posted
I was an avid runner before getting sick with Lyme a couple of months ago. Most of my symptoms are still present (tooth and face pain, burning sensations all over my body, muscle twitching, decreased appetite).
But I really miss running. Does anyone here run while treating Lyme? I know Dr B's guidelines do not recommend aerobic exercise. But I feel like I have lost a big part of myself by not running. I have been doing yoga, strengthing exercises and a lot of stretching. But it's not the same for me.
Thoughts anyone?
Posts: 132 | From Somewhere | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
I was a marathon/ultra-marathon runner. Have been a runner my whole adult life. I have been trying to keep it up, and have been able to race/train sometimes...but other times I go weeks without running a single step. It is extremely depressing to me, as I *am* a runner...
I go out and run when I can...for my sanity but I don't know of it does more harm than good...
Posts: 206 | From In the shadow of a mountain | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I was a competitive runner for many years, doing lots of road, x-country, and trail races of all distances when I fell ill. In retrospect, my running revealed my illness far before my blood work or symptoms; I felt chronically overtrained for a good number of years before I started piecing everything together. Maybe the overtraining actually created the conditions for my illness to flourish? Who knows!
I run now, 2.5 years into treatment, but not nearly as zealously as I did prior. Like raw vegan runner, it really varies day to day as to whether I can run 2 miles, 12 miles or not at all. And I certainly could never keep up with my old training posse.
At first, not competing and training with my teammates felt like a huge loss. Over time, I've evolved to the point where all that training and racing seems a bit narcissistic for a forty-something like me Thankfully, this evolution in thinking has helped me to simply appreciate the joy of just being out there occasionally, moving my body in the woods. It's no longer an obsession or something I "have to do", and for that I am really grateful.
My LLMD feels that running is fine, as long as we're not pushing ourselves to where it could be taxing on the immune system. If you were a runner for years before your illness, there's no reason to stop if you're able. But you have to be even more careful about not overdoing it.
Good luck with your running and your recovery!
-------------------- Increasingly ill over past 10 yrs; treating since October '08. Posts: 180 | From Philadelphia, PA | Registered: Oct 2008
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I used to run only 2 miles a day everyday and was in great health. After a botched kidney surgery, in 1994, when I was given some tainted blood from a blood transfusion I was never the same after that. The doctor accidentally cut a main artery during the surgery and had to give me a blood transfusion.
After ten years of deteriorating health, and developing severe arthritis, I could barely walk up and down the stairs of our home. The doctor dx me as having arthritis. Long story short, I ended up getting lyme disease from the tainted blood. At least that's what my LLMD suspects.
Finally, after one year of natural treatment (started over one year ago) I am able to walk briskly for about 1/2 mile or so. My dream is to get back to running again, hopefully by the end of this year.
When I walk I always feel so invigorated and so much better from it. But sometimes I can tell it takes a toll on me and I have to rest until my body is ready to walk again.
The key (for me) is to keep motivated and stay determined that I'll get back to where was pre-Lyme. It might be a slow process, but we can't give up our dream or we'll just sit around and rot from this miserable, stinking, dastardly disease. With God's help, and ongoing treatment, I don't plan to let this disease defeat me.
posted
Thanks for the responses. Maybe I will try to run a little this weekend.
I agree with you landerss, my running really made me realize there was something wrong with me. I couldn't complete my usual runs as well as I used to. And i was unusually fatigued after running a short distance. During one run I experienced migrating joint pain and had to stop. That was one of the only times I ever experienced joint pain. So running really brought out the Lyme for me.
I am so impressed with everyones determination to continue running during this illness.
Posts: 132 | From Somewhere | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
It depends on how you feel. Go slow-- do maybe 3/4 mile slowly, then walk 3 min, repeat as able. do that a few times a week...and then see if it makes you feel worse. If you feel "normal" increase a little, etc.
The key with exercise is to increase so slowly that your body gets used to it and it doesnt take energy away from your immune system. And really listen to your body. Now is NOT the time to be competitive, which is soooo hard to adjust to. Later will be the time for that.
Posts: 844 | From CA | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
God Bless you all. I wish you the best and hope that you get well soon.
But running? Running?! You all are in a different category than many others here.
I'd have been freaking thrilled if my daughter was able to get out of bed and come downstairs for dinner (or breakfast or lunch for that matter). Descending and ascending stairs was her Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Prior to getting sick she was a gymnast, ice-skater, lacrosse player.
She lived in her bed/bedroom for 3+ years b/c of this damn disease before she was able to get a bit of her life back.
But she is far from walking, much less running a mile.
At this point success means that she is physically tolerating going to a few college classes and juggling studying with resting and sleeping.
