Excersize

[Chall]

Hi. How do people manage excersize? I was diagnosed with a mild to moderate case nearly a year ago. I was on pred then into 50mg of azathiropine. Day to day life was a struggle. Tired and fatigue most of the time. So I got reduced to 25mg per day.

Things were looking better so I started back to my hobby of cycling. First few rides went ok. Then I did a short distance with a lot of effort and it took it's toll for a few days. Took a couple weeks off and done a longer slower ride and fine. I did the same again and 4 days I've struggled to pick myself up.

My doctor and consultant don't understand why a low dose of meds is doing this to me. I'm now booked in for my 2nd colonscopy and my consultant mentioned injections.

Am I rushing things or do I need to take more time out?

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Are you in remission? If you're not, you will likely have a difficult time exercising. You mentioned things were looking better - but if you're not in remission and still have some inflammation, you may need to focus on getting into remission before you can start exercising in earnest.

Have you tried other forms of exercise besides cycling? Riding a bike tends to put a lot of pressure on your abdomen - all that balancing, steering, pushing to get uphill, etc - that all uses your core muscles a ton and can rile up your insides behind those muscles and cause some symptoms, particularly if you're not in remission. And if you're riding a road bike then the bent-forward posture is also not particularly friendly to the belly area. I'm similar to what you described - I can go on short easy bike rides, but if I go too far or do too many hills, I definitely have angry guts sometimes for days afterwards. Something I've found that helps is that when I'm riding on a flat easy stretch, I make a conscious effort to take deep breaths and relax my abdominal muscles as much as I can. When I do that, I find that I don't have nearly as many symptoms after a bike ride.

If you're going from zero exercise to doing some rather intense bike rides, then perhaps yes, you may need to slow things down a bit. Definitely if you're having symptoms after many of your bike rides, I'd say back off of bicycling and do something more basic and easy at first. Most people do well easing into exercise with gentle things like yoga or walking - from there, build yourself back up to doing more intensity and varied exercises. Prednisone can rob you of muscle mass, so you might also benefit from lifting weights (obviously start out with light weights, don't work your abdominals too much and focus more on arms, legs, etc).

 

[Chall]

Thanks for your reply. When I say things were looking better I'd say I was in remission. Effort wise I didn't feel I was over doing it and my last cycle was a frustratingly slow ride.

I find walking boring and I'm not really a yoga sort of bloke. More active than that. Something for me to think about tho.

Thank you

 

[teeny5]

Maybe you can do the rides, but with days off in between. Or alternate between cycling and another exercise. I agree weights might be a great option.

What is your struggle with after exercising? Fatigue? Pain? Both?

 

[Justanothercp]

I also exercise routinely, at times my body just won't respond, it is just too tired. I would advise to respect what your body is telling you, you may need more rest between workouts. I think our bodies have to work hard just to fight off the inflammation, exhausting.

 

[Kristygedman]

I feel you. Before I was diagnosed 8 months ago I ran half marathons (last one in November). Now running 2 miles knocks me on my butt for a few days. I have maintained light work outs as much as I could, but I really want to run again. My GI tells me that whenever I feel up to it I can, but the fatigue for 2-3 days after is crazy.

 

[Chall]

If dont struggle with doing the exercise at all. It was 2 weeks between cycles so I would expect my fitness to be down on this time last year. Its fatigue on recovery that gets me. I was at the clinic yesterday and it looks like my small dose of azathiropine is not working for me. Now awaiting app with consultant to try something else but looks like it will be injections?

 

[Charlotte.]

Well, to me, exercising is so important to me to feel well but being in a flare I can't do much at all. I try to keep up doing some yoga right after I get up from bed in the morning but that's probably all I'm able to at the moment.
As my hobby is cycling as well, it's hard being too weak to cycle and being in too much pain (also joint pain) at the moment. Crohn's with Arthritis sucks!

 

[Chall]

Yes charlotte, it sucks when you are used to being active then down to near nothing it is frustrating. I'm with you on that one

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Chall, good luck with your next medication - I hope it helps more than the aza and allows you to recover faster from workouts without so much fatigue. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

 

[Chall]

Will do. Thank you. Be weeks till I get an appointment with my consultant I recon