Aside from having lyme, I now have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and drugs for both that I want to stop taking. Sinse I've been on IV abx I feel alot better so I started riding a bike and doing light weights.A couple days of light workouts, was followed by about 4 days of crap. All my symtoms returned big time. Worked out again, couple days of crap. Should I go for a little more, and push through the bad days, or are there negative effects because of abx. My IV should be coming out soon, I want to increase my upper body workout. Bud
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Bud,
There have been lots and lots of threads about exercice. You may want to do a search.
Generally, we really need to work up to exercise. A workout you might normally think is light could hit you like a truck during Lyme treatment. Some people actually start with walking to the mailbox to get the mail.
Dr. B's guidelines say no cardio exercise when you start treatment and say only exercise every other day.
If you haven't exercised in a while, when you first start exercise it actually lowers your immune system. Then, when you get used to it, it strengthens the immune system.
It's a difficult balance you have to find. I do an intensive yoga workout because it is the exercise I find best. When I first started, I could hardly walk for 2 days afterwards. But I did try to listen to my body and not push during the workout.
Make sure you drink lots of water after exercise so you can detox.
Posted by AlisonP (Member # 7771) on :
Hi Bud,
I know Dr. Burrascano is very adamant about not doing any sort of cardio when you have Lyme as it really seems to have a negative effect. Nothing that significantly increases the heart rate. But I think I remember that he actually recommends light weights and I think walking is OK.
I do walking, which seems to be Ok except for the fact that by the time I get home my fingers are swollen like sausages from the edema. Yoga has also been phenomenal for me.
Alison
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
Dr. B told me that lifting weights was the best exercise you could do while combating lyme, not cardio.
Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :
Yes, weights and lots of repetitions best, Dr. B said.
I joined a gym 2 weeks ago, thinking I was well enough to do some 'real' exercise and I am still trying to recover from the apparent relapse I got after that.
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
I have always wondered about Dr. B's recommendations....I keep reading there should be no problem with weights for Lymies, but that has not been my experience.
I am able to do light, low impact aerobic dancing, and it makes me feel a lot better. I just make sure not to push myself.
However, it took me two YEARS of working at it, just to be able to do the five MINUTE weight workout I do now, and I was doubled over in tears many times. I still have to stop early, or just skip it on many days.
I only use 4 lb. weights, only lift 3 X per week on alternate days, and I already have overdeveloped muscles in my arms from being athletic before Lyme. So, I think the problem must be retention of lactic acid, but I am not sure what to do about it.
My exercise experiences fit the expectations and recommendations for FMS to a tee, and that was my dx before Lyme.
Klutzo
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I lift heavy weights and have no problem with it, but I did it before my symptoms were a problem (I've actually "had" Lyme for 30 years, with several flare-ups of symptoms).
I did cardio for the first time in months the other day. It aggravated the Lyme symptoms.
My heart rate raises slightly during a weight workout, but isn't as continuous as cardio.
I'd lift weights and start out slowly. Skip the cardio for a while.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I also like to dance...but it's mildly aerobic and nothing really strenuous.
I've also started trying strength training...but it's 1-3 pound weights, nothing heavier yet.
I also got a tape of gentle gentle yoga, but that proved challenging, too.
I did some walking last summer, and I'll be glad when the weather's warm enough to try that again!
Generally, I've found my head is ready but my body's still pretty fragile. I'd always been very very active, agile, strong, so this is all knew to me.
Andie
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Swimming? might be a good one. I know everytime i try to exercize i ache for 5 days.
Posted by HamDune (Member # 14139) on :
Does anyone know a type of yoga that is particularly recommended for Lyme/Chronically Ill people?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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It depends more on the teacher, their philosophy and style.
Some yoga teachers, just as some Tai Chi or Qi Gong just don't get it. You'd think they all would, but some really like the "Power Yoga" approach or the "think it and you can be it (NOW)" thinking.
You might call around or ask the lyme, MS, CFS/FM support groups in town for recommendations. Maybe some of the cancer healing groups would be good, too.
"Restorative" Yoga is a type that I've done and that term may help.
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Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I dug flower beds this past summer and gave myself a major Lyme and babs attack. I'd play it by ear though - some days it really helped to sweat, as long as I took time out when my symptoms became too extreme.
I really sweat though when I planted shrubs for my neighbor under some power lines. I'm finding my real problem involves exposure to magnetic and microwave fields (microwave sickness - electromagnetic hypersensitivities) more so than Lyme. I think they work together.
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