Although I am still sick as a dog, I am hopeful that I will get better soon! My question is this...has anyone out there been an athlete, recovered fully to the point that they can compete/race again...or...would that body stress put you at risk of relapse?
Thanks!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I got certified to teach pilates after Lyme treatment. It's a rigorous process. Not competing, but still a very active lifestyle. If I overdo it, I do get some minor fatigue, but that's improving.
I think it's due to my adrenal glands still needing some healing, after all, I haven't even been in remission a year yet after a long, hard battle where I was bedridden for a couple years ...... however, other instructors have told me they also will get fatigued when they over do it.
Posted by gatorade girl (Member # 24896) on :
I can't remember her name. Perry something is a runner who overcame Lyme.
Posted by gatorade girl (Member # 24896) on :
Perry Fields
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
I'd think the benefits of hard exercise- oxygenating of blood, raising the body core temperature & improving periphrial circulation- would all be plus-es to keep this essentially gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria at bay.
Though I haven't competed, my aggressive kayaking towards the end of my recovery... & beyond... played a Big role in my recovery & getting all my strength back.
I suspect that unless it's really Extended, aggressive aerobic activity (?), it shouldn't increase your risk of relapse, but I'm no expert here.
You likely have a tough few months ahead of you, but I bet you'll be out on the track doing Well come next spring. Right now, your body needs rest. Starting on an exercise program by late summer (& ramping up) should be do-able.
(See Dr. B's guidelines re: "Lyme Disease Rehabilitation". They even have a page prescribing 'Lyme Rehab- Physical Therapy' that your doc signs & you can present to a gym/ trainer/ health club.)
Posted by Kirk (Member # 24483) on :
I am not a competitve athlete but I am a physical guy who had enjoyed brazilian jiu-jitsu (for anyone who has done that, it is the most grueling martial art), running and weight training.
I have only started having symptoms of Lyme and Babesia 10 months ago, so I am not 'recovered' yet. BUT I am a lot better than I was and I can exersize moderately.
I have learned to work with the illness to an extent. Personally, i do have days where I feel no symptoms, and those are the days where I get most active. On bad days, I skip training or just modify my routine.
One piece of advice I have is to keep your cardio/aerobic training to a minimum, it just seems to put an added burden on the system. Most people here will tell you to avoid too much cardio (keep your runs to a minimum, dude).
I learn the hard way that extended cardio will slow your recovery. I have since shifted focus to the weights and I feel better. There'll be no brazilian jiujitsu in my foreseeable future, it's a bummer but I'm learning to accept my limits and be thankful for the good things.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
An athlete with lyme who wrote a book.
While I Was Walking [Paperback] Sally Russo (Author)
There was another one on here last year who was planning on writing a book but I can't remember her name. Her post was deleted.
We have had a few others. You might be able to find them by searching the archives.
Terry
Posted by calmom (Member # 24054) on :
I believe it is tickbattler here on LymeNet is an athlete - I was hoping to read her book when it came out, but can't find a link right now, and I'm not home at the computer where I saved the link.
One of my docs told me to keep excercising but keep it moderate - do not create more oxidative stress - our bodies are already having too much just fighting the disease. She described it like walk, swim, but don't get to gasping for breath.
CalMom
Posted by mattnapa (Member # 26414) on :
I am not an athelete, but I have been a person that has done a lot aerobic excercise in the past. I believe I saw on Burrascano's protocol that he advised to do virtually no aerobic excercise until you are better. If I have that right I find it hard to uderstand, but obviously Dr B has a great reputation.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
DR. B wants you to do anerobic exercise. resistance training.
i for one started lifting weights as soon as i possible could, im not 100% yet but i work my butt off in the gym, i believe i'm better for it as well.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by mattnapa: I believe I saw on Burrascano's protocol that he advised to do virtually no aerobic excercise until you are better.
You are correct.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines (2008) - 37 pages
Joseph J. Burrascano, Jr., M.D.
* Page 27 for SUPPORTIVE THERAPY & the CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES
* Pages 31 - 32 for LYME DISEASE REHABILITATION and specifics in coordinating a rest / work-out schedule and Physical Therapy.
Excepts from Page 32:
LYME REHAB-PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until the patient has recovered.
. . .
4. Exercise no more often than every other day. The patient may need to start by exercising every 4th or 5th day initially, and as abilities improve, work out more often, but NEVER two days in a row. The nonexercise days should be spent resting.
