Hitting a road block

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Whyfor

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I am not formally diagnosed, but my doctor is sympathetic to my fatigue issue. She suggested that I take up some yoga to help build some stamina and strength (along side helping a lower back ache that I've had for a while), but I've absolutely hit a wall.

This happens with almost any type of exercise, I've found. I can start up doing pretty well in a new regimen, but despite how slow I go, I just can't get past a certain point. My stamina just drains at the same spot almost every session, regardless of my carefulness. Does anyone else experience this? Its just so frustrating when I'm trying to do everything right, you know?
 
Hello Whyfor, welcome to the forum. I find that weakness is a bigger issue with fatigue following a close second. Like in trying to lift my arms up to do something and getting hit by weak heavy arms, waiting a bit and trying again only to have fatigue set in that stops the activity. I like walking for exercise but hills wear me out fast. It is fustrating when you want to exercise in a certain way and fibro stops you from doing so.

Yoga would be hard for me because once down on the floor I can not get up and the positions used might become permenant in my old age. But for younger folks or those with better limb movement I am sure it would be restful. lol

Please post more around the forum. Look forward to reading your posts. :)
 
Thank you, 1sweed! I really appreciate your input. You wouldn't believe how helpful it is just to hear that another person is going through what I go through. I must be one of the lucky ones that I can at least do a little basic stretching before becoming completely exhausted. I rarely do anything that involves me being on the floor, since like you, it's hard to get up once I'm down. I've also got some bursitis in my hips that keeps that sort of thing at a minimum. But I find I can perform a few simple stretches while standing for a little bit before the terrible muscle aching really sets in.

Walking use to be one of my favorite things before my lower back started up. It's always irritated by the act of walking, and I just can't figure out how to combat it. My doctor said to try and strengthen my core with the yoga, but I'm not sure how much progress I'm making.

Anyway, thank you for the response!
 
This might sound stupid but yoga is a journey and given time you will push past that barrier. Yoga is one of those things like martial arts that it just takes time and practice. Tai Chi is also very good for people with chronic health issues and like yoga can be modified to a person's needs or abilities. Hope this helps you.
 
This might sound stupid but yoga is a journey and given time you will push past that barrier. Yoga is one of those things like martial arts that it just takes time and practice. Tai Chi is also very good for people with chronic health issues and like yoga can be modified to a person's needs or abilities. Hope this helps you.

I will definitely keep at it. Thank you so much for the words of support. Hopefully I can burst through this barrier as you said, and I will absolutely look into Tai Chi! :p
 
Whyfor, have you tried simple exercises like walking? That's an exercise that never fails, if you could walk 30 minutes at least 6 times a week, that would surely make a huge difference for you. I'm 100% sure of that :) Have you tried taking natural supplements to aid you with your fatigue? I take a green tea one and I can tell it has made a huge difference.
 
Wow. If I could walk 30 minutes 6x/week, I'd feel like I was cured. The years before I got sick, I regularly hiked 20+ miles a week and was involved in team sports. Now I'm thrilled that I have gotten UP to three blocks a day, where before my fibro meds I could only walk one block. Progress in exercise has to be seen in context and with a lot more patience if you're sick than you needed when you were well. Listen to your body, not your inner critic who tries to convince you what you should be able to be doing.

As for walking hurting your back, would water walking help? The water can help relieve some of the back's weight bearing duties, and your back might be able to handle the water walking.
 
I am not formally diagnosed, but my doctor is sympathetic to my fatigue issue. She suggested that I take up some yoga to help build some stamina and strength (along side helping a lower back ache that I've had for a while), but I've absolutely hit a wall.

This happens with almost any type of exercise, I've found. I can start up doing pretty well in a new regimen, but despite how slow I go, I just can't get past a certain point. My stamina just drains at the same spot almost every session, regardless of my carefulness. Does anyone else experience this? Its just so frustrating when I'm trying to do everything right, you know?

I have not been formally diagnosed either but not throught my lack of going to my GP when I lived in England and firt started getting really tired my eyes would just slam down shut and I would need to sleep for an hour before work started in the afternoon.

It comes in fits and starts for me where I can be full of beans one day, and can hardly get my head up off the pillow on others. This is very annoying because I was always hard working and worked to perfection when I could. I think my nervous nature and work ethic has been a factor in this surfacing.
 
It comes in fits and starts for me where I can be full of beans one day, and can hardly get my head up off the pillow on others. This is very annoying because I was always hard working and worked to perfection when I could. I think my nervous nature and work ethic has been a factor in this surfacing.

I've been experiencing a bit of a flare the past few months, and I can fully sympathize with that feeling of your eyelids just getting heavier and heavier, until you've suddenly woken up and didn't realize you ever fell asleep. I've been having to give in and take naps in the late afternoon, which feels like a major defeat on my part since I'm so darn stubborn. But I'm working through the emotional baggage of this condition too (which is even harder than the physical stuff sometimes).

I think I've been making some slow progress with the exercise, when I can do it. It's just very, very slow, and I need to be mindful of how my body is working that day. If I push too hard when, say, my knees are acting up, I'll have to stop sooner than if I just focused on my arms instead. It's a process, I tell ya!
 
Before having FM symptoms, I worked very long days, took care of two young children and walked/ran 3-4 miles EVERY day with my Shepard.
I was athletic, healthy and full of energy. Now, I have to do my food shopping on Saturdays so I can rest up on Sundays and drag myself to work through the week. Even short bouts of exercise/stretching will leave me with post-exertional pain and fatigue for days. I try, but for me, it boils down to a steady exercise regimen or being able to go to work. Ugh.
 
Fatigue is probably one of the hardest fibromyalgia symptoms to deal with, especially when we have trouble getting restorative sleep. I will tell you a few tips that I have learned from professionals and from my own trial-and error. Personally, exercise makes me more tired. I did 3 months of physical therapy, which left me more sore and tired than ever. I tried NAC, which helps some people overcome fatigue, but it did not help. One thing that helps me sleep is 5- HTP, a natural source of tryptophan (you know that stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy?) and melatonin. I am prescribed baclofen and clonazepam, which I take at night to help me fall asleep. Marijuana helps me sleep too. My doctor prescribed my Modafinil, which is a stimulant to prevent excessive daytime sleepiness. I take it only as needed, because it has some side effects that are less-than-desirable. I take D-Ribose and green tea extract for energy, and coffee helps a little too. I find that I need to rest often, in order to keep my strength up during the day.
 
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