Flare-ups and exercise?

[ladybugoleander]

I am currently in the worst flare-up I've ever had. I was recently on prednisone, which didn't work, but I did gain a good amount if weight on it that I have yet to lose. Since no drug has worked for me I'm going to be starting a drug trial in a few weeks.

My question is, does anyone exercise while in a flare-up? Whenever I complain about my weight to anyone they tell me to start exercising. Before I had Crohn's, I did swimming competitively, as well as water polo. In my brief periods of remission, the first thing I'd start doing was exercising heavily again. But when I'm in a flare-up, I feel way too exhausted to exercise. Or when I try to swim again, I have to go to the bathroom so often that I barely get to exercise at all. I also get lower back and knee pain when I try to go for walks or jog (to the point where I have to ice my knees afterward), and the bathroom problem applies to these type of exercises too.

Should I stop listening to the people, people who don't have Crohn's, that keep telling me to exercise? Are there some forms of exercise you do on a flare-up that I should try?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I'm currently in remission and right now I exercise a minimum of 3x per week. But back when I was flaring regularly, on a good day I might have been able to do some light yoga - on a bad day, I would get exhausted just walking down the hall to the bathroom. I had a terrible flare once when I tried folding laundry and nearly passed out, even that small amount physical activity was too much for my body to handle at that time. You know your body best so do what you feel you can do. It sounds like right now that's not much of anything, and that's okay. Don't let others make you feel bad because you can't exercise - it sounds to me like it's mainly "normal" healthy people who are telling you to exercise? I'd tell them kiss my behind, personally! The next time these healthy folks have a terrible flu or virus, tell them to go run some laps and see how they feel about that - then they might understand what they're asking you to do. Seriously though, you know your body best so do what you can, when you can, and rest when you need to. It's not a sign of failure or weakness, it's just another annoying part of having a chronic illness. Just listen to your body and don't do overdo things. It's frustrating, absolutely yes, but right now you need to heal so that you can hit the gym down the road. Hang in there and feel better soon, good luck with the drug trial!

 

[orangeleprechaun28]

Sorry you're not feeling well. I'm in a flare myself and it's not fun. Before my flare, exercise was actually my way to de-stress. Unfortunately (like you) I've been too tired to work out. I've tried a few times when I had more energy and it didn't seem to work out the next couple days but it might have just been coincidence with starting/stopping medicines. I've taken to just going with the flow and listening to my body. I'm relaxing a lot more and watching more TV. Some ideas I've had (and I'm planning on trying) are biking/yoga/etc bc they involve less jarring to the gut so I'm wondering if that'll help. I hope some of this helps. Hang in there. I hope it get's better for you pretty quick.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I was a sprinter in highschool (over 10 years ago) and my husband runs now. He runs about 13 miles give or take and tries to do it once a week. I've wanted to get back in shape but have yet to do so. In the past months I was too scared to join him because of needing to have the bathroom close by. Now, it's not as bad but I'm still tired. Eventually I'll start running again but at my own pace. Hope things calm down for you soon. Take care.

 

[solid_sal]

Before I was diagnosed I worked out regularly (5-6 times a week). I was in tip top shape. Since my symptoms started I have not set foot in a gym ... since April. Even with the treatment that Im on improvements in my condition have been small. Its been a long time and right now I feel like I couldnt even get 5 pushups done. I've lost like 50 pounds and although there is still some definition in my arms/chest I can tell that it is deteriorating due to the lack of exercise. It sucks. I just want my life back.

 

[LisaL]

I have found that, at least temporarily, exercise decreased my abdominal pain. It doesn't stay away forever, but I fel good after exercise. But, that is during mild flare ups, not severe ones. I also have joint pain and fatigue and I try to exercise through that too.

That being said, I love my exercise, and when not as sick as I have been recently, I was exercising five days a week. Currently I am only able to workout 2-3 times a week. What stopped me completely was a perinatal fissure, fistula and abscess.

Try some exercise, maybe with a friend to take your mind off the discomfort. I hope it helps, but you know your body best, and pushing yourself too far isn't worth it.

 

[HARVinTX]

I obstructed 10SEP and in a flare since then. Not sure if will count as my worst flare in the last 20 years but definitely the worst stricture, which is going to have to come out. I'm on day 16 of prednisone and decided to fight as many side effects as I could. I'm on a sodium restricted low carb diet. I have lost 8 lbs since starting pred and avoided the crazy appetite. I was hoping to avoid moon face but it's definitely coming on. Now exercise; I had been jogging/hiking 2-3 x week (I'm 47, 30lbs overweight but otherwise in decent shape) at the time I obstructed and I have fought to keep it up. I'm running now 5-6 times a week and definitely not making my flare worse. I have had energy issues which I think are nutritionally driven due to the restricted diet and malabsorption. I am also now getting the knee swelling/squishiness. Since that worsens thru the day, I try to exercise in the morning. Had to run late today and the knees were fine during my run but right after, I thought they were going to swell like balloons. And I don't even salt in my system! I tasted the back of my hand after a very sweaty run and salty taste at all. Pred sucks!