. . . . -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Adrenal dysfunction that often plagues lyme patients must be considered on an individual case. If a patient has severe adrenal exhaustion, aerobics can be damaging from that perspective:
See page 4 where Dr. Burrascano describes a bit about the considerations of the dysfunction with the HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS (Adrenal support links below).
Mitochondrial dysfunction can be a huge factor in lyme. Lyme damages mitochondra. So, as the mitochondria are the tiny energy centers of our cells, this presents a huge factor for energy output.
More about that, and what can help: ---------------------------
Topic: To everyone with cardiac symptoms please read!
=====================
The liver is stressed much more during aerobic exercise. With all the toxins it has to flush out anyway, adding aerobics to that can overstress the liver and create a severe "pay-back" that actually springs the patient backward in to a relapse upon a relapse, if not careful.
If more toxins are circulating, yes, the blood brain barrier (as it is more permeable with lyme patients) cannot filter out all that is necessary to protect the brain tissue.
Another consideration with active infections: -------------------------------
[Post-polio expert] Dr. [Richard] Bruno points out that physical over-activity is the biggest cause of post-polio symptoms. [3] (See Dr. Bruno's "Fainting and Fatigue" in the Spring 1996 CFIDS Chronicle, page 37.)
EXCERPT:
when mice infected with Coxsackie B3 were forced to swim in a warm pool, the virulence of the virus was drastically augmented.
In fact, viral replication was augmented 530 times. This did horrendous things to the animals' hearts. We all know that to play squash with the flu can lead to heart attacks. Much the same danger can be courted by undertaking hard exercise with M.E.(CFS) . . .
=================
ADRENAL SUPPORT can make a huge difference in healing.
Cordyceps is recommend here:
This is included in Burrascano's Guidelines, but you may want to be able to refer to it separately, too:
Curcumin Prevents Some Stress-Related Changes (By CP Staff) -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I forgot to answer your original question. YES, indeed, you can get better enough to enjoy an active life. It just may take a while and you may have to adjust your definitions a few times along the way.
It is possible, though. There is no blueprint to say for sure when, how, etc. as it vary for each individual, depending upon the total number of infections, damage, treatment, response to treatment, etc.
It is possible, however. Hold onto that. -
Posted by landerss (Member # 17732) on :
triathletelymie - i was a competitive runner prior to the onslaught of lyme and company. for me, it was a gradual emergence of symptoms over a number of years, and now, looking back, i can see that there were warning signs for a while, as evidenced by my inexplicably slowing race times and inability to recover from hard workouts.
for the first year and a half of treatment, i was barely able to run because of joint/foot pain and poor sleep/recovery after attempting even an easy run.
finally, these last few months, i've been able to build up from zero mileage to one hour runs several times a week. i'm certainly not setting any PRs or speed records, but i am truly grateful to actually be out there running again!
i honestly don't expect to be ever racing up to my previous form again, though, which is okay with me at this point. i'm at an age (45) when performance declines are to be expected (nonetheless, a good number of my masters running buddies are still setting PRs??).
good luck with your recover, and i hope you can get back to competitive triathloning again soon!
Posted by landerss (Member # 17732) on :
triathletelymie - i was a competitive runner prior to the onslaught of lyme and company. for me, it was a gradual emergence of symptoms over a number of years, and now, looking back, i can see that there were warning signs for a while, as evidenced by my inexplicably slowing race times and inability to recover from hard workouts.
for the first year and a half of treatment, i was barely able to run because of joint/foot pain and poor sleep/recovery after attempting even an easy run.
finally, these last few months, i've been able to build up from zero mileage to one hour runs several times a week. i'm certainly not setting any PRs or speed records, but i am truly grateful to actually be out there running again!
i honestly don't expect to be ever racing up to my previous form again, though, which is okay with me at this point. i'm at an age (45) when performance declines are to be expected (nonetheless, a good number of my masters running buddies are still setting PRs??).
good luck with your recovery, and i hope you can get back to competitive triathloning again soon!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Perry Fields is running again. She presented at the recent LIA - Lyme-induced Autism - conference. She was doing so much treatment!! It was her new marathon! I recommend checking out her presentation - they must have recorded their conference.
Posted by lightparfait (Member # 22022) on :
Big time athletes can come back and compete again...but depending on age, and the amount of joint, tendon, or muscle damage...it may be hard to fully repair or recover to compete at the level where you once were.
