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exercise

Is there any exercise limitations with people with liver
problems?  Like running is that too taxing on the liver?
Thank you.
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Avatar universal
excellent attitude.  the best thing you can bring to tx.  if it is working well for you, go for it.  It is not for everyone, naturally, but hopefully those reading can determine if it is for them or not.  The attitude is definetely good for anyone reading.  The exercise, only some can do it, and I am happy you can.  I was able to do two classes at the Y while I was on tx, but had to skip the Summer Run series my second Summer on tx.  That was my choice, based on my energy level.  I continued my Y classes no matter how s**tty I felt, and never regretted it.  We have to move, force ourselves to do some form of exercise while on tx, if we do not want to suffer muscle atrophy on top of all else.  I think recovery from tx is faster also, as well as the minimizing of damage to the body by the meds.  It is great that we can share what works for each of us, and let the readers decide if they want to try it also, even if they need to modify it.
good luck!
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looking forward to that.
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Avatar universal
I always knew too. I felt like something was missing. Now I feel so complete. Don't forget we have that national twins conference I signed us up for. I see above that you aren't going to dance anymore. Hope that means you'll still dance with me though. Oprah's camera men will be there. They are going to air a bit of us at the conference when we're on her show.

I really hope I'm feeling okay when we go on the show. What ever ya do,,make sure you remind me to bring my meds.

hugs and kisses sent to my twinnie-winnie

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Avatar universal
seriously though,just kidding about needing my brothers help with anything. You've been on good behaviour and I commend you for that. Everythings water under the bridge. Yesterdays gone. i just don't like the way they have such a gang mentality. The one that follows me around( SCL), jumps out from the weeds and then the other one jumps in.

So you continue to be good. I proud of you. Wait till I tell mom. all that nutty stuff came to me as I was writting and I was laughing SO HARD as i was writting it that I had to share it. I always try to make things lighter instead of that serious debate stuff,,but I do get my point across in midst of the nutty stuff.

see ya later bro
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157966 tn?1218225340
Thank you, Myown
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Avatar universal
No we're twins separated at birth. I should have known too because we have so much in common including not being liked by someone. But thats okay. I have a big brother now and he hates his little sister to be picked on, right? lol

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Loved reading your post,,,you are truly an inspiration. Thanks for sharing that with us!
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157966 tn?1218225340
great job! I try to walk to the gym 4 days a week (7 miles round trip)and train for at least an hour. Since I have been training hardest for these Marathons (1 month) my trips to the gym have gone down to twice a week and since I am between Marathons the trips have been lowered to once a week. After my next Marathon next week I will start back on a 4 day cycle. I'm sure that what you are doing is beneficial to you. Keep up the good work!
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Avatar universal
Thanks fly, but I appreciate hearing your story.  I love to hear about people pushing the limits of what they can do.

I also want to support Kalio's thoughts on what is safe for us to do.  I don't think that anyone wants to hear about some member with ascites that has a mishap due to hearing OR misinterpreting what is all right for a hepper to do.  

It's one thing that I liked reading; that it can be done.  It's an entirely different question about who it is safe for.  I wish I had more information on some guidelines or some basic do's and don'ts.  Some of them we may be able to infer, but I've gotten things wrong before.  : )  The late Jim Fix.....a (lower case) god amongst runners felt that he was in tremendous shape.  He also felt that running permitted him to eat almost anything and that the marathons would just "burn" out the cholestrol from his system.  He died a day after such a marathon and an autopsy revealed that he had substantial heart disease.  My point is that we don't always have a handle on what is safe for us.  I may even overlook it a bit because for me (I may have a dangerous mindset) if I can run and outperform others my age.....then I clearly am not sick.  This is where I'd put things in italics and insert a winking smilie.  (whimsy and sarcasm communicated I hope)  : )

What does that have to do with this thread?  HCV is often called the silent killer. Many people don't get much warning.  I have the feeling that running (and other types of excercise) may greatly benefit many of us.   I've got to agree that it may not (and certainly can't be)for every hepper.  There may be times that it may be best to rest (such as if you are on TX) because the main goal is to clear.  What are the ramifications of doing heavy and extended excercise if you have liver disease?

Since I so seldom get a chance to meet people that do it to this extreme I also just wanted to say hi, I push the envelope; but lots less.

