EXERCISE

[Zach]

I just want to make sure we're talking about the same things here.

A new fistula can benefit from exercises to help it develop and mature so it is ready to be used.  These are specific exercises  like the ones Tina described above.  (Some doctors feel that these are unnecessary and don't do much that the fistula won't do by itself while others swear by them and insist on patients doing them.  I have personally had both of these types of doctors.) 

If you have a developed, functioning fistula you must be careful about lifting things that are too heavy or doing weight lifting exercises that could harm the fistula.  You should consult with your doctor about your exercise routine and lifting free weights or using weight lifting machines.

Thank you monrein, for clearing up any confusion.

[Lucinda]

i have a graft and my vascular surgeon said I only needed to worry about lying on it of carrying something against it. He said lifting weights was not a problem.  Maybe because it is synthetic it is a bit stronger.  I certainly lift a lot of weights and I have had no problem.  But really important to ask your own doctor first.  x

[Normie]

Exercise is great.   
This week I did:  Sunday in the pool  30 min. of aerobic exercise and 30 min. of laps.
                        Monday aerobic class 45 min. then in the pool 15 min. of exercise and 30 min. of laps.
                        Wednesday Aerobic class then in the pool 15 min. of exercise and 30 min. of laps.
                        Hope to go again on Friday or Saturday.

I have lost 60 lbs. between Oct. 07 and April 08.  Now between 50 and 60 lbs. off (it fluctuates).  I need to get going again in the right direction.

[kitkatz]

I did 10 minutes on the elliptical, 10 minutes on the bike, 5 on the other elliptical, 40 minutes with the trainer in the pool, then around 14 laps on my own.

[Zach]

You ladies are SMOKIN' !

[swramsay]

I am happy to be going back after several months off. Three times a week is all. 1/2 hour on the elliptical usually working it pretty hard. A few light weights and stretching after. Here is what I like to do on the elliptical these days...(copied from my facebook page)
I keep the elliptical at the highest incline (20) and adjust my speed and resistance to go along with the music on my Mp3 that I am listening to. During songs like "Let's Get it Started", I crank it up to a 210 pace with a lesser resistance of 5 or 6. The workout I really enjoy is the one immediately following with "Lollipop" at a slow, gruelling pace of 74, the incline at 20 and the resistance at 18. Now THAT is a workout! Whew. I love it. I can't stay with it as long as I could before so I need to lower the resistance as I feel necessary to catch my breath before picking it up again. I used to be able to finish the entire song "Lollipop" but I stopped 3 times on that song yesterday. I am just so grateful that I have gotten through all I have to be able to still be at the gym.

[swramsay]

Just a question. Because I am feeling good, I have been stepping it up a bit at the gym. I feel like I'm getting stronger.
The last few dialysis runs I've had more problems with cramping - even 1/2 way through. I don't think it's completely my dry weight. I feel that's pretty stable. I wondered tonight (as I was fighting off cramping most of my run) if the process of working and building the muscles could somehow cause cramping where it wouldn't happen otherwise. I was cramping in my back (among other places) which is unusual. However, I am doing some weights for my back.

Any thoughts? It makes sense to me.

[jbeany]

Makes sense to me - I pulled a muscle in my leg a while ago.  While it was healing, it tended to be the first thing that cramped while I was on dialysis.  The cramps come from a fluid imbalance in the muscle.  It makes sense that an injured muscle or one that has been strained by a work-out would be more prone to a fluid imbalance.

[monrein]

I wonder also about the role of our potassium swings when it comes to exercise, since potassium also helps regulate the muscles???

[Zach]

Perhaps the conductivity on your dialysis machine needs adjusting.  Does it have sodium variation/modeling?

[swramsay]

I'll ask about the conductivity. I get 15 minute flushes so all that fluid has to be added onto what I already take off which I think is causing some problems. Yesterday I clotted with 45 minutes left and chose not to get a new setup because of all the cramping I was experiencing. I got off the machine early and was .5 below my dry weight already. That included a 1/2 hour period of no pulling (and 3 flushes) because the cramping was bad. No wonder I was cramping. Even though I may end up on target in the end when I get more fluids back with flushes, rinse and blood back, I need to figure out how to not dip below my dry weight at any point during the run. I suppose I could always increase my dry weight a little to allow for that, but I don't want to if I don't have to. I feel best at my dry weight not over - especially with a 2-day weekend.