You all who are still able to walk and run despite Lyme/cos are blessed more than you know.
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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You are very sweet, diplomatic and real. Thank you for your response.
We are all blessed in different ways. Thank you for reminding me of that.
My daughter is blessed with her supportive "nuclear" family. Too many here have little to no support.
Thank you for reminding me that one day she will be able to run.
And boy do I wish she'd run. How symbolic it would be for her to run from these damn diseases and turn around and wave the final goodbye to it all.
And having her succeed professionally in her chosen career and succeed in her personal life. What I wouldn't give for that.
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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posted
Four and 1/2 years ago I was running and placing in my age group. Four years ago, I had trouble walking to my mailbox. Neuromuscular problems were among the most severe symptoms for me. There was no option of running. I've been treating for 2 and 1/2 years. Running and any sort of aerobic/physical exertion is still a problem for me. I can walk or jog slowly for a mile or so without ill effects, but anything more strenuous causes several days of post exertional fatigue/pain/illness....similar to the symptoms that characterize chronic fatigue syndrome. If running didn't make me feel like crap, I'd be out there everyday, no matter what the guidelines say. Hope to get there again at some point, but so far the doctors are stumped. I am better in many other ways, though.
-------------------- IV graduate. As of 1/10, oral Omnicef, Minocyline, Mycobutin, Levaquin, and Flagyl. Lyrica and a bunch of supplements. Posts: 123 | From Atlanta | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
Pre Lyme I did long runs/rides. Aventure races and ultras, but most of it straight bike. After a year of Lyme treatment I could still do 12-hour mountain bike races. But like garunner I find post exercise fatigue to be more and more a problem.
I am working very hard to not work very hard on the bike. And when I run on the treadmill or outside I go sllllowwwww.
I sweat now more than ever too.
Some of the most beautiful times of life for me have been at speed but not now. I am hopeful for later, but it has been three years.
-------------------- enjoy the day.
-jmb Posts: 208 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2008
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But first know your body and check with your doctor do you have any heart problems,low or high blood presure.
Then be sure that you have in place D-ribose to help every cell with energy take five grams 3 times a day.
Phosphatidylcholine to clean intracelular toxins.
Whey protein for detox energy and building new cells.
B-complex to help with different metabolic pathways and build new cells,carnitine to help better metabolism of fat.
Now you are ready to exercise but go slow and wach your heart beat you dont want HB to be more then 140 till you get some strength .
Stop runing ore excercising if you have pain on chest difficulty in breathing,or if you can not say clear a sentence thats a sign to stop.
With supplements that I mention and increasing slow in your exercise you will fill better everyday,and protected from crush .
And some times if you fill bad if you go and exercise you will fill fine again becouse you are detoxing better with exercise .
The only time that I do not have any symptom whatsoever is when I'm exercising.
Posts: 482 | From Nebraska | Registered: Feb 2010
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
Was a competitive runner and duathlete prior to getting hit with lyme. From 5K's to marathons to Half Ironmans. Won Masters state championships in road racing and then took a nose dive that I am slowing digging out from.
Been dealing with this since 2004/5.
What I found is that I NEED more recovery time in between runs and I do not go as long or as hard as I did prior to lyme. Common sense.
If I feel like I can run 6 miles then I run less then that to keep something in the tank for healing.
I typically feel much better when I am able to run but am sure to pay close attention to recover for the next few days following. I cannot run 2 days in a row and try to alternate run day with hike day with off day..
I am up to 20 miles of running per week with another 10-15 of hiking. Not close to what I was doing prior to lyme but I went from bed bound to being able to tolerate AND benefit from running once again.
Lots of people will tell you not to run but those people problaby never ran a step in their lives....you came into lyme in a great state of health so that will only benefit you.
Again the biggest piece for me was realizing that this is not the time to train for a PR, nor is it the time to log high mileage. Moderation and recovery is key.
You need to experiment a bit with what you can and cannot do in terms of running. There will be days when you just know that running will only hurt you and then days where you know it is okay to hit the pavement or trail.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
Runner17, everything desertwind said! I also alternate days of running and hiking (with some weeks just hiking if something aches or am particularly out of breath, like this week when kidney function is faltering).
AlanaSuzanne, your point is well taken, and I agree with WhitneyS, as well. This sucks for everybody, and some way more than others, and in all different ways.
-------------------- Increasingly ill over past 10 yrs; treating since October '08. Posts: 180 | From Philadelphia, PA | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
I have to stick with walking now, myself...Running hurts my legs and knees too much...also, going op a hill makes me loose my breath so fast...damn lyme.
