Muscle Atrophy

[HappyHeart]

Agree with Petals, most important is to concentrate on maximising intake..work with your dietician and don't refuse the supplement drinks they might taste cack but they are better than nothing and replace vital energy, vits and minerals.

 

gentle mobilisation, pottering around, short walks, passive exercises, keeping moving etc. A physio will work out an exercise plan for you based on your very individual needs. Contact your consultant or specialist nurse if you have one and ask for referrals today.

 

I have a feeling you avoid the healthcare professionals like the plague Mrs PQ!! Use them, thats what theyre there for!! Feel stronger soon hun xx

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Tell the quack you need a decent bl**dy feed!:yes:

 

Not to worry, though. I'll have you charging around the scrub.

 

Cheers, Bobj.

Lol this is why I'm trying to get fit because at this rate you and Jo will be putting me to shame. :no:

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Hi Kate....I would recommend trying the tens machine for feet (the sort Dawn Fraser advertises on TV).

 

I used one for a couple of weeks to help aching legs which were a problem for me in the evenings. Coincidentally, I happened to return to lap swimming after a 2 month break and was surprised to discover that my leg strength had noticeably increased during that time (in contrast to my arm strength which had noticeably declined). That was completely unexpected.

 

You can hire these machines from pharmacies here...so I imagine the same in Cairns. Would definitely be worth trying for a couple of weeks to see if it helps :wubclub:.

Thanks hun, we actually have a TENS machine so I will give it a go

[Guest The Pom Queen]

You need protein to build muscle and 300 calories a day is barely enough to sustain a body laid in bed all day. Be very careful doing any exercise. A dip in the pool however would probably feel good as the water will help to support your weight - just don't try and do too much.

 

You really need to work with your drs on this one. Is there any way they can increase the 300 calories a day? Either by increasing your intake or by increasing the energy density of what you are taking in? Assuming your muscle atrophy is purely down to your recent illness then it should be possible to build it back up again but you may need some specialist help with it. I know the forum is great and we are all just tying to help but I doubt any of us really know the full picture and your medical history and following advice gained from the forum might cause you more problems.

 

Whatever you decide or manage to do I hope it all works out and you start feeling better soon.

 

Believe me all of us specialist etc want me to be able to eat this is why I spent so long in hospital. I have come on great since a month ago and I know it's going to take time but I'm one of those who wants to run before they can walk. I hate the protein drinks they make me vomit and the Enlive the hospital gave me is too sickly sweet so it's half my fault as well.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

But I'd really advise speaking to someone who's got a professional clue, rather than anonymous Internet types.

I have specialist's, Dr's, GP's, Dieticians, working with me non stop but my surgeon has different ideas to the surgeons up in Cairns, it's same with the dieticians because I needed to go interstate for the op but also spent time in the hospitals up here I have doubled up on everyone and they all give conflicting advice :no:

[Guest The Pom Queen]

 

I have a feeling you avoid the healthcare professionals like the plague Mrs PQ!! Use them, thats what theyre there for!! Feel stronger soon hun xx

 

Moi :unsure:

[ramot]

Look after yourself, keep getting better, and the love and support from us all should help.

[Kay Dee]

Sending you massive hugs Kate. :hug: There has been some great advice on this thread for you and I sincerely hope that you can find a solution to enable you to be fighting fit soon. Take care of yourself x

[Guest The Pom Queen]

Sending you massive hugs Kate. :hug: There has been some great advice on this thread for you and I sincerely hope that you can find a solution to enable you to be fighting fit soon. Take care of yourself x

 

Thanks hun, sorry I haven't been on the Sydney forum, I will prob be back today or tomorrow. Just sooo busy

[Guest littlesarah]

I know how difficult it is to get consistent advice from different health professionals! And in some ways, I'm willing to bet you're loathe to see another one; but I'm wondering whether you'd benefit from a chat with an exercise physiologist - just because they will approach things from a different perspective. They should be able to incorporate their understanding of the physiological mechanisms and the pathophysiology of your specific condition/health problems into an activity plan. GPs can usually refer (I'd get a recommendation for you, but I don't know a soul in Cairns, I'm afraid).

[Kay Dee]

Thanks hun, sorry I haven't been on the Sydney forum, I will prob be back today or tomorrow. Just sooo busy

 

Oh, not at all! Never apologise, I know how crazy life can be at times :wink:

[Sustain]

Believe me all of us specialist etc want me to be able to eat this is why I spent so long in hospital. I have come on great since a month ago and I know it's going to take time but I'm one of those who wants to run before they can walk. I hate the protein drinks they make me vomit and the Enlive the hospital gave me is too sickly sweet so it's half my fault as well.

 

I would also be concerned about the 300 per day but if under advice from medical personnel any exercise is going to result in better sleep, which itself is valuable in health recovery.

 

Simple walking in the water is useful for the early stages of strengthening the legs before any other amount of exercise is undertaken. Remember the joints and ligaments need to undertake strains and tearing them puts you back to square one.

 

Key to remember anything starts with steps, then you achieve floors, then skyscrapers

[BritChickx]

I don't really have a clue but if you want to re gain your muscles won't you need to have more protein, more than your 300 a day? I know this isn't possible at the moment but i've always been told if you want to gain muscle it helps a lot to eat protein and drink protein shakes. I would start with leg stretches and exercises in your chair first.

[BritChickx]

I have specialist's, Dr's, GP's, Dieticians, working with me non stop but my surgeon has different ideas to the surgeons up in Cairns, it's same with the dieticians because I needed to go interstate for the op but also spent time in the hospitals up here I have doubled up on everyone and they all give conflicting advice :no:

and you know what I think you should do to have more food/fluid... stubborn woman!

[Incata]

Believe me all of us specialist etc want me to be able to eat this is why I spent so long in hospital. I have come on great since a month ago and I know it's going to take time but I'm one of those who wants to run before they can walk. I hate the protein drinks they make me vomit and the Enlive the hospital gave me is too sickly sweet so it's half my fault as well.

 

Don't know if this is a granny sucking eggs situation (sorry if it is), but have you tried drinking the Enlive drinks through a straw? If you do that, and put the straw quite a long way back in your mouth (not to the point you gag), the liquid does not touch your taste buds, so you won't be aware it is sweet.

 

When we have to give the kids medicine that they don't like (such salt and sugar solutions after upset tummies), instead of putting it on a spoon or getting them to drink it from a glass, as per the instructions, we put the same amount in a syringe and they take it that way with no problems. A straw has a similar effect, but works better if you have to have larger amounts. You get to ingest it without having tasted it.

[Skani]

the Enlive the hospital gave me is too sickly sweet so it's half my fault as well.

 

There is a similar range to Enlive called Resource (made by Nestle) .....but may not be so sickly sweet. I tried it when my husband was using it and I didn't think it was too bad. Comes in 3 flavours - peach, orange and wildberry - and was stocked in pharmacies (but some had to order it in specially).