I am back as a triathlete...but cannot run any distance now...due to cartledge damage. 18 year old daughter is back competitive D1 swimming, and getting best times now, better than ever....and she was more ill. Took three years...two of treatment, with declining performance...and one of detox, where improvements started. She also had ankle surgury with desintigrated cartledge popping out like pot holes on a road, that had to be removed, from the lyme.....and is encouraged to never run again as part of her training.
We are both still improving our bodies and healing our gut and detoxing the fungus/heavy metals/allergies, etc. Immune systems are finally working well.
Level of competition will Depend on the damage and age during and after treatment. I highly recommend learning about detox and possibly the allergie immune therapy when you are ready for this.
My 18 year old believes the allergie immune has helped her manage the toxicity of the chlorine and pool chemicals that she has battled for the past 10 years. No allergies at all now for her, so she can breath well in the water for the first time in her life. And no problem staying hydrated with endurance training.
For competative triathlete training...very important to be allergie free and absorb your nutrients and minierals efficiently..
best wishes.
lp
Posted by Ahodge01 (Member # 23569) on :
Not in treatment now and dont even know if I have lyme... but I do believe from my conversations with all doctors including LLMD's exercise is a crucial part in recovery from any illness or infection.
I was so much worse when I would lay in bed all... It wasnt till I got up and moved around that I started getting better.
Before lyme I could bench around 165 lbs I played elite hockey all my life ran 7 miles a day, played soccer, baseball and pretty much any sport you can think of.
I only did 9 weeks of lyme treatment as I have never had a single band reactive and wanted to retest through Igenex. Yesterday I benched 70lbs haha so I like to believe im improving I also water ski once a week... which really helps with muscle pain and stretches out my upper body.
You'll get better... remember stay off the internet listen to your llmd and get back to living your normal life... I really think those things are the keys to success. The more you let a symptom bother you the more stress you will get the more tired your body becomes and you go into that cycle... then your just laying in bed again to hold symptoms off.
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
I too was an athlete prior to Lyme. Kickboxing, trail running, mountain biking you name it. I am still under treatment with IV rocephin and am hopeful to regain my life. While on the IV I feel pretty good. I was able to go jet skiing for July 4th weekend, PICC line and all! I understand it is a long recovery but if you were a healthy active person prior to getting ill, I would think that would help. It may take years but I have heard of people bedridden who recovered to lead normal lives after proper treatment.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Up
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
I started weightlifting while I had a PICC line in...it pushed my abx DEEP...I always did it within 30 to 45 minutes of infusion.
Later on I would time it the same...except on orals.
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
I would love to start lifting weights with my PICC line troutscout, but I thought that was a "no no"? The doc who inserted it said no heavy lifting with my arms. They were once muscular and are now skinny. Is it ok to weight lift?
Posted by ott70 (Member # 18237) on :
I'm a volleyball player and hit 40 this year. I had a small tear in my rotator cuff that sidelined me for a couple of years, but my shoulder is feeling better now and I'm probably playing as well as I have in the past.
Bugs or no bugs, I decided about a month or so ago that I have ten good years left of competitive volleyball and I'm going to get into the best shape that I can. I can feel my six-pack underneath my inch of flab and I would like to see it for once.
So I'm going to push myself, within reason, until my joints give out or I keel over on the court.
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
My PICC line was inserted above the elbow...and the darn thing went for 12 months on the money...still hold 'the record' for our local hospital.
I had my LLMDs permission....it drove mu abx DEEEEEP into my muscle tissue.
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
I improved the most...when I walked away from Lymenet for two years....but, I didnt pay attention, and now I'm sick again
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
quote:Originally posted by troutscout: I started weightlifting while I had a PICC line in...it pushed my abx DEEP...I always did it within 30 to 45 minutes of infusion.
Later on I would time it the same...except on orals.
Very interesting. I always weightlifted no matter how sick I was. What you're saying makes sense.
Sorry to hear you're sick again. That's a sobering thought .... I've been well for one year now .... gotta work to stay healthy.
Posted by jmb (Member # 18338) on :
After a couple years I feel better, for the most part.
One problem though is heat tolerance. I have been a sweater for as long as I can remember, but now I sweat even more.
I know it has been hot, but even on the trainer in the basement I am soaked.
I rode in the mountains last weekend for a couple hours. 148 ozs of eloctrolyte-filled water and still cramped at the car.
