Tag Archives: exercise

Lyme: Lessons Learned

Activity or Rest?, Battling Isolation, Co-infections, Healthy Eating, Lyme and the Brain, Lyme Basics, Mental Health November 20, 2012 1 Comment

Taking care of yourself isn’t, well, rocket science…
[Dr. Robert Goddard. Credit: NASA on Flickr/The Commons]

I’ve had the misfortune of getting re-infected just as I was pulling out of two-plus years during which I was largely sidelined by lyme and other tick-borne infections. There’s a bit of good news, however. I learned a few things the first time around, and I’m doing things differently.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned. Maybe you can benefit by taking them to heart now, instead of learning the hard way like I did over time and missing out on benefits you could have enjoyed much, much sooner. Continue reading →

Afraid to Exercise? Start by Doing Half

Activity or Rest? November 18, 2012 Leave a comment
A little exercise can be just enough. Credit: Flickr stream of kh1234567890

A little exercise can be just enough.
Credit: Flickr stream of kh1234567890

In the middle of my second bout with lyme following a new tick bite, treatment has reduced the severity of symptoms in recent weeks. I’m no longer confined to bed by the terrible pain that was very nearly intolerable.  I’m no longer on round-the-clock pain meds. But I still have debilitating symptoms. I do best if I rest.

The more active I am, the more the pain, numbness, and fatigue escalate. I try to cope with the help of hot baths, heating pads, and meditation. But on many days when I get up off the sofa and move around too long, I have to turn to pain meds.

What’s too long? That seems to be different for everyone, and different at various points in recovery. But one thing I’m sure of: Some exercise every day is important for healing.  Continue reading →