turtle shell and rest, however Tylenol was a huge help for rest. Blessings to all for a good day.
Prayers/positive thoughts would be appreciated today for my 5 yr old grandson. He is in Boston Children's Hospital. Thanks

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@jude07, I salute your courage and strong will in pushing yourself down those steps and outside following your back fracture. Even knowing how important to healing those painful efforts can be, It calls for tough stuff to take those steps while still in pain! Congrats on stopping the OxyContin too. So much is being written about how addictive it can be. I was on it for a very short period and remember that while it did help the pain, the brain fog made me feel like I was experiencing an alternative universe. Good to know that Tylenol brought you help for much needed rest as well.

After a fall resulting in 7 fractures years ago, the lengthy and arduous p.t. required would have me thinking, "I just can't do this today." But then I'd recall how two very close friends reacted following their close together hip replacement surgeries. One did p.t. as instructed and regained mobility and ease saying she wished she'd had the surgery earlier. The other refused the p.t. "because it was too painful" and a after several months of "favoring the hip", began using a cane followed by a walker. Within a few years, she had to rely on a wheelchair which dramatically changed her life.

Sending best thoughts for healing for your precious little hospitalized grandson. Please let us know how he fares.

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Hello, again. I’m so glad I got two walks in today. It was gorgeous when I went out and I ran into several friends and we had nice, socially distance chat. And now it’s snowing like crazy! Guess I’ll walk in the house tomorrow 🤗

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@fiesty76

@jude07, I salute your courage and strong will in pushing yourself down those steps and outside following your back fracture. Even knowing how important to healing those painful efforts can be, It calls for tough stuff to take those steps while still in pain! Congrats on stopping the OxyContin too. So much is being written about how addictive it can be. I was on it for a very short period and remember that while it did help the pain, the brain fog made me feel like I was experiencing an alternative universe. Good to know that Tylenol brought you help for much needed rest as well.

After a fall resulting in 7 fractures years ago, the lengthy and arduous p.t. required would have me thinking, "I just can't do this today." But then I'd recall how two very close friends reacted following their close together hip replacement surgeries. One did p.t. as instructed and regained mobility and ease saying she wished she'd had the surgery earlier. The other refused the p.t. "because it was too painful" and a after several months of "favoring the hip", began using a cane followed by a walker. Within a few years, she had to rely on a wheelchair which dramatically changed her life.

Sending best thoughts for healing for your precious little hospitalized grandson. Please let us know how he fares.

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I think your comparison of your two friends obviously different reactions to post op PT is incredibly valid and probably should be held up as a prime example of “no pain, no gain”! I had a knee scope years ago for a probably torn meniscus (it was), but surgeon also found other stuff wrong in there - I should have pursued a surgical consult sooner. I had been dealing with another health issue and a Worker’s Comp MD thought it wasn’t a big deal (jerk). I should have known better. 😢 Anyway, post op PT hurt but I was determined to get it better and I did! I told the PT person the secondary evidence I was doing all my exercises was that even my parrots were “yelping” and saying OUCH! LOL!

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@becsbuddy

Hello, again. I’m so glad I got two walks in today. It was gorgeous when I went out and I ran into several friends and we had nice, socially distance chat. And now it’s snowing like crazy! Guess I’ll walk in the house tomorrow 🤗

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I feel like I've let everyone down. All my talk about starting to walk outdoors again, after 2 long years of inability, and now haven't been able to get back into my walking program for days on end. First, snow for 5 days, then too icey, then 2 new medications and felt awful for days, then a doctor appointment out of town, then...
welll, you know. So many of you had posted congratulatory and motivating texts to me. I felt elated! I have another doctor appointment tomorrow and then I hope no snow in the forecast. I hope to get back to my walks on the weekend. Thanks so much to all of you for your support. Happy trails! Laurie

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