vigorous physical training (ie. marathons)

[theflyjd]

am going on my second stab of the interferon/ribavirin treatment. Difference this time (2 1/2 years later) is that I have physically turned my life around by losing a lot of weight (140lbs so far), going to the gym everyday (did that the first time) and running three marathons. I will be starting the treatment sometime during the end of September. (Peg IFN 2A & Ribavirin)The first marathon for which I'm training is in the early part of January and the second is at the end of January. The third is the LA Marathon in March. Don't want to hear "You can't do it" but would love to hear from people that have done similar things for inspiration. As long as my red corpuscles hold out I'm doin it! I also need this stuff to show my doctor so he can see there are other crazy people out there beside myself. Thanks.

[Drarig]

Thx for the response.  Glad to hear you're still clear and didn'
have too many after effects from tx.   Gives me hope that maybe I'll have a chance of remaining undetectible after tx, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much.  Read about too many relapses  to get my hopes up until 6 month pcr.  Then I'll start dancing & training for my first marathon!!!  Right now, my life is the marathon - haha!  Thx, nice talking with you!

[Tri-guy]

Yes, completed treatment about two and a half years ago and am still clear.  I

[Drarig]

I agree about feeling so much better after exercise.  If I have any fatigue at all, it's gone after a workout.  I was also lucky enough not to have any sides except low wbc.  How are you doing after treatment?  Did you clear?

[Tri-guy]

I was equally determined to stay as fit as possible but it took a lot mentally to do it.  Also wasn't hit as hard with side effects as many people.  Did manage 11 - 13 mile runs on weekends throughout treatment with swim and bike workouts during the week.  Did a 1/2 marathon mid-way through treatment and finished middle of the pack.  Also completed a Ironman triathlon 1/2 year after treatment so it can be done.  With long runs getting out the door for the first few miles were the hardest then it seemed to get easier.  No matter how bad I felt before I started I always felt so much better once I finished a workout.

Good Luck!

If the mind is willing the body will follow.

[Snookmiester]

I was 27yrs old when I tx'd, and overall physically fit and lived a very active lifestyle.. I worked out weekly, and had very, very little body fat. 6ft tall, 175lbs lean muscle..
I was able to lift light weights during tx, just to keep the muscles from deteriorating, but not able to lift heavy at all!! Muscles felt like JELLO!!!
As far as endurance, almost every evening the wife and I would stroll around the neighborhood in her attempt at keeping me active. She is a nurse, and thought that the more active I stayed, the better my Hemoglobin would remain. You know, more oxygen flowing through the system..Those walks where killers. Not that I was out of breathe or anything, but your body just gets sooooooo run down. TX is honestly best described as a 48 Flu. You body aches, your mind is foggy, and over all you just feel rundown. My Hemoglobin never dropped below 12, and I believe that all the excercise was the reason for it.
I know that regardless of what anybody here says, your gonna go about your own business and do what you want to.. Don't worry, your body will tell you what you are capable of doing. But just as Cuteus mentioned above, one guy did crosscountry downhill skiing while on tx. WEnt out and aggresively thrashed the slopes. He did make it, but he will tell you that afterwards his body paid for it. He was sick for over a week, and realized what he could and could not do physically. Listen to your body. If you feel up to it, do it...Just take it slow, as your endurance will be severely jeopardized..

[cuteus]

there was one member that continued his skiing routine while on tx, another that continue her mailcarrier job while anemic ( I think that qualifies as a marathon) and others that kept some form of exercise.  No marathons as far as I know, but if they keep you at a good hgb, I see no problem with running them.
good luck! I only did two classes at the Y, weekly for the 72 wks of tx, nothing major, oh! and a full day at six flags, roller coasters and all.  Nothing like your plans!
best to you

[sfbaygirl]

LOL Too funny...well not really! I know what you mean about walking 20 minutes slowly. I didn't do endurance training before and can't imagine doing it now (or after for that matter). When I read the title of the thread, I was wincing, feeling a bit inadequate not being able to do much of anything. Thanks for your story.

[theflyjd]

Thanks for your supportive comments drarig. Rockerforlife I eat mostly Tuna with salad or sandwiches. Lots of vegies (mostly broccoli and cauliflower and asparagas). Drink gallons of water per day. 2 fruits a day. And I walk/run 10 miles every day and train at the gym 6 days a week. My greatest bad thing to eat is chips and salsa which I eat before each meal. I probably would have lost 200 pounds if it weren't for the chips (salsa is free on most diets). But I have found the most effective way to diet is watch portions no matter what you eat.
drarig, your schedule makes my proposal to run marathons seem petty. You live a marathon and take this ****. You are phenomenal and you were exactly the type of encouragement I was hoping for when I created this thread. Thank you so much and good luck to you. Thanks again, everyone, for your encouraging words and hopes. I will keep you all informed as to my progress.

[jmjm530]

I think I watched two marathons on TV during treament but not sure I would have had the energy to watch 3 :)

More seriously, your intent is admirable, but just be mindful of priorities, which I'm assuming is a successful treatment outcome. Common wisdom seems to suggest that exercise to tolerance can help with treatment symptons, but I could see a point of diminishing returns where the body could start to break down and even effect the immune system.