Back to exercise and muscles....last night I was still tight and cramping in my back. I used a handheld vibrator on my back and it really helped a lot to loosen and relax those muscles.

[monrein]

Are you sweating a lot during your workout and so losing fluid and salt that way, by any chance?

[Zach]

... Even though I may end up on target in the end when I get more fluids back with flushes, rinse and blood back, I need to figure out how to not dip below my dry weight at any point during the run...

Sounds as if someone's math is off when figuring the UF rate.
You should never be below your dry weight during dialysis--only at the conclusion.

[swramsay]

I sweat enough to dampen my clothes but I'm not dripping with sweat.

I'll ask about calculating the UF rate. For instance, actual fluid increase is 2.0. Flushes plus rinseback is 2.2 with a total target of 4.2. I can see how at some point the machine can dip below my dry weight because it doesn't know that I have yet to receive some of that fluid in flushes. We'll get it figured out - hopefully. No fun.

[Zach]

Did my regular 3-day-a-week workout:  75 minutes with 16 different weight-resistance exercises.
Then drank an ice cold glass of a protein shake.

[jbeany]

I've been upping my treadmill time - always a mile, instead of slacking off at 1/2.  Lately, I've been trying to get back on after resting from the first mile, and trying to do another 1/2 mile with the incline on.  I don't always make it the entire 1/2 mile, but my calves are showing the difference, even if I haven't lost much weight from it yet.

[kristina]

I try do go for walks whenever I am well enough to do so - but I am not yet on dialysis, so it is "easy" for me to say. When I am not reallly well enough I only walk around the block and on other times it is a longer walk. I could not "work out" in a gym etc, because it is too stressful for me, but little walks through the district, studying the architecture etc. are fascinating and don't make me really feel "exercising".

[jbeany]

kristina, I didn't have the energy to exercise until after I started dialysis, so I don't think there's anything easy about being pre-d  and still trying to exercise!  Every step counts, so keep it up!

[paris]

kristina, I didn't have the energy to exercise until after I started dialysis, so I don't think there's anything easy about being pre-d  and still trying to exercise!  Every step counts, so keep it up!

JBeany, I think your statement validates those who aren't on dialysis yet, but are dealing with the overwhelming fatigue.   

[Rerun]

I've been sick for a week with a cough/cold and haven't gone to the gym.  But, I went and walked a slow mile on the treadmill and I will go back to the 5:30 class called "Turbo Kick".  I can attend now that the time has changed.  Usually it is too dark for me to drive. 

[Zach]

 But, I went and walked a slow mile on the treadmill and I will go back to the 5:30 class called "Turbo Kick".  I can attend now that the time has changed.  Usually it is too dark for me to drive.

 

[twirl]

I wear a stop watch to keep accurate time

Thurs ----- 1 hour  including indoor bike and mopping and sweeping

Fri --- 15 minutes on indoor bike --- dialysis days are harder
       

[kristina]

You are right, we already do exercises every day anyway whilst mopping and sweeping etc. How could I forget this when sometimes I am almost too exhausted to even think about it!

[jbeany]

Housecleaning burns calories, so it counts.  So does parking at the far end of the parking lot and walking into the store, and then pushing the cart in circles around Mega-giant-mart trying to figure out where the heck they put everything this week.  (I know, I know, they rearrange hoping to get you to see more and therefore spend more.  Doesn't work on me - the budget doesn't stretch no matter how far I have to walk to find the stuff on my list!)

I read a magazine article about building up core strength by spending time balancing on one foot.  They were suggesting you do it while standing in line at the store, or while brushing your teeth.  Hmm, not so sure I want to hop around like a flamingo while I'm shopping, but I figured I'd give it a try last night while I was watching TV.  So I spent about half an hour wobbling in my living room, mostly doing a modified Yoga tree pose, or with alternate legs stretched out behind me as I stretched forward.  I even stretched into a few of the yoga poses I used to do before my arm got screwed up with nerve damage.  I can hold most of them again, so my arm has improved.  I didn't think much of it as workout, at least not until I woke up this morning.
I'm sore as hell today, so apparently it's a better workout than I thought!  Sounds like a good thing to do more often. . .

[monrein]

I'm going to do that tonight jbeany...Thanks for the tip.