what can we do for cardio

[runningshoe]

Hi
Old timer ICER here with pfd as well. Have been having success with PT. I have been using a recumbent bike lately and wonder if it is adding to my pelvic floor issues. I need to get my heart rate up for another lovely health condition... Have any of you had good success with a recumbent or an eliptical? I just can't get going enough walking alone and running is out of the question. Thanks!!

[meResque]

I've seen ellipticals get a lot of praise here. I haven't tried it out yet, but i plan on it. Biking would be hellish for my PFD!

[Mothergoose]

I have an eliptical which I love, it bothers my back, but I can't say about PFD.

I used to ride a regular bike, but it bothered my back too much, but I think a recumberant bike might be better.

I preffer to walk because I find it is very good for my mood, state of mind and gets me out of the house, I often try to walk other peoples dogs, for people who work and don't have the time to walk their dogs as much as they would like too.

Walking bothers my back too, but maybe not quite as much, it is a trade off, for the bennifits I feel I get from it. I walk 5 days a week for about an hour. I had a period of time when walking was out of my reach and ability, Not until I had been on the diet and some other treatments, so while I am able to0, I take advantage of it.

I too need to get my heart rate up for other health concerns too, so I now make it a priority. For a while when my symptoms were at their worst for about 5 years I had to give up exercising, the weight gain I had and other med problems from this, it just snowballs, I hope to never let myself get into this place again.

It took me quite awhile, pain and effort to get to the point that I can exercise each day, now I know it was worth all the effort.

It started with a proper diagnoses, it took quite a few tries of different combos of meds and a few false starts on the IC diet, but it has finally come togehter. I know it may not last but I plan to make the most of it. I have been able to get back into and exercise routine for about a year now, I of course have days where I just can't do it, but once I feel better I kick myself in the butt to get going again.

The way I started was I went to a seminar for people with high cholestorl, mine had gone up with the weight gain and it runs in my family, my gradmother died of it at 54, my mom's is quite bad and at 80+ she still walks everyday to help it.

At the seminar they gave everyone a pedometer and said everyone should wear one all day and aim for 10,000 steps a day, and part of the 10,000 steps should be at least 20 mins of your heart in your target zone, so 5 mins warm up, 20 mins walking in your heart rate zone, 5 mins cooling down. When I first started wearing it I was shocked at how few of step I took in a day, I then looked at easy ways to add steps to my everyday life, for example parking at the farthest end of the parking lot, using the stairs, walking around my yard each day, once I was up to the 10,000 steps, I started to walk around our block and increased it from there.

I now wear my pedometer always everywhere, it is a good motivator, I easily get my 10,000 per day, execpt for weekends, I used to walk everyday, but now I walk 60 -90 mins 5 days a week and my body needs a break on the weekends.

I feel I have had IC symptoms all my life and I spent a great amount of that time exerciseing lots, when my symptoms got bad enough for me to finally seek a diagnoses, I was running 3 miles a day, but this was causing me lots of pain which I tried to ignore but once I started to bleed lots into my urine I had to give it up. I would really like to run again but I am sure that is beyond my ablility, but I accept and thank god for being able to walk, and enjoy the outside.

I know I kinda got off topic sorry, good luck on finding what exercise will work for you and your life style.

MG

[izazen]

Resuming my old running "career" has helped my PFD tremendously.

My PFD therapist is a runner and she recommended that I start running again so I did and I feel much better. Just about 2 - 3 miles every other day. In between I walk for miles.

[Mothergoose]

Well that gives me hope maybe I will be able to run again one day. For now I will follow dr's orders and walk.

MG

[Mothergoose]

Well i jins myself i went out for my daily walk yesterday and part way through my left hip started to hurt, don't know what from, but i limped all the way home, and by then it hurt down my leg.

It seems to hurt right in the hip socket, and I think my leg hurts from limping.

It keep me awake quite a bit last night, just what I need another lost night sleep.

I have an app with my GP tomorrow so I will see how it goes between now and then.

Hopefully it is just a pulled muscle and will heel fast.

Thanks Mg

[earthlady]

There is a machine at my pt gym that is used for cardiac rehab that is good for cardio. You sit in front of it and there are two rotating arms on each side that you make circles with. It's like a recumbent bike only you're using your arms. It's very good for getting the heart rate up and there is no movement at all on the pelvic area. Pretty boring, but it does the job.