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

I tried walking in town today. Not really ‘in town’ but on the edge. I wanted to stop at the fabric store and then went to Sprouts. Walked about 1.5 miles. Exhausted!

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@becsbuddy Way to go, Becky. 1.5 miles is a great trek!

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@ess77

Hello, Laurie. Yep, I do love that walker. I looked long and hard for something that made my statement about life and being forced to use a walker!

Finally, thanks to @sunnyflower who had just gotten this one. It is a bit smaller, lighter, easier for me to handle and get in/out of car. I keep it in the car since it's light enough for me if I need it.

It really is hot pink, with a Zebra black/white striped bag and seat. I'm still looking for a bottle/drink holder to attach that will fit. Have one on the other walker I have, but not found anything to work yet. I use the basket pockets for sunglasses, water bottle, stuff. A very good thing.
Blessings to you and hope every day is better that the previous day....elizabeth

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Elizabeth, I am so happy that you love your walker! Eleven pounds is the lightest I could find. Ithink this drink holder may be what you're looking for?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK3X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_TNJ4XE67J4G2Z3K2VZ2S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hope so! Warmest wishes, Sunnyflower 😊

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@becsbuddy

@jude07 Good job! Is there much to see on the frontage road?

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There are a few homes on one side however the other side is a busy 4 lane street. It give me noise, traffic, others walking/biking (some willing to engage in small conversation. I have gone up my street which is at an incline however the flat surface is better suited for my foot recovery at this stage.

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@artist01

@becsbuddy Hi Becky. Thankyou for the welcome back. I really missed all of you.
Yep, I do have a goal...my goal for now is to be able to stand up for more than 10 minutes without blacking out! I did a fair bit of blacking out in the hospital and even since being home. Such a wimp. My doc keeps saying, One day at a time. Can't wait to get back to my mile-a-day walking regime! SOON! Stay well, Becky. X0 Laurie

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@artist01
Why are you blacking out? Did your doc tell you the cause?
Are you having low blood pressure, heart problems or blood sugar issues? I think when I fainted at the grocery store I haven't eaten all day. of course with diabetes you know better than to do that.
You take care of yourself,
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@artist01
Why are you blacking out? Did your doc tell you the cause?
Are you having low blood pressure, heart problems or blood sugar issues? I think when I fainted at the grocery store I haven't eaten all day. of course with diabetes you know better than to do that.
You take care of yourself,
Jake

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@jakedduck1 Hi Jake. Thanks for your concern. To answer your question, Yes, me and my doc know what's causing the blackouts. I've been a fainter for much of my life, even as a kid. The rest of it is such a long story, Jake. I have a Pacemaker, complex up-and-down blood pressure with 2 new meds to try to regulate it, Diabetes 2, (just this week I had a scarey 1.1 reading), Giant Cell Arteritis with weekly immunosuppressive Rx injections, ummm, what else? The docs have me labeled as a Complex Patient. I truly feel sorry for them. I can't type further or I'll lose this too-long response lol. XOXO

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@artist01

@jakedduck1 Hi Jake. Thanks for your concern. To answer your question, Yes, me and my doc know what's causing the blackouts. I've been a fainter for much of my life, even as a kid. The rest of it is such a long story, Jake. I have a Pacemaker, complex up-and-down blood pressure with 2 new meds to try to regulate it, Diabetes 2, (just this week I had a scarey 1.1 reading), Giant Cell Arteritis with weekly immunosuppressive Rx injections, ummm, what else? The docs have me labeled as a Complex Patient. I truly feel sorry for them. I can't type further or I'll lose this too-long response lol. XOXO

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@jakedduck1 And further, to complete my long-winded response, Jake, I'd had no less than THREE preps in as many days for a colonoscopy/CT Colonography, with no food all week, severe diarrhea, etc. Lost all my electrolytes, WBC, Neutrophils crashed, etc., and now it's taking so long to recuperate. The first prep was at home. Ambulance, etc.
2nd at hospital with a prep error so had to have a third. Trying to get back to food tolerance, stamina, etc. And that's why I'm blacking out these days! XOXO 😘

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@ess77

Beautiful! Where? elizabeth

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@ess77
Hi liz,
It's in Mt. Shasta, CA 300 miles north of Central CA where I live and about 60 miles south of the Oregon border and is an active volcano. Mt. Shasta is the 5th most dangerous volcano in the U.S. behind
4: Redoubt volcano, Alaska.
3: Mount Rainer, Washington.
2: Mt St. Helens, Washington
1: Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
Take care,
Jake

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@sueinmn

Elizabeth - I find planning my walking into my day makes sure it gets done. For example, this morning I will start a load of laundry, then join my friend for a walk through our bird sanctuary. Some of my walks are very short - it all depends on my breathing. And I learned the hard way last summer to do my therapy (stretching) before I go - had to stop halfway one day and do it on a neighbor's bird-watching bench...
I can tell exactly which days I skip walking at all, I feel fidgety in the evening and don't sleep as well.
Sue

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Sue
Love the dual benefits of your walk today, friends and birds.
Enjoy!

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@artist01

@jakedduck1 And further, to complete my long-winded response, Jake, I'd had no less than THREE preps in as many days for a colonoscopy/CT Colonography, with no food all week, severe diarrhea, etc. Lost all my electrolytes, WBC, Neutrophils crashed, etc., and now it's taking so long to recuperate. The first prep was at home. Ambulance, etc.
2nd at hospital with a prep error so had to have a third. Trying to get back to food tolerance, stamina, etc. And that's why I'm blacking out these days! XOXO 😘

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@artist01 My goodness, Laurie! No walking for you, lil missy until you, literally, get back on your feet! I’m so sorry to hear about all these health issues!! It will take a while to get your body back to normal for sure! Any time our intestines get wonky and our electrolytes, blood numbers take a dive it is a slow progression back to feeling 99%.
Activia yogurt with a little ground flax is good for getting the innards replaced with good bacteria and easy fiber. There are probiotic supplements but sometimes they’re a bit harsh when first starting to get the tummy under control.
Sending oodles of positive thoughts your way! Stay vertical! Lori.

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@jakedduck1

@ess77
Hi liz,
It's in Mt. Shasta, CA 300 miles north of Central CA where I live and about 60 miles south of the Oregon border and is an active volcano. Mt. Shasta is the 5th most dangerous volcano in the U.S. behind
4: Redoubt volcano, Alaska.
3: Mount Rainer, Washington.
2: Mt St. Helens, Washington
1: Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
Take care,
Jake

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@jakedduck1 On Thursday I had to drive south, to a new specialist. This area is pretty new to me, as usually my specialists are to the north. Getting off at exit 27 southbound, I was mighty surprised to look in the distance, and see Mt. Shasta! She was glistening with unmelted snow, in the early morning's light. The majesty of the view gave me a brief release of the tension from driving.
Ginger

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