EXERCISE

Hi 50secs,
The biggest problem with exercise in CFS is that it typically triggers a flare-up of symptoms. So if you can exercise without causing a flare-up, I would say definitely get as much exercise as you can! What usually happens in CFS is that patients get severely deconditioned, for lack of activity. It's like, the more we exercise, the worse we feel, so we avoid getting exercise. At the age of 40, after being sick for 15 years, and diagnosed for 5 years, I already had some very obvious muscle wasting. There are other factors for me, which contribute to the wasting, but lack of exercise is an important factor.

So even though you don't see any improvement in your condition, exercise might either prevent or slow your decline. I hope this helps

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Brynn

Hi this was my guestion as well I have Lupus and have been tired and weak and short of breath ( I had a pericardiectomy one year ago ) I have had trouble excerising with all the problem that go with the Lupus...and when I do excerise it seems to get worse...everyday I feel like I could just fall asleep even though I just got out of bed and slept at least 8 hours...should I just try to excerise anyway? I'm at the end of my rope as far this goes.
Thanks Andrea

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Ok im confused now. I thought if a person has cfs and can excersize without any flares then most likely they do not have cfs? Is this true?
Donkey

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Donkey, I don't know the answer to your question. I was diagnosed with CFS a LONG time ago, and I know some general info about it, but don't know some of the specifics like I should. I do know that Michelle Akers (sp?) of the US Women's soccer team had CFS and was still able to be a key player on the team. Sometimes exercise makes me feel worse and sometimes it doesn't, but a lot of times it does. I used to be a long distance runner and now there are days I can barely walk.

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Diagnosis:  Suspected Lupus 2004; Raynauds 2006; CFS 1991

hey interesting topic this! when i was diagnosed the Dr told me to make a progressive return to exercise!! i've only been diagnosed with CFS for 6 months and i've been doing what the Dr told me too and i can now manage 2 hrs, 3 times a week in the gym and i dont take it easy!!so i hear you ask, how does it make me feel?! well sometimes i feel ok and i can continue with my day, other times i feel so run down it knocks me out for a coupl.e of days - but this doesnt happen often! so i guess that it all depends on how you react to the exercise! as for the " if you can exercise you aint got CFS" thats crap! i've had multiply visits to the Dr's and i get the same response from them and that is that CFS has its good days and bad and that i shouldnt think that i'm cured!!!i have had an incident recently that saw my layed out for 3 days after a weekend surfing - so i guess that you have to listen to your own bodies and only do what they can!!!!
Aloha

Yeah the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you can tolerate excercise, then excercise! If your body is telling you not to... then either don't, or limit your excercise to an amount that's tolerable. I used to be fairly active, but anymore any kind of excercise puts me out for quite a bit.

Same goes for daily routines too. We have our good days and our bad days. Some days I feel great! Some days I can't get out of bed. Unfortunately with having to work, even if I can't get out of bed I have to force myself to... and boy do I pay for it later!!!

I just started the new job, so I can't take a FMLA or anything. So I gotta do what I gotta do... just rest up on the weekends!!! Unfortunately also with my job (911 dispatcher)... it's not like I can just take a day off whenever either... 911 callers can't wait until you're back from work!!!

Anyways... listen to your body... and what it tells you.

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Hugs,

Nikki

I have chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety (at this current moment), and some minor abdominal pain which still hasn't been figured out yet... need a break from all the testing ;)

Medications:

CFS: Provigil 200mg, once a day
Anxiety: Lorazepam .5 or 1mg 3xs a day or as needed