I also competed in endurance events prior to treatment and was unable to do more than a 20-30 minute slow walk during treatment. Also keep in mind that your weight loss hopefully will effect your response to ribavirin causing more significant anemia than last time. This isn't necessarily bad -- in fact some consider anemia a barometer that the drugs are working -- but just something else to factor into your exercise regimen.

All the best luck moving forward.

-- Jim

[Drarig]

I'm sure you've already done this, but if you are training for something as physical as marathons while on tx, you should really stay in close contact with your doctor to monitor those counts.  Because I'm so physically active & my white count is extremely low, my doc sends me for for bloodwork every couple weeks.  And listen to your body!  Your body will tell you when it's overworked.  So push, but not to the point where you will hurt yourself.  Again, best of luck!!!

[Drarig]

Great job! From one crazy person to another, go for it! Exercise is great if you can do it on while tx.  Not everyone can, but if you are able, I think it helps tremendously.  I'm 45, F, in Wk 28/48, also on Neupogin for low wbc.  No major sx except trying to come up w/excuses about the hairloss & eyebrows that stand at attention.   My story for inspiration is nothing about marathons, but it should give you a boost to go for it.  I have full-time job which is very stressful plus 3 kids & a 2nd job as a fitness instructor.  I teach 7 classes a week (kickbox, bootcamp classes, muscle strengthening, toning, abs, etc.  Also walk 3 miles a day on my lunch hr. & weight train 3 times a week.  I also coach soccer & am constantly on the go.  I don't sit down to watch TV until 11:00 at night after checking homework, cleaning, dinner, etc.  My husband works away & I have to do it all on my own which can be very hard, especially on tx.  But I just keep pushing & check off the weeks.  I put off tx for years because my life was so hectic & after everything I heard about it, I never thought I would be able do it.  I now regret waiting.  Not everyone agrees about exercise, because there are many on tx who can't work, or get winded just from walking from one room to another.  Especially when those red counts go down.  I'm sure it's frustrating to them to hear about those of us on tx who can exercise, but the important thing is to stay positive & remember tx is only temporary.  So, to sum it up:  GO FOR IT!  Best of luck training for the maraton & remember how important it is to drink EXTRA water, especially before, during & after exercise.

[theflyjd]

thank you all for your comments. I will take all you had to say to heart. But I'm a youngster (55) so I should be able to handle it. The last time on I did have a little anemia but not too bad. I wasn't in as good a shape then as I am now so I'm hoping it will make a difference. But to let you know I won't do anything stupid but I will push myself as far as I can go. I have a couple of weeks to get myself ready. I'll keep you all informed as I go along. Thanks again.

[Algernon]

I couldn't have done it.  Couldn't maintain my usual level of exercise -- and at some points, couldn't exercise at all.  But I did manage to swim several time a week through most of TX.

But I think some people might be able to pull it off.  My first hepatologist told me she had a patient who ran (a lot) or went rock climbing 5-6 days a week throughout TX.  

Plan to do it but don't let it get you down if your body says "no way" to a marathon during TX.  Even if you can't do the marathon, you'll almost certainly be able to run off and on through TX.  If your hemoglobin drops (anemia) early in TX (and it often does), you may not have enough oxygen in your blood to even watch a marathon.  Make sure your doc monitors that closely and treats you for it early. (The drug for anemia is one of those that bikers use for "blood doping"--just what you need!).

[HepCBoy]

I excericse 5 times a week but keep within light to moderatee. I think for a healthy person 3 marthons in 3 months is unwise, on treatment it borders on the foolhardy.

[hepcinsd]

Nothing wrong with your optimism but it sounds like you'll have been eating riba and slamming interferon for at least 90 days before the first of 3 marathons. I just don't see it happening but train and go for it it you can handle it physically. I am giving you this feedback because I too used to run 40 mins 4 times a week and work out 4 times weekly just prior to tx. By my 3rd week of Riba I said it's not possible to run and work out like normal. Additionally I have 13 days left of a 24 week program and went thru the motions like lots of us out here. Fortunately I cleared at 4 weeks and 12 weeks and just had some itchy problems for about a week at week 12. Other than that of course I find it harder to race up the stairs etc, my HMG dropped from 16.5 to 11.9 after 5 months.(no helper drugs needed) This is why i don't think you can run-not enough oxygen in the body/blood. Coming from a guy who has worked 60 hours a week while on tx and the only stuff I couldn't do was run and work out at a reasonable pace so I gave it up for now. Again I have always felt shorter of breath than prior to tx.

I encourage you to continue to run etc until like me you say I'll take a break while on tx. But in my opinion I doubt it, then again you might do it

best of luck!

[Kalio1]

I think it is great you lost all that weight! Way to go! What determination you have. If all your blood work is stable at the time of the marathon might as well try it but to tell you the truth I couldn't do it. I don't have the stamina but you might! Is your doctor against it? I'd ask the reason for his thinking but I can't see ay reason not to if your tests are all OK but I'd heed the doctor if he provides a legitimate reason not to run otherwise  GO FOR IT!