Exercise

Exercise. Exercise seems to be the cure for all that ails.  It is the best thing for your heart, lungs, blood pressure, weight, aging, mood, and on and on.  Unfortunately mast cells do not like it.  And even if it wasn't a trigger, how do you exercise with chronic fatigue and shortness of breath anyway?

I used to consider my daily activity sufficient for exercise.  I survived a trip to the grocery store, walking up and down all those aisles-that must count for something, right?  Or what about those loads of laundry up and down the stairs-that was hard!  Turns out those count, but not nearly enough. To gain the full benefit we need sustained exercise.  So, how does one do it?!?

IT IS HARD.  IT TAKES TIME.  YOU MUST GO SLOW - crazy, crazy slow.

I am not a doctor, and I cannot tell you what you can, should, or should not do.  I am only here to tell you what I have done, and what you can try- with your doctor's approval.  I still struggle with exercise, daily.  It gets easier-but it is still hard.  It is a fight to maintain even the slightest bit of fitness and there will still be days, weeks, even months that mast cell reactions will knock you down and you will need to start over, backtrack, and adjust.  The key is to make sure you do come back, start over, and fight to regain what you lose.  And the good news is you WILL benefit from even the littlest bit of exercise.  And you will not fall as far when the reactions hit, because you have more strength to deal with those hits.

More strength, and more stamina.  And fewer reactions to physical activity.  The trip to the grocery store will be a little bit easier, you may be able to stay at the mall a little longer, and you might gain more energy.

To be clear, we are not talking about climbing mountains here.  Or running 5Ks.  This isn't about joining an hour long beginners yoga class, or seeing a trainer at a local gym.  This isn't signing up for Physical Therapy and working past fatigue for half an hour or lifting weights. This is about gentle stretching, easy and restorative yoga, and walking - on even ground without hills or obstacles.  And it starts with small movements, short - less than 5 minutes - walks, and a few simple yoga poses that you can do while still lying in bed.

If you can do more, please make sure you are taking the time to maintain the fitness you have!  It slips through our fingers in the blink of an eye and trying to gain it back with the chronic fatigue and exercise intolerance feels like trying to move mountains.