I don't know if I will ever do what I did before. I hope so.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Up
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Yeah.. Runner and triathlete here. Before getting hit really hard I was posting PR's. For my 40th birthday I broke 19 minutes in the 5K and was looking to go under 18.Figured if I kept chasing my husband I might see 17 something. Never happened...
However, after finally finding the right combo and dosage for me I am back to running. Not as long or as hard but I am out there. Doing about 20 miles of running and 15 of hiking a week. Recovery is key and I never do back to back though I will do a run followed by a hike in the same day.
Hoping to get on the bike soon, but for now I am thrilled, just thrilled to be able to hit the roads again and not feel like I am the walking or rather running dead.
[ 03-10-2011, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: desertwind ]
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
Competitive cyclist pre-Lyme. Haven't ridden a bike in seven months now, not sure when I'll be able to again.
Posted by Pippi (Member # 21151) on :
I have been a rower, runner, triathlete and most recently paddler. I love endurance sports.
2 months before I got sick I competed in the 40 mile open ocean outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu.
After I got sick in Nov 07 I was unable to exercise at all and could barely stand or walk.
Then I started walking, between some park benches about 250 yds apart. It was mostly sitting,, then to 1 bench, then 2 and so on, till I built up to about 20 min. of walking.
I also joined a seniors gym where I exercised a a very very reduced level for an hour 3 X a week. It was so reduced that it took me a few months of going DOWN in weight and intensity until I finally hit the right level that I could maintain without physiological collapse.
The chair workout (designed for people with severe osteoporsis and arthritis) with 1 lb weights was perfect for me.
I basically was able to manage the same mild workout for 2 years. I could not tolerate any aerobic exercise at all, other than slowly increasing the walking to an hour plus maybe 2x a week.
I was never able to sustain any increase in intensity, weight or repetition at the gym, until this Jan '11. I can now increase all 3, and I have finally been able to do hatha yoga again.
I can feel my strength building from week to week. It's pretty amazing to me. I am not done treatment yet, but I actually can imagine competing again.
I am revelling in feelng like myself again after more than 3 years. I don't feel fearful of damaging myself through exercise anymore, but I still feel cautious about pushing that upper limit very forcefully.
Even though I want to take my time and not just jump back into what I was doing before, one goal for sure is to compete in that same canoe race again.
You'll get there. Recovery seems so individual. For me recovering my physical ability was not gradual as I expected. It happened over about a month.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
I still body build and snowboard.....but am still in lots of pain!
Posted by geo (Member # 18333) on :
Play basketball - fine while playing, hurt like #@#@ the next day. Go to gym a few days a week as well for treadmill, sauna and lifting.
Posted by mattnapa (Member # 26414) on :
I heard from someone who is a reliable source that the first cases of fibromyalga were diagnosed in endurance atheletes. I have commented on earlier threads regarding the difficulty in finding the balance for the right amount of exercise in terms of health as opposed to fitness. That distinction is derived by the assumption that endurance atheletes eventually contrcted fibro were indeed advancing in terms of fittnes, as in running better and better times, but at the same time were simulataneously developing some sort of metabolic patholigies that resulted in fibromyalga symptoms. Hopefully that illustrates that health and fitness are not necessarily the same thing.
The real point being that the right amount of rest and recovery in terms of "health" may be a trickier topic than we often believe
[ 03-11-2011, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: mattnapa ]
Posted by jmb (Member # 18338) on :
I am to the point, after three years of treatment, where I am down to very modest fitness goals. I shoot for 4, 30-minute wrokouts per week. On the eliptical machine or bike trainer. Or I will slow-jog (10+ min/mile.)
Even so I feel more and more that the exercise wipes me out. I have hit the trainer at night to avoid fatigue while at work, and I found it waits til tomorrow.
I am starting to think I need to back off even more. And I am afraid that if I do, I will no longer be who I have been or who I want to be.
AS I am sure a lot of you go-fast/go-far folk can understand.
Posted by raw vegan runner (Member # 30432) on :
Ultra runner...haven't run in weeks though. I have tried to keep up some sort of running while I have been sick, but it doesn't always work out. I have been able to run 50+ mile races and keep up with training when in 'remission' and I am reduced to barely being able to get up the stairs when sick. I did a 50k run to bring in the new year before my latest downward spiral.
