One Step Up Two Steps Back - "Bruce Springsteen"

[Rockybullwinkle]

I'm 73 with Stage . Robotic, Lupron and Radiation on the checked list. I'm trying to stay "fit" but my former pleasant leisurely two mile stroll now feels like a 27 mile marathon where I hit the wall two minutes after leaving the house. My energy level non existent as my testosterone. The back pain constant. Nobody out walking walks slower. There's much more debilitation from the ongoing battle but you all know what that is. "Just be glad you're alive." We're supposed to be alive. Until we're not.

[Hidden]

😂😂😂Hey Rocky! I can relate and i

Just turned 60. Whoohoo🥳🥳

[AlanMeyer]

Hello Rocky,

My experience with Lupron was the same as yours. At age 57 I was able to jog four miles in 36 minutes = 9 minutes per mile. After a month or two on Lupron I was down to one mile in 11 minutes. What's happening is that, in the absence of testosterone, the "mitochondria" in your muscle cells shut down. They generate energy molecules ("adenosine tri-phosphate" or "ATP" - remember when they taught you about the "Krebs cycle" in high school biology?) from the energy in food molecules. When they shut down you get weak and tired.

So what can you do?

As far as I know the only known proven treatment for it is exercise. An extra hour of sleep every night might help too. You'll feel like crap when you go out and do your hard walking, but, if you're able to exercise, you'll have a lot more total energy every day than you'll have if you give up walking, turn on the TV, and lie down on the sofa.

As far as the back is concerned, I've become a believer in physical therapy. I'm 75 now. I have a spinal stenosis in my back that put me in 24 hour pain and made it impossible for me to walk. I was 70 at the time. Drugs didn't help. A neurosurgeon told me that there was no help except for back surgery. However a physical therapist I knew told me that I had to try PT. I did. I visited physical therapists a total of four times at $40/visit. In those four visits I learned all of the exercises and, from then on, I did them myself, at home., at no cost I did about 15-20 minutes of PT three times per day. I started walking. I could manage only 10 steps at first, and only with a walker held an inch off the floor to catch myself if my leg collapsed. Now I can walk 10 miles if I have to - not real fast, but I can do it. I still do about 3+ hours of PT each week.

So my recommendation is exercise + PT. Do it regularly, every day if possible, multiple times per day when you get a chance. Push yourself. When you can meet your goals, add a bit to those goals. You're never going to be 25 again, or even 50, but you're not trying to be a young athlete. You're just trying to live a normal human life. I think there's a reasonable chance that you'll succeed.

Best of luck - and best of determination.

Alan

[Rockybullwinkle in reply to AlanMeyer]

Thanks for the support. BTW you're not Alan Meyer the director are you?

[AlanMeyer in reply to Rockybullwinkle]

I hadn't heard of a director with my name. I'm Alan Meyer the retired computer programmer. Most of my career was as a contract programmer to agencies at the National Institutes of Health.

[Rockybullwinkle in reply to AlanMeyer]

My mistake. It's Alan Meyerson. TV director.

[dmt1121]

Very sorry to hear how you are feeling. I believe we should all keep going until it makes us feel better to sit down. Don't push yourself too hard. I believe we should do the best we can and enjoy the time we have. There's a point at which a spin on the scooter may be more fun! Then you can pass everyone!

Take care of yourself and know that we know and are here for you.

[TwilightZone]

Yep, went through the same sequence of events as you, and felt the same way. HOWEVER, every-other-day, I walk 40 minutes and do a 40 minute workout on my TotalGym. I admit some days it's difficult, but I'm glad I've stuck it out. Be strong, and carry on!

[Rockybullwinkle in reply to TwilightZone]

I do the same. Try to walk 2 miles every other day. Off days I ride the recumbant bike but unable to push hard for cardio benefit. I also use a Bullworker for arms and chest. That's working except for the man boobs. Hasn't made a dent in those.

[Schwah]

When I went on Lupron an Zytega, my MO was always very clear on what worked and what didn’t work for maintaining energy level. Resistance training, resistance training resistance training! I lift weights for over an hour three times a week with a very tough trainer although if I had more self-discipline I could do it on my own. I can tell you for the three years I was on an Lupron and Zytega I felt 90% myself and I actually gained muscle mass and lost weight. Cardio is great to throw in but it really is the weight training to all muscle groups consistently that will make the difference in my opinion And in my experience. I think others here will tell you the same.

Schwah

[Hidden]

Consider a trainer for the reasons Schwah indicated. I feel so tired going to the trainer but I feel much better afterwards. Especially at the end where he helps me stretch

[33Ford]

I know the feeling. I do well with my diet and everything else, but the exercise is almost impossible no matter how hard I try!

[treedown in reply to 33Ford]

It helps if you can find something you really like doing. If not it will always just be a chore.

[AlanMeyer in reply to 33Ford]

One possible way to enjoy your exercise more is to listen to music, listen to an audiobook, or watch TV while doing it. Rousing music or a rousing story can pump you up for the exercise session.

[33Ford in reply to AlanMeyer]

Apricate the support, my problem is not motivation (might be part of it), but massive fatigue! I have to force myself to do activities I love. The fatigue is just overwhelming at times. The last week has been a bit better. I made a list of the radiation exposure I have had over the past 6-7 months, and it is a lot!! Believe that has been a big contributor, Then Eligard and Zytiga were the icing on the cake, LOL.

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

“ the icing” .. without t there is lethargy ..

[Hidden in reply to 33Ford]

Thats why you need a trainer

[MateoBeach]

You are on ADT holiday and T not yet coming back. You should be able to get testosterone replacement to normal levels while on holiday, which would ameliorate the problem and give you a chance to feel well and recover fitness. Unfortunately, almost no doctor treating PC will prescribe it for you. It took me 6 months of pleading and multiple consults with docs experienced with testosterone treatments such as BAT to finally convince him. See my previous posts on using testosterone (carefully) myself. Megace or HCG, fertility drugs, can also help accelerate testicular recovery.