I'd also welcome info or opinions on where one draws line line.  I don't own a heart monitor but often check my pulse after runs using a stop watch.  I would guess that I run about 170 or so.  A common guideline I believe is 230 beats per minute minus your age (therefore a 50 year old should not exceed 180 beats per minute.  I asked a doctor about this and he said that I probably couldn't exceed it anyway.  The pulse meters can prevent you from "overrevving" your motor.  I should buy one.

I just wanted to write and say those few things before this threads sinks into the west....or south or whatever.

best,
Willy
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Avatar universal
I exercise 3 times a week. I give myself my shot on Friday mornings and I am in the gym Sat. morning, no matter how bad I feel.  I adjust my workouts accordingly.   If I feel really weak, I do strength training, on better days I do cardio, & sometimes both.
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Avatar universal
That's awesome...you're an inspiration.  I remember when you first posed that question and I'm so glad to hear you were able to do it.  So many people report how difficult it is to just get out of bed that its nice to hear the other side of the tx story.  I've never done a marathon, but I do huff and puff in the gym every single day (week 18)! (plus drink over a gallon of water). My study nurse swears this is what's keeping me feeling so well.  Thanks for posting.
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Avatar universal
I am confused now with all the comments.  Is jogging and a sprinting o.k. to do for liver problems.  I do not want to tax
my liver at all like Kailo said.  I just want to jog for about
an hour not a 26 mile marathon.  Is that o.k.?
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Avatar universal
I am confused now with all the comments.  Is jogging and a sprinting o.k. to do for liver problems.  I do not want to tax
my liver at all like Kailo said.  I just want to jog for about
an hour not a 26 mile marathon.  Is that o.k.?
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Avatar universal
The reason I said what I did was a discussion/post that HR made where he addressed exhaustive exercise and it's negative impact on our livers. I'd think moderate, regular exercise is a good thing whereas exhaustive exercise that is pushing your body to the limit while you are on heavy, toxic drugs (Interferon, Riba and in this guy's case, Procrit) is really adding stress rather than improving your health.

It sounds to me like your exercise plan is fine on tx. You just don't want to push yourself to exhaustion. Moderation in everything! That is good news you feel well enough to continue with an exercise plan on tx, good for you!

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Avatar universal
I think whatever you do is your choice to do and you don't have to try to explain it to me. It probably isn't the best idea to push to that extreme for most while on treatment and I wouldn't recommend it. I would recommend a less strenuous form of regular exercise for the average patient. It sounds like the mental benefits you gain from it are great. Im sure your lifetyle changes and exercising have benefitted your health greatly from what you said. It just seems like pushing to that degree while on treatment drugs could add health risk.

I think it's great that you were able to work through such adversities and that exercising has been such a good addition to your life. Being able to run marathons after all the health issues you have faced, not to mention at 56 years old, is admirable. I wish you all the best.


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Avatar universal
I have often wondered myself about the effects of excercise on my HCV.  I'm 53, male and have run for years, although kind of sporatically.  I basically run a race once a year, a 5K  (3.1 miles).  Some years I run more and probably less since being DX'd about 3 years ago.  What I find is that the training for the events ends up coloring many other actions in my diet, excercise and frame of mind.  I remember running the first 5K race just a month or so after being DX'd.  We can get so scared about our health.  I thought that somehow it was dangerous to do something that I'd done for years.  I'm posting just to say thanks for letting others know that often our limitations are self imposed.  It's nice to hear that there are others out there too....although I don't count myself in your class.  I would like to do a sprint trialthelon some day or a half marathon.  I'm just too busy right now, but did run 10 miles once 2 years ago.  I do about a 23-24 minute 5K but have another hepper friend my age that is in the 20 minute range and is about 50 years old.

Another aside about my running.  I did a little extra working out before a double hernia operation in 2000.  It was a doozy!  At one week post operation I could make it down the stairs.  In 2 weeks I was walking....shuffling around the house.  At week 4 I tried to run a mile (and regretted it)  At week 6 I ran my race and placed 23-24 minutes.  The doctor that worked on me could not believe the shape I was in for my age.  It was about 2 years later I was DX'd and then suddenly thought I must be "careful" due to my "condition".  : )

By the way...... when you get your tests....LFT's (Fibrosure tests too)  you should always give yourself a week or so to allow your AST/ALT ranges to drop as servere excercise (I suppose a marathon might qualify) can skew your results.  The heightened LFT's are a result of the destruction of body cells (this occurs during any excercise).  I've always wondered about the trade offs involved  I believe that the body can deal with some of this.  I've never seen much discussion on the topic and admit I don't know and am curious.  My opinion is that many more languish from inactivity than from over-revving.  Obviously many peoples liver damage will not allow the kind of workouts you must do.

