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Anyone else hitting cardio levels (on Fitbit) when doing simple tasks?

Posted by baker00l @baker00l, Feb 15, 2022

For those of you that use a Fitbit and who seem to hit cardio level when doing simple tasks like standing or cooking. (AND who do not have POTS)
Taking the advice of my PT and OT therapists, I track both zone and cardio minutes using my Fitbit watch with Premium each day. When my heart rate hits a predetermined level (for me it is 100bpm), I immediately sit down and do belly breathing. After one month of modifying my actions, I am now able to reliably control my heart rate!! And I am able do start doing more. 😁
**The minutes below are doing normal daily tasks. I have not yet begun exercise. **
I populated my zone and cardio minutes in a spreadsheet. In the last 4 weeks BOTH weekly values have gone down!!
Zone minutes from 700 per week to 574 per week
Cardio minutes from 252 per week to 143 per week!! Using my fitbit to know when to sit (when HR reaches 100), has made a LOT of difference!😁
Hoping this means my body is slowly returning to normal.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

RMS | @rinadbq | Feb 16, 2022

what a great strategy. I wonder if Garmin or Apple Watch can do the same limit setting, I was just diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia-my heart rate can be above 90 at rest and spikes with activity; I feel like I do 15 sprints in a day-it's exhausting!

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2 replies
baker00l | @baker00l | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @rinadbq "what a great strategy. I wonder if Garmin or Apple Watch can do the same limit..." + (show)
@rinadbq

what a great strategy. I wonder if Garmin or Apple Watch can do the same limit setting, I was just diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia-my heart rate can be above 90 at rest and spikes with activity; I feel like I do 15 sprints in a day-it's exhausting!

Jump to this post

Hi! The personal HR limit was determined by my PT and OT. It is calculated as a percentage of resting heart rate I believe. So any fitness band that provides HR in real time will work. 😁
I also use a Polar beat armband when at PT/OT so that they can watch HR on my phone while I perform the tasks they have given me. That way I dont have to keep tapping my watch to provide HR.

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jennifergillan03 | @jennifergillan03 | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @rinadbq "what a great strategy. I wonder if Garmin or Apple Watch can do the same limit..." + (show)
@rinadbq

what a great strategy. I wonder if Garmin or Apple Watch can do the same limit setting, I was just diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia-my heart rate can be above 90 at rest and spikes with activity; I feel like I do 15 sprints in a day-it's exhausting!

Jump to this post

I did too. It does get better. I am an athlete and my heart rate and BP used to low.. I know it’s unnerving. What work for me was walking before I could run. I didn’t watch my watch but I paid attention to how I felt. That’s when you have to slow down and that can make you anxious and then your HR has a mind of its own.

I could be talking to someone, doing laundry, the dishes, homework with the kids or even just enjoying myself.

I think I prolonged the experience by paying too much attention to it. Like how often etc.. I’m a nurse so we like to take notes.

When I say Listen to you body that mean take a minute try to relax and pace yourself. That is the hardest part.

You are not crazy and you are not alone. Practicing self care is the fastest way to recover. I have 4 kids and they didn’t quite understand. But rely on the adults around you to reassure you your ok. The. Press On. One foot in front of the other.

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2 replies
Lucy | @welchllb | Feb 17, 2022

Great idea!! However, I have the opposite problem. When my breathing gets bad, my HR actually goes down. Anyone else?

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Lucy | @welchllb | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @jennifergillan03 "I did too. It does get better. I am an athlete and my heart rate and..." + (show)
@jennifergillan03

I did too. It does get better. I am an athlete and my heart rate and BP used to low.. I know it’s unnerving. What work for me was walking before I could run. I didn’t watch my watch but I paid attention to how I felt. That’s when you have to slow down and that can make you anxious and then your HR has a mind of its own.

I could be talking to someone, doing laundry, the dishes, homework with the kids or even just enjoying myself.

I think I prolonged the experience by paying too much attention to it. Like how often etc.. I’m a nurse so we like to take notes.

When I say Listen to you body that mean take a minute try to relax and pace yourself. That is the hardest part.

You are not crazy and you are not alone. Practicing self care is the fastest way to recover. I have 4 kids and they didn’t quite understand. But rely on the adults around you to reassure you your ok. The. Press On. One foot in front of the other.

Jump to this post

In reply to Nurse Jenn - I keep a daily journal and very simple things trigger breathing and related problems. I think the only improvement I've had for 19 months is getting to know my body. Instead of completely crashing, I now know my body well enough to stop & practice mindful, deep breathing when I start having difficulty which is many times a day.

REPLY
1 reply
RMS | @rinadbq | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @jennifergillan03 "I did too. It does get better. I am an athlete and my heart rate and..." + (show)
@jennifergillan03

I did too. It does get better. I am an athlete and my heart rate and BP used to low.. I know it’s unnerving. What work for me was walking before I could run. I didn’t watch my watch but I paid attention to how I felt. That’s when you have to slow down and that can make you anxious and then your HR has a mind of its own.

I could be talking to someone, doing laundry, the dishes, homework with the kids or even just enjoying myself.

I think I prolonged the experience by paying too much attention to it. Like how often etc.. I’m a nurse so we like to take notes.

When I say Listen to you body that mean take a minute try to relax and pace yourself. That is the hardest part.

You are not crazy and you are not alone. Practicing self care is the fastest way to recover. I have 4 kids and they didn’t quite understand. But rely on the adults around you to reassure you your ok. The. Press On. One foot in front of the other.

Jump to this post

THANKS!

REPLY
jennifergillan03 | @jennifergillan03 | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @welchllb "In reply to Nurse Jenn - I keep a daily journal and very simple things trigger..." + (show)
@welchllb

In reply to Nurse Jenn - I keep a daily journal and very simple things trigger breathing and related problems. I think the only improvement I've had for 19 months is getting to know my body. Instead of completely crashing, I now know my body well enough to stop & practice mindful, deep breathing when I start having difficulty which is many times a day.

Jump to this post

When I went up to Mayo what I learned to do is to not focus on my symptoms. I also kept a calendar with specifics. I have noticed a marked improvement after not being symptom focused. Focusing on the symptoms hard wires our neurological system to strengthen the connect. That also applies to breathing as well

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Lucy | @welchllb | Feb 17, 2022

Thank you. It's very hard not to focus on symptoms when out of the clear blue sky they appear as I try to go about my normal activities. I can go days without recording in my journal, then, try to remember back to the previous days. I don't think I anticipate the symptoms but will try your approach. I have unexpectedly had maybe three periods of up to three days or more with no symptoms. Some days and stretches are longer than others. Appreciate your reply.

REPLY
1 reply
jennifergillan03 | @jennifergillan03 | Feb 18, 2022
In reply to @welchllb "Thank you. It's very hard not to focus on symptoms when out of the clear blue..." + (show)
@welchllb

Thank you. It's very hard not to focus on symptoms when out of the clear blue sky they appear as I try to go about my normal activities. I can go days without recording in my journal, then, try to remember back to the previous days. I don't think I anticipate the symptoms but will try your approach. I have unexpectedly had maybe three periods of up to three days or more with no symptoms. Some days and stretches are longer than others. Appreciate your reply.

Jump to this post

There is a video about central sensitization on you tube.


This video helped everyone around me understand what it is like. When they changed their prospective they didn’t have expectations and disappointment.

It was hard to understand what was happening to me and it was hard for them to understand why I was not the same.

This is the video from Mayo..


Our pain is real and we have to retrain our brains using all the techniques you talked about. I know it sounds very odd but it is true..

I’m rooting for relief of your symptoms. Take Care.

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