It seems even unemployed people get busier in the fall. I biked today, but the last time was a full week ago. In some ways it feels like starting over, but I did have some good 'sprints' and ended up with a respectable pace.
Tomorrow I have an interview in Waterloo, and Friday a meeting in Troy so those two days I won't be biking either :-(
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
CoQ10 Screening
Today was my "screening" visit for a CoEnzymeQ10 study I hope to be participating in. Basically it involved handing over some blood and urine (mine), and answering some questions. Some of the cognitive questions are really indicative of where PD has the potential to take someone (along the dimentia route). Questions like; what city are we in? what day is it? (actually, that was a tough one - I never know what day it is). My brain was working pretty well today so I got 31 correct answers (out of 31 questions - woohoo!).
If there's anything drastically wrong with my blood or urine, I could still be excluded from the study - but then would be working on fixing some other health problem :-)
To stay in the study, I can't start any symptom relief medication (the study lasts for 16 months) - so I'll have to get more comfortable with this shaking, and get my exercise level up to higher levels so that "runners high" can kick in more often. Dropping out of the study would be a big waste, as I would still be included as one of the 600 study participants but my results wouldn't be used.
If there's anything drastically wrong with my blood or urine, I could still be excluded from the study - but then would be working on fixing some other health problem :-)
To stay in the study, I can't start any symptom relief medication (the study lasts for 16 months) - so I'll have to get more comfortable with this shaking, and get my exercise level up to higher levels so that "runners high" can kick in more often. Dropping out of the study would be a big waste, as I would still be included as one of the 600 study participants but my results wouldn't be used.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Posted this in the PLM (patientslikeme.com) forum today
The end of this story is the most important part, if you want to skip ahead.
I've been sedentary for a very long time, and just started biking in the middle of May on a recumbent exercise bike. I knew I was going to be home full time (permanent layoff) starting in June, so I started increasing my biking distance. I eased up very gradually - it took me 3 weeks to go over 1.5 miles in a session. Even up until last week I hadn't done more than 5 miles in a session. I was getting frustrated, I knew I was getting stronger and more stamina, but I wanted to be able to pick up my pace.
I was intrigued when I read about the results from tandem bike riding, and I really wanted to be able to do a good run at a higher pedalling rate.
At the same time, I wanted to start running instead of walking - but I hadn't run in years (not even a few steps). I read about the Couch to 5k (c25k) program and thought I'd try that. The first day convinced me that running was not going to be my thing (it HURT!), so I switched the running portions to brisk walks.
I still wasn't able to speed up my biking pace though, in fact - I was slowing down. I needed a new approach. I took the c25k program and applied it to my biking. I turned down the resistance on the bike so I could keep up a higher speed - and when the music was done - I had gone 6.5 miles (at a respectable average pace)! I felt like this combination was going to work for me.
But here's the best part – this morning when I woke up my arm felt significantly less stiff, and it didn't have any tremor. I'm not on any meds yet, but it felt to me like I'd gotten a shot of dopamine. Now I'm so motivated – I did 7 miles on the bike this morning, and my pace was better than yesterday!
I've been sedentary for a very long time, and just started biking in the middle of May on a recumbent exercise bike. I knew I was going to be home full time (permanent layoff) starting in June, so I started increasing my biking distance. I eased up very gradually - it took me 3 weeks to go over 1.5 miles in a session. Even up until last week I hadn't done more than 5 miles in a session. I was getting frustrated, I knew I was getting stronger and more stamina, but I wanted to be able to pick up my pace.
I was intrigued when I read about the results from tandem bike riding, and I really wanted to be able to do a good run at a higher pedalling rate.
At the same time, I wanted to start running instead of walking - but I hadn't run in years (not even a few steps). I read about the Couch to 5k (c25k) program and thought I'd try that. The first day convinced me that running was not going to be my thing (it HURT!), so I switched the running portions to brisk walks.
I still wasn't able to speed up my biking pace though, in fact - I was slowing down. I needed a new approach. I took the c25k program and applied it to my biking. I turned down the resistance on the bike so I could keep up a higher speed - and when the music was done - I had gone 6.5 miles (at a respectable average pace)! I felt like this combination was going to work for me.
But here's the best part – this morning when I woke up my arm felt significantly less stiff, and it didn't have any tremor. I'm not on any meds yet, but it felt to me like I'd gotten a shot of dopamine. Now I'm so motivated – I did 7 miles on the bike this morning, and my pace was better than yesterday!