Suggestions: start slow, slow slow. Do what you can, when you feel at your best during the day. It's not too late to restrict salt even if off pred and if your able to do low carb, then you can hit your weight from that angle too and manage your appetite. Rest often to minimize any swelling/pain in your joints. And do gentle stretching before, during and after any exercise. Track your progress so you can advance at a pace that works best for your body. I agree with the great comments in this thread. Only you can determine your exercise tolerance.

For me, finally taking control has made me more motivated than ever. I have 20 more lbs to lose before I will consider surgery to remove this freaking stricture. I've been taking a day at a time and the majority of days in the last month have been pretty crappy but I think my exercise is paying off. I have a very noticeable increase in endurance.

Hope you get some more suggestions and put together your own personalized plan! Good luck!!!

 

[notfullyfathomed]

I can totally sympathize -- I'm coming out of the worst flare I've had since I was diagnosed, and I'm finally able to work out like before I flared. I didn't really exercise at all last fall while I was flaring severely, but was able to start again in the winter while I was on prednisone because of the extra energy boost it gave me. I'd say start in the gym with some light cardio, or do a yoga dvd at home (yogaglo.com is also great). I also had a light weight lifting routine that didn't take too long, and even if I didn't have a lot of energy I could work through it slowly or decrease weights. Lifting weights is also important for bone density, so it's a good thing to do while on steroids.

 

[Guest9283]

If you are in a full flare, then the wise choice would be resting and focusing on feeling better/getting well, so you can get back to gym. In a flare your body is in an altered state. You are not absorbing as much nutrients or calories. You dehydrate easier. Your body is also burning more calories than normal (in a general flare). Working out in this state could have the reverse effect. You might be wasting muscle or should I say - losing tone. People might associate the extra weight loss from working out in this situation as success. However the loss would must likely be from muscle mainly(and general water/sweat weight) as the body fat % stays relatively the same.

 

[HARVinTX]

I agree Ziggy that I exercised thru malnutrition, both from food restricting and malabsorption. But the on the flip side (and just my personal current experience) I have been running/walking/hiking every day thru a horrible flare. I tried to advance my diet yesterday with thinly sliced tender beef (less than 2 oz. and I did lots of chewing) and had a horrible night of pain. I had done 4 miles each on Sat/Sun and then got right back out today and did 3.5 miles. At age 47 I did great and credit my increase in exercise to very rapidly bouncing back. Of course I went right back to low residue and liquids today but I feel great right now and am looking forward to my trail run tomorrow. September 10th is my current flare start date and I know surgery to get this stricture is not far down the road and I will be ready for surgery and a quick recovery.

So yes, rest as needed and don't ever give up!! I am 20+ years with this freaking crap and its time to get back in the driving seat.

I will be posting also on my prednisone battle. But for a quick update, on day 20 (currently 30mg) and have lost 19 lbs (10 since starting pred and 9 from restricting due to stricture). Irritability is nearly gone and the knees are not swelling very much anymore. Still have insomnia and even with strict salt restricting, getting some moon face (probably the fat redistribution) but I know that will resolve pretty quickly once I finish this round.

Good luck Crohnies!

 

[Guest9283]

I agree Ziggy that I exercised thru malnutrition, both from food restricting and malabsorption. But the on the flip side (and just my personal current experience) I have been running/walking/hiking every day thru a horrible flare. I tried to advance my diet yesterday with thinly sliced tender beef (less than 2 oz. and I did lots of chewing) and had a horrible night of pain. I had done 4 miles each on Sat/Sun and then got right back out today and did 3.5 miles. At age 47 I did great and credit my increase in exercise to very rapidly bouncing back. Of course I went right back to low residue and liquids today but I feel great right now and am looking forward to my trail run tomorrow. September 10th is my current flare start date and I know surgery to get this stricture is not far down the road and I will be ready for surgery and a quick recovery.

So yes, rest as needed and don't ever give up!! I am 20+ years with this freaking crap and its time to get back in the driving seat.

I will be posting also on my prednisone battle. But for a quick update, on day 20 (currently 30mg) and have lost 19 lbs (10 since starting pred and 9 from restricting due to stricture). Irritability is nearly gone and the knees are not swelling very much anymore. Still have insomnia and even with strict salt restricting, getting some moon face (probably the fat redistribution) but I know that will resolve pretty quickly once I finish this round.

Good luck Crohnies!

Good point. Sorry I was thinking more so gym type routines. They even make patients who are going through chemo walk everyday. So I guess it's never good to be completely sedatary, if you can help it.

Good luck coming off of pred! Sounds like you're doing great so far.