Posts: 222 | From NH | Registered: Mar 2011
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
You can run, but take what you used to do, and cut in to 1/4 on Moderately "bad" days, and on moderately good days, do half of what you used to do.
This is a pretty good compromise. You have to understand that you won't be able to keep improving in your capacity like you did and your recovery time will be twice as long as it once was. Cuts heal slower, muscle grow slower.
Remember too that your immune system takes a pounding over long runs. A healthy person can endure that for quite a long time but not a person with Lyme. You'll lower your immunity substantially if that adrenaline and cortisol level stay too high too long during and after cool downs.
Be reasonable, be realistic, be satisfied that you can even walk and run still -- just....lower your expectations and do enough to satisfy your ego and identity but not enough to cause set backs. The line changes do to day, so always side on caution. If you think the day might not be the best day to run, don't. If you wanted to run 2 miles but feel extra tired but know you can still go out and handle 1 mile instead, then do that.
Be "reasonableeeeeeeeeeee." Got it? It doesn't seem to sink into our Type A brains here. Most of us who got this disease got it while being ALIVE and really pushing and enjoying life -- not the sedentary fellow who is satisfied sitting at home playing video games. So temper that attitude and you'll recover and be back to running as many miles as you want eventually.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
AlanaSuzanne believe me, I am on top of the world when I can run because I know there are times like now when walking up the stairs has me in tears. I ran a marathon in November. I can't WALK through a store right now. Its amazing how quicky things change, and how fast we can go downhill.
For me being able to run isn't an ego *thing*, it is a part of who I am. Some people like to sew, some people like to draw/paint, some people are super gardeners, I run. It is a part of who I am the same way those other things are a part of who someone else may be. Going out and running 1 mile instead of the usual 5 isn't a happy medium for me, it reminds me of how much this disease has robbed me of who I am.
I am not giving up on running again, and running FAR. I will NOT surrender that to this disease.
Posts: 206 | From In the shadow of a mountain | Registered: Feb 2011
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
I wasn't talking to you.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
MB, That is fine...I am still entitled to respond, no need to get huffy. I thought this was a conversation about running between runners...I was simply comenting, thanks.
Posts: 206 | From In the shadow of a mountain | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
Thanks for all the support and responses. I just wanted to update. I've been running SLOWLY since writing this post. I've made it up to 2 miles! I'm still pretty far behind my pre Lyme status of distance training. But it feels great to be out there running. And the best part is I have NO symptoms while running. It is so nice to pain free for a while!
I am going to try and run a 5k next month. I still have most of my neurological symptoms but I feel a little more like myself while I'm out there running!
Thanks everyone!
Posts: 132 | From Somewhere | Registered: Jan 2011
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
That is such great news!!!!!!
Running was and still is a huge part of my treatment and recovery - I feel like "me" again when I am out there.
I got up to a 7 mile run this weekend followed by a 5 mile hike. I actually felt fine the next day..now just taking a couple of rest days and drinking alot of HEED. Take your time and you will get back to your desired miles!
Sometimes I get a few neuro symptoms flare up afterwards but I believe that to be a small herx and rather welcome it because they get less and less as time goes on.
Be sure to rest well and take more time then you think to recover. Stay healthy and I wish you many more healthy miles!
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I feel for you RVR. You said: Going out and running 1 mile instead of the usual 5 isn't a happy medium for me, it reminds me of how much this disease has robbed me of who I am.
I could not feel more like you. When I am running an 11-minute mile, it is more like I am just surviving but I have been a runner to thrive.
It is not very fun when I run and I am tired after. I think I do it just to spite the Lyme sometimes.
-------------------- enjoy the day.
-jmb Posts: 208 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
That is an example of just how bizarre this disease is. I am able to run. I have Lyme friends who are not, due to fatigue, pain, arthritis. The illness takes so many forms and directions.
Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful that I able to stay mobile, so thankful. However, I can feel so, so sick. My nervous system is totally whacked, tremors, numb feet, my brain feels like it's sloshing around in my head, numb tongue, internally vibrating non-stop - to the point of feeling like I could seizure (pretty sure I've had some weird pseudo-seizure episodes).
My worst of worst days, I can't run. However my just general bad day (I don't have good days, ever, yet), even with a numb face, weird-numb (sort of spongy) feet, over-reactive nervous system....I can get out (and I have a PICC line too). I feel totally "not right" and generally "terrible." But I can do it and I do....this is one strange bugger (pun intended) isn't it? TS
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Thankfully, this evolution in thinking has helped me to simply appreciate the joy of just being out there occasionally, moving my body in the woods. It's no longer an obsession or something I "have to do", and for that I am really grateful.
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