Thanks for posting on this topic.

Willy
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157966 tn?1218225340
Thanks willy. I am a robust 56 year old Irishman with a lot of moxie and maybe not to much brains. Thanks for your uplifting comments!
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157966 tn?1218225340
I want to thank you all for your comments but I would like to address some in particular. Kalio I agree with you in the sense that I might be overworking my liver. But you have to understand that the Hepatitis is the very least of my concerns. I have had 4 strokes in the last 15 years. My right side is much weaker and I have had a severe headache since the very beginning. For many years I allowed the doctors to keep me heavily sedated on morphine and I was useless to myself and my family. 4 years ago I decided to stop the morphine and do all that I could to make my life better. At the same time I found out I had Hepatitis C. I was put on the treatment and was on for 6 months of hell only to find out that it failed. I then decided to quit smoking, go on a diet, change my exercise regimen and do all that I could to enjoy and expand the life I have left. Last summer I met a new liver doctor who found that my life-style changes had made a DRAMATIC difference in my liver. It had not completely stopped the Hep but had lowered the numbers a lot! He put me back on the treatment in the hopes it would finish the job I began by life-style changes. Because my life style changes were the catalyst for the improvement I vowed that I would continue those changes while on the tx and have done so. It might not help me at all. In fact it might even hurt me, but It won't be because I stayed in bed and cried about how difficult it is. If my life is shorter because of what I do at least it will be happier. Kalio, I know your suggestions are coming from your heart and I thank you for them, but I am a little different and surely very headstrong. When I finished my Marathon on Sunday I was spent. But I was also very proud of my accomplishment and eager to repeat. It might kill me (and I don't recommend others to be as crazy)but I will die doing what makes me feel good about myself. KMZ you should do only what your body allows but remember that the mind is a powerful tool. The mind can push you to go to YOUR limits if you allow it. Labrat I am proud that you were in the room when I made my braggadicio in September. Its good to have someone who has been there since the beginning. Tri guy I surely thank you for your kind words. To all of you, you are inspirational in your abilities to overcome the difficulties with this treatment and I wish you all the best. Sorry for the book.
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Awesome theflyjd - keep it up.  My doctor had encouraged me to exercise as much as I could, so like you, I was fortunate enough that I was able to keep up some my workout routines throughout my treatment.  Didn
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I think it's great to exercise on treatment if you can however exhaustive exercise like that required for a Marathon doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Your liver is stressed by that kind of exercise.  It takes awhile for your liver to recover from a stressful event like that plus you are trying to allow your liver to heal so stresful events like that are working against your goal. Extensive exercise can raise your ALT meaurements, something you are working to keep down. Doing two Marathons so cloe together seems even harder on your liver. What does your doctor say about doing that level of exercise?
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157966 tn?1218225340
Thanks, Cindy. I will post again after my next Marathon.
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Avatar universal
Wow that is awesome, I truly admire you. It surely will help you stay healthy and strong and recover quickly when this is done. Hats off to you!
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157966 tn?1218225340
I have just finished my 4th month of treatment and I completed a Marathon (26.2 miles)this past Sunday (Jan 7, 2007). I posted a comment 4 months ago that I intended to continue training and the training paid off. I am preparing for my next Marathon on Jan 21,2007. It has been difficult but I'm proud that I was able to suck it up and do it-not just talk about it. My red blood cells have gone down demonstrably but Procrit is keeping me on the track. This is the second time treatment has been tried and there is no way I could have done this the first time but I prepared myself by doing everything I could to be in the best physical condition possible. I truly think the preparation was the key. I feel great! Losing some of my hair but I lost a bunch last time and it came back double. You might not be able to do a Marathon, but I believe if you keep as active as possible it will help you get through the ordeal. Best of luck to you all!!
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Avatar universal
I agree I walk 1 mile a day at least (down from 5 miles before tx) but every little bit helps. It will keep your energy level up. Helps to keep you feeling good.
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