Exercising after a long illness?

April 20, 2005 12:46 PM

I am recovering from a three month virus/cold/minor hit to my immune system that aggravated both my asthma and Sparky the Mystery Muscle Disorder. I've seen a doc for this. I've just finished a run of antibiotics (Zithromax) a couple weeks ago, and have also just finished a month-long run of prednisone to treat the asthma. Consequently, I haven't exercised, and now I feel like a sloth. I'm also laid off from my job for the next 100 days. Financially, I am OK for the duration, and that includes paying for COBRA, so I don't have to get another job right away. I'm also in Seattle, which has beautiful summers. So, I have this time to try to get back into shape and start exercising again.

I'm laid off from my job for the next 100 days. Financially, I am OK for the duration, and that includes paying for COBRA, so I don't have to get an interim job. I'm also in Seattle, which has beautiful summers. So, I have this time to try to get back into shape and start exercising again. My goal is to regain my stamina - the more stamina I have, the less that Sparky tMMD is an issue in my life. However, I don't want to overdo it; if I do, I aggravate Sparky and get extremely fatigued, as well as having movement issues in my arms, legs, and eyes. (Yes, my GP knows of this and we're working on nailing down what it is.)

What type of exercises do you all recommend? I don't ride a bike because of the muscle issue, and I don't have a health club membership, but I love walking and pretty much anything involving the outdoors. I also love to dance, but not smoky danceclubs.

posted by spinifex23 to health & fitness (7 comments total)

Walk around Greenlake. Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum. Walk on the beach at Discovery Park or Golden Gardens. Rollerskate on the Burke Gilman trail. (Today's weather is really getting to me.) There's a zillion different dance classes of all types, not to mention yoga classes, here in town.
posted by matildaben at 12:56 PM on April 20, 2005

Sounds to me like Sparky needs a neurologist. Intrinsic muscle disorders are the darkest Peru of medicine - you want someone who knows what she's doing.

I don't know you from Adam and telemedicine is worse than useless, but someone ought to at least examine you and rule out steroid myopathy and myasthenia to everyone's satisfaction.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:01 PM on April 20, 2005

Ikkyu2, you don't know her from Eve either.
posted by matildaben at 2:43 PM on April 20, 2005

As another Sparky tMMD sufferer, I say go for all the exercise you can handle. I joined a dodgeball league and an indoor soccer league a few weeks ago against my doctor's advice, and it helped alleviate some of Sparky's effects. I'm putting on a lot of muscle mass I didn't have before.

(Of course, my Sparky could be very different from your Sparky, and I have to say that I sleep 9 hours per day right now whether I want to or not, probably due to the exercise. My Sparky mostly affects my legs ... muscle spasms and fatigue-soreness, and causes my hands to shake. My doctor has all but given up on trying to diagnose it.)
posted by SpecialK at 3:30 PM on April 20, 2005

Sparky definitely needs a different Neurologist. The original one (and a Neuroopthamologist) couldn't find anything, and eventually decided I merely needed more antidepressants. So, I'm going to ask my GP for a recommendation for a different Neurologist and a Movement Disorder specialist.

Myasthenia has been ruled out, as has MS, stroke, Periodic Paralysis, Conversion Disorder, alien abduction, and other, similar disorders. When Sparky decides to visit, I get the cramping muscles, and my limbs will contract because the muscles will contract without them wanting them to. The closest thing I can find that resembles when I get is Dystonia, but IANAD.

But in the meantime, I refuse to simply be a World of Warcraft-playing lump on the couch because of Sparky.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:24 PM on April 20, 2005

spinifex - Yeah, my Sparky (God, I'm so gonna use that next time I see the doc) isn't quite as bad, but it's almost as annoying. I get these great muscle spasms in my calves, and my hands shake to the point where I use both hands to drink.

The current doc thinks it's all stress related. I disagree. I had no problems whatsoever until I had Mono a few years back, and after that it's been constant medical problems.
posted by SpecialK at 8:06 PM on April 20, 2005

Start walking. Walk walk walk. Strap on an audio player with a good audio book, and walk for as long as you can. Also, I recommend a pedometer to help you keep track of distance covered.

I love to walk, and have covered over 1000 k (625 mi) since mid January (and consequently lost much unsightly flab). It's improved my knees, made my back stop hurting and improved my aerobic fitness and endurance no end.
posted by tomble at 8:39 PM on April 20, 2005