I believe exercise, articularly aerobic is HUGE in treating Lyme as it totally oxygenates you! But you have to be able to DO it...which is I think the biggest issue for most of us...
I do it when I can, and miss it when I can't...
Posted by mattnapa (Member # 26414) on :
raw vegan runner Dr B disagrees with the idea of aerobic exercise for Lyme disease patients who are not well
Posted by raw vegan runner (Member # 30432) on :
matt...sigh...I know When I am really ill, like now, I don't even try to run. Hell, walking to the bathroom is a major feat! But, when I feel ok I do go out there as I do believe it helps *me*...whether it is only in my mind, or it truly does help...who knows. With everything i have read, though, about how important it is to keep oneself oxygenated...seems like aerobic activity would be advised if one is in an upswing, no?
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I totally agree with raw vegan runnner - especially about the oxygen issue.
Aerobic exercise is what has made a huge difference for me in my healing regardless of what any doctor says about it. Of course you have to be at a place in your tx and healing that your body can handle the stress that come along with cardio otherwise it can be counter productive.
Pulling back on my abx.'s to a more managable dose and slowing adding in running has made a huge difference. Running at about 50% of my distance and intensity.
BTW...Why do I think running has been good for me? Increase in oxygen and increase in body temp. - both of which are not lyme friendly. I get a nice gentle herx from it. Am I completely healed? No. Do I still have some bad days? Yes, but not nearly as bad and they don't last as nearly as long.
Slowly peeling away at the layers and cardio is a huge part of that for me at this time in my healing.
Posted by NJFitnessGuy (Member # 30886) on :
Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines (2008) - 37 pages
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until the patient has recovered
This really surprises me. I would think a very low impact aerobic exercise such an elliptical or recumbent cycle riding at a heart rate of only 65%(fat burning zone)would be very beneficial for fighting lyme or any disease for that matter. Little stress on the body, but enough to get good bloodflow, heat & oxygen through the body while raising its temperature. Will also help burn fat. I dont agree wih Dr. B on this one.
Weight training is more taxing on the body, as you can easily elevate your heart rate into a cardiovascular zone(over 70%) unless you are training very lightly with low intensity. Any type of leg presses or squats not only hurt me, but wipe me out very bad. Its trial an error. Everyone is different, but your body will always tell you where your limits are and when its time to back off.
Posted by koo (Member # 30462) on :
Still waiting on lab results so not sure I have Lyme yet. However, I was also an athlete. This is probably the first thing that "went". As another poster posted a thread on shakiness after exercise, I had that and it would not feel better until the next day. My problem combined several things. My heart rate would not rise much, my body temp would stay low (I am talking in the 96 range even after exercise), and I would hardly sweat. I would get this feeling of irritation just below my breastbone, where my rib cages meet. I am an AM runner and if I pushed it, I would have either extra beats/skipped beats/irregular beats during the day. Has anyone else experienced any of this? This has been one of the most difficult things for me, not being able to exercise like I had. I did go through a period in the summer of '10 when all felt well again and my exercise/weight lifting was pretty much back to normal, but then it all unraveled again.
Posted by raw vegan runner (Member # 30432) on :
The other thing I think about/worry about is the *wasting* that comes from doing nothing...if one is at least able to walk, you are retaining SOME muscle tone and strength. Not to mention, getting some fresh air. I am not able to even go out walking right now, but am trying to do some exercises when I can so I am not a total veal once I am healthier.
I guess I understand the theory behind no exercise, as for some people it may very well set them back. But, for those of us who are/were athletes and whose bodies are used to that kind of training and exertion...I would think it would be ok...
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
I've been trying to lift some very very light weights recently. I can do so for a few minutes, but anything more than that becomes very tiring and I feel it the next day.
I think I'm still at a point when I need to start recovering more before I can exercise regularly and for periods of longer than a few minutes.
Re: aerobic exercise... if there's anyone I trust with my recovery, it's Burrascano. Sure, people complain about him not being able to cite sources in his guidelines, but he really is the source. He has such an amazing reputation for getting people well, so the fact that his guidelines are "the bible" is highly justified.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
When I am really ill, like now, I don't even try to run. Hell, walking to the bathroom is a major feat! But, when I feel ok I do go out there as I do believe it helps *me*...whether it is only in my mind, or it truly does help...who knows. With everything i have read, though, about how important it is to keep oneself oxygenated...seems like aerobic activity would be advised if one is in an upswing, no?