Friday, September 11, 2009
c25k on the bike
Slight exercise modification; pushups have gone to 16 reps, and I've eliminated the reverse leg lifts. I think my back feels better for it.
I decided to try to pick up the pace on the exerciise bike, so I listened to the c25k audio and used the running portions to speed up. I turned down the resistance, as I've read that PD patients get a good effect from higher rpm's. I ended up going 6.5 miles (a new record) at a pace of 3 minutes per km.
I decided to try to pick up the pace on the exerciise bike, so I listened to the c25k audio and used the running portions to speed up. I turned down the resistance, as I've read that PD patients get a good effect from higher rpm's. I ended up going 6.5 miles (a new record) at a pace of 3 minutes per km.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Couch to 5k (c25k) Week 1 Day 1
Today was the day I found out whether I could run or not. I started the Couch to 5k program. The first week involves alternating running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds. It starts with a 5 minute walk to warm up before the first run.
I stretched, started the walking portion, and psyched myself up to run. I can't really remember, but it feels like years since I've done any kind of a run - even for a short distance. So I wondered - can I run? Well, I found out I can - sort of. My left leg was doing a great job, but my right leg was doing a very poor job of making any kind of a soft landing. It would pretty much "slam" down. I thought; "I'm going to break something". So, bottom line - I ran 60 seconds. Most of the other "runs" were a brisk walk with a long stride, and some were breaks. By the time the recording of Christian music I had downloaded was done, I had gone 2.5km. I switched to my regular programming and walked home. My total walk was 4.7km. I'm not sure I've completely given up on running, but I'm just going to stick with the brisk walk in place of the run segments for now, and see where that takes me.
I stretched, started the walking portion, and psyched myself up to run. I can't really remember, but it feels like years since I've done any kind of a run - even for a short distance. So I wondered - can I run? Well, I found out I can - sort of. My left leg was doing a great job, but my right leg was doing a very poor job of making any kind of a soft landing. It would pretty much "slam" down. I thought; "I'm going to break something". So, bottom line - I ran 60 seconds. Most of the other "runs" were a brisk walk with a long stride, and some were breaks. By the time the recording of Christian music I had downloaded was done, I had gone 2.5km. I switched to my regular programming and walked home. My total walk was 4.7km. I'm not sure I've completely given up on running, but I'm just going to stick with the brisk walk in place of the run segments for now, and see where that takes me.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Daily Exercise Update
The 12's have moved on to 15 --> 15 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 leg lifts, 15 reverse leg lifts, and 15 more pushups. Then 5 miles on the exercise bike and .... here comes the commitment; I downloaded mp3 files with Christian music to guide me through the Couch to 5k program. Now it remains to be seen if the headphones will stay on my head while running.
Nine weeks from now I should be able to run 5k.
Nine weeks from now I should be able to run 5k.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Exercise
This article emphasizes the importance of exercise. I'm working on a routine of 12 pushups (working up to 20 on all the twelves), 20 crunches, 12 forward leg lifts, 12 reverse leg lifts, and 12 more pushups. Then I do 3.5 miles on the exercise bike, and intend to go for a 5km walk.
I want to be positive about approaches that avoid drugs, but the cynic in me wonders what's really going on with Dr. David Heydrick. I got his name from a mailing from Robert Rodgers - which I read but am very skeptical of. David has an article here (pdf link); where he's happy about his DBS, but other articles only seem to be promoting exercise. Maybe he's like the rest of us; grasping at straws looking for relief from PD.
I'm going to stick with exercise, and try to keep an open mind. I've started reading this ebook (pdf link), and we'll see where it takes me.
I'm hoping to participate in a CoQ10 study, which would involve NOT being on meds for 18 months, so the rule from Dr. Janice Walton-Hadlock at pdrecovery.org won't be broken.
I want to be positive about approaches that avoid drugs, but the cynic in me wonders what's really going on with Dr. David Heydrick. I got his name from a mailing from Robert Rodgers - which I read but am very skeptical of. David has an article here (pdf link); where he's happy about his DBS, but other articles only seem to be promoting exercise. Maybe he's like the rest of us; grasping at straws looking for relief from PD.
I'm going to stick with exercise, and try to keep an open mind. I've started reading this ebook (pdf link), and we'll see where it takes me.
I'm hoping to participate in a CoQ10 study, which would involve NOT being on meds for 18 months, so the rule from Dr. Janice Walton-Hadlock at pdrecovery.org won't be broken.
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