Pulse Rate

[Quirky]

Hi Mandie,
Hope you're feeling a bit better now. I know the internal shakes are awful but they will pass and can't harm you. I really do know how you feel and am thinking of you.
If you don't get your period soon maybe have a blood test done and check your hormone levels if you haven't already. (Meg can advise on that better than me though).
Take care,
LJ

[jos]

i need to look up the research exercise and anxiety/depression and will include ME - i have worked with rheumatoid arthritis and severely osteoporotic patients and always found some level of exercise or stretching possible - we were looking at using pedometers to give sufferers a guide to how much walking they were doing and goals to increase it - 10,000 steps a day is the recommended minimum - about an hours walk and general pottering about - but even a daily 2000 or 4000 is good if it is what you can manage - its the having a measure and baseline targets for bad days that really helps motivate- i would recommend a pedometer to anyone who wants to up their activity - not expensive

jos

[Quirky]

Thanks jos,
I am currently working with an ME specialist. Once you understand ME you will understand many ME patients can not exercise at all, some are even bedridden and can relapse from even the slightest exertion - such as getting dressed. Fortunately I manage to work part-time but that is enough for me and I'm still exhausted. I try and pace myself by finding what amount of activity I can do even on a bad day without relapsing but there is no way normal regular exercise is possible. I am going to try and start walking my dog regularly again but will be starting with a five minute walk per day and building it up very slowly over several weeks. If it works it does and it it doesn't I have tried. Exercise is the most likely thing to cause a severe relapse. Many people do not understand ME and just think you need to do something or get fitter to get better but sadly this is not the case. I do of course worry about being unfit and not getting a cardio workout but I can only do what is possible for me at the current time.
Thanks,
LJ

[Quirky]

How are you doing now Mandie?
My pulse settled down fairly quickly the other day, had a small blip earlier today when it shot up to 105 for no apparent reason, but I did feel anxious out of the blue and had eaten too many sweet things, maybe that was the reason!
Anyway I hope you're doing well today,
Love,
LJ

[jos]

LJ
i have lots to learn about ME
- we do rehab at all levels from in intensive care to back to sport with any level in between - you seem to have got the main things that is common to all - that is setting realistic goals and pacing yourself to get there - everyone has their personal marathon be it 26 miles or walking to the kitchen - any level of activity is better than none.
good luck with the dog walking -
cheers jos

[Quirky]

Thanks Jos,
The real trouble with ME is that you can set yourself a baseline of activity that you can do, and you do it for a few weeks or even months and then suddenly you either can't do it any more or you relapse and go back to square one. What you can do can vary hugely from day to day too. It's frustrating, but I just enjoy what I can do when I can do it.
Thanks again,
LJ