Hi all, this situation came up for me recently and I wondered if anyone else has had this problem: I solved many of my symptoms of sjogrens by a predominately clean healthy diet with no preservatives, dyes, and sugar. Giving up dairy stopped the joint aches. Feeling so good I took up exercising at the "Y". I took it slow and had no problems until I took an aerobics class. I did ok on the first few classes but on the third I got dizzy, achy, headache and felt tired and couldn't lift even mild weights. My doctor said it was my sjogrens acting up. I stopped aerobic exercise for awhile am sticking to yoga, tai chi and light weights. Has anyone similar problems? If so how do we get cardiovascular exercise? The healthy diet helped me lose 25 pounds but without the active exercise I don't feel in shape. Any suggestions?
Hi Shine :)
I was sent to 'core stability' classes (physiotherapy) and I couldn't finish the course. After every session I got trmendous headaches, which actually got worse as the course progressed. I'v never been migraine prone but these headaches were the closest I've got. Put me in bed for the day afterwards and feeling nauseous too. It wasn't exactly hard physical exercise either.
One of the best ways of exercising is swimming - or even just messing around in the water walking and stretching. Water's gentle on the joints.
I did tell the doc that it's pretty hard to exercise when it makes you feel worse than you do top begin with. She says I need to lose at least 28lbs.
Take care - Scottie :)
I have a problem with water. I wouldn't be doing much, and I'd get my small vessel vasculitis appearing. If I did it the next day, I wouldn't be able to walk really. and this isn't doing it for very long. an hour or two at the most. And basically just standing/sitting in there. But that's just me.
I've tried to do other things, but I just get worse. But I'm going to again, now that I'm on new medication. =)
Hi Shine, I just walk fast for about an hour...it's great, you can go at your own pace :) I recently bought a hoola hoop and do half an hour of that in the evening too, usually when I watching TV... apparently it's good for the tummy muscles :)
Fun too...I'm better at it than my 21 and 23 yr old daughters ;D
Good Luck,
Lesley (NZ)
Shine, Your Tai Chi, if done slow and meditative, can be a highly effective cardio vascular exercise. This is why the elderly in China do it I've been told.
Shine:
I'm glad you found a diet that worked so well for you. I am just the opposite - when I gave up dairy, my symptoms got much worse, maybe I need the dietary Vitamin D or something.
Sue
My nutritionist increased my Vitamin D to 1800 mg for about a month then dropped it to 1000. Now the health media is saying everyone needs to increase their D. Not a bad idea as it effects all parts of our bodies.
Thanks all. It sounds like walking and swimming are the way to go if we can handle it. And for those trying to lose weight, I lost 25 pounds within a month by quitting the "bad" food. You definately are what you eat. I will never touch another Cheetos again! Read labels..if you can't pronounce it don't eat it. My doctor told me if everyone ate like our great grandparents did there would be much less health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart problems. We have the added irritation of sjogrens so we really need to treat ourselves right. I had a terrible sweet tooth and since giving up sugar feel so much better. The flashing, sleeplessness and night sweats have stopped. I highly recommend looking into the food we eat and how it bothers our sjogrens. Good luck to all and thanks again.
I like to chime in... ;D I do cardiovascular excersise twice a week and walk on the weekend. I have been doing it for over a month and no problems. I have a personal trainer that is with me a good bit of the time. (I work for a hospital and because I am getting ready for a transplant I only pay a little over $7.00 a month!) I also have a history of vasculitis.......so I guess it just depends on each individual.
Do what you can without paying for it the next day. You'll know when it is time to stop.
Take Care!
Vicky
www.sjogrensandme.blogspot.com
Hi Shine
First congrats on losing so much weight and getting into the healthy eating habit - I eat a pretty good diet most of the time, but when I'm having a flare just want everything naughty!!
As for exercise, a good walk is about as much as I manage now plus a dance around the living room when I feel up to it. I used to be a gym bunny and trained hard 3 times a week with CV and weights this is defo no more! I've also danced all my life, used to be a ballroom competition dancer, but now it's just every now and then when I feel up to it. I so miss the dancing the most. I tried Pilates a few months ago and was doing OK then had a major flare so haven't done any since, might give it another go now I'm feeling better.
Wen
Hi Shine,
I also walk, but another thing I do which seems to give me more energy than walking is jumping on an exercise trampoline. Even doing a light bounce exercises every fiber in the body because the body becomes weightless everytime you bounce. Also, jumping on the trampoline pushes the toxins out of the cells and drinking a large glass of water flushes them out of your system. Also, water therapy works well too, much easier to do because things weigh less.
Hope you can find something that works for you
Collie
I use a recumbent bike. This is very low impact on the knees and great for people with back trouble. Tai Chi also is good to help improve balance issues that SJS sometimes causes.
Wen:
You were a ballroom dancer- that's wonderful! I love to watch ballroom dancing - one of my twins was even in a competition. If it wasn't for this brain fog and my two left feet, that's something I would love to be able to do.
Sue
i haven't been officially diagnosed yet, first appointment with Rheumy is on Wed next week.
i don't have any joint symptoms, but i did notice something strange...after my cardio workouts on the eliptical machines my eyes get extra dry! is that weird? it's nothing that keeps me from working out, just kind of a strange little thing i noticed..
anyone who keeps trying to find ways to stay healthy and active while having joint and body pain gets my admiration...maybe i will be a lucky and avoid that symptom.