Walking back to Happiness

Hello, I’m really struggling with exercise tolerance since my radiotherapy back in July/August 2022. I have a few long term side effects from it - lymphoedema, rib pain but the main one that really bothers me is that I have now been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis after a severe episode of breathlessness back in September. ‘They’ (oncology and respiratory consultants) seem to think that it is unlikely that the radiotherapy caused this, and they are probably right, but it’s too much of a coincidence to me that it has become a problem only since the radiotherapy. 

Anyway, whatever the cause, I now have a long term lung condition. I have always been very active and prior to my surgery in June was running 3 times a week. Looking at my records since mid August last year I haven’t managed to walk more than 2 miles (twice) I get out of breath just doing things round the house and although I try to walk a  mile each day I can’t seem to either improve my time or increase the distance.

 I’m hoping that joining this thread might give me some encouragement and maybe even some advice - but  I really don’t want to hear ‘it takes time’ ‘be kind to yourself’ ‘listen to your body’ or ‘build up slowly’. It’s been ages, I rest a lot, my body should start listening to me and I’m stuck on a mile!

Im really rather cheesed off at the moment! I thought this would all be over once I’d completed my treatment but it just goes on…I’m too young to feel this old!

I did my little circuit yesterday - it’s a steep incline to start (you can’t walk anywhere from our house without a steep incline to start ) then a nice level/downhill path through the woods and a steady incline for the second half mile back to home. It’s a lovely walk, but I want to get back to long distances and to running again.

I do online exercise classes with Maggies when I’m feeling up to it (Pilates and strengthening) but I feel like I’ve been down with something every few weeks which leads to antibiotics and three steps back in terms of fitness. 

I would put a post a picture, the woods are lovely at the moment, but I can’t work that out….

sorry to sound so miserable 

Hi Runner_5, 

I am glad you have joined the group and shared with us. I don't know what I can say to encourage you that doesn't sound a bit vacuous. I too have been struggling to get strength back and am in a lot of pain a lot of the time. The musculoskeletal specialist and physio have both said my shoulder problems have been partially caused by the radiotherapy. It is known that RT can affect the lungs. I am not sure why the oncos are so reluctant to accept side effects exist. My hormone tabs (letrozole) affect joints and the existing damage and arthritis in my back has definitely worsened on these tablets. So I understand your frustration to some extent although I wasn't hugely fit before the diagnosis in the way it sounds that you were. 

All I can say is that regular small amounts of exercise will build up into longer sessions and that is the way I am approaching it. 

Please do feel free to rant on here. .any of us do. It helps knowing there are people out there who understand our dituation xx

I'm in the same boat and I don't like platitudes either. Just keep doing it, ignore what you can but keep going. I got ibuprofen gel etc. Determined to dance and keep dancing enough to do my version of a performance at the back. Pride in August which is a dance and parade for 2 hrs. My challenge to myself. For me the pain of the knee doesn't last. Excruciating at times worse when I'm exhausted but f..k it, I am in charge of my body. 

Thank you, it helps to feed I’m not in my own, although I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

I was put on letrazole at diagnosis (I forget why) but after 4 months the side effects were just too much - in my case it was nausea and loss of appetite (and a stone in weight!) so they changed me to Exemestane which so far seems to be suiting me better, although I have painful joints in the morning and some nausea it’s infinitely preferable to what I had with letrazole. They are keeping tamoxifen in their back pocket in case the Exemestane becomes too much. 

I wonder if the weight loss has affected my stamina as well as the breathing problems? I’m thinking I probably lost muscle mass then and again over the past few months when exercise has been difficult. 

I keep hoping that the showers will stop long enough for me to go out - although it’s not like I’m going to dissolve if I get rained on is it

thanks x

You sound very determined! I don’t really feel in charge of my body yet, maybe that’s to come. Everything crossed for you in August x 

Walkies this afternoon, waited till the slight drizzle had stopped

there are always sniffs to be investigated! 
Hugs xxx

When at home I feel quite switched off. I need to have something to do to motivate me. I have put weight on because I am less active. In some ways in more relaxed but in others my fuse is shorter when vexed by someone. I worked long and hard to get to retirement I want to enjoy it where I can. X

Dear Runner_5 

so sorry it is all very difficult for you at the moment.

If it helps I was very unfit following my operation(DIEP)following breast cancer.I would even feel faint sometimes and had to build my strength and stamina up from there…..

I started to walk each day,as far as I could which wasn’t very far…and joined a gym as coincidentally an offer came up with the GP to pay half for 3 months at a gym.

Before that you would never have found me in a gym !

So I started off with the warm ups and never really left them for two years!!I enjoyed the exercise bike the most and used to sit on it and read my book for half an hour.Well it got me through anyway.I also put on my earphones and danced while I cycled to old Motown tunes….not pretty,but an interesting sight!!

we are all very different and have our own ways of doing these things.But my twin persuaded me to build up my stamina as he recognised that that was what I needed.

i love walking now when I can,and it kept me eversuch company through lockdown when I began loving nature.

I won’t even say it will come back as you won’t want me to say that,but at the beginning it all seemed so impossible to me,but I did do it,surprising myself more than anybody!!

You will have to take medical instructions as to how much/what you can manage .I had to.Hoping something like this works for you….

to take a photo,go into “Insert”(below)press “Image/video/file”and follow the instructions.

PS I would so love to see pictures of your woods xx

I'd like to see that dancing on an exercycle. I am 5 mths after my op. Building up slowly to doing more. When the energy has gone the energy barrel is empty and takes a day or 2 to refill sometimes.

I do know what you mean about feeling faint. Occasionally I have been out and my legs just have no power. I rest up and don't push myself, it's pointless. I like your honesty. Thank you. Recovery from cancer cant be rushed. It makes us re-evaluate everything. 

Yes  it takes me a good couple of days to recover from a busy few says. I went out for a walk this morning with OH intending only to go for about 40 mins. On the way to the river we passed some houses and a little girl was selling bits of wood she had painted. They weren't great but I admired her entrepreneurial nature.I told her I would stop and take a look on the way back as I didn't wish to carry anything around with me.I realised I only had a £10 note and she was unlikely to have change when she was only charging 50p for things. So we ended up looking for a shop that was open. Most were closed do we walked into town to Waitrose and bought a pot of coleslaw to go with tea which is another story!!

We then trudged all the way back but she had gone in so I couldn't buy anything.  We tried to stop at our local OAP home as they have a cafe open to the public. They only open at weekends but the gate was open and the signs were out. But an old man shouted over they weren't open. I think he was just deliberately sending people away when they were open but I was too tired to go past him and try the door.Anyway we ended up walking for 2 hours.

I planned to eat then rest and had just put food in the oven when my cat caught a great tit baby bird. I got him in and rang the wildlife hospital who asked me to take it in. We survived a bumpy journey doemwn back lanes and were held up as the swing bridge opened to let a rmtall boat through. The baby bird was put in a heated bed in a crochet nest. I don't know if it will survive but I have done my best. I thought Merlin had grown out of catching birds as he only caught 2 last Summer but we have had 3 in 4 days and I am worried how to stop him. 

Anyway, I fi ished cooking on my return and am now collapsed on the sofa so tired and aching. But I still feel better than I did yesterday. When I hit my brick wall I feel ill. My chest hurts, my back aches and I just have to lie down gor an hour.