Been a while since I posted and progress the last month or so has been good. First walking..
For some reason, walking more than a mile has been tough, and it may be a combination of anxiety and some weakness. What has helped is that my neck is getting much better, I have whats described as mechanical neck pain, but exercise is helping.
Cycling
I've had an E-bike for the last few weeks and my hope was that cycling would help me build faster than walking. So far, it is. I can cycle 2-3 times a week and have been managing around 6 miles.
The biggest surprise was that its become comfortable more quickly, I can function ok after a ride and just have a little leg soreness. From a mental health perspective, I just enjoy the ride, far more than I enjoy walking!
I'm finding that cycling progresses my fitness much faster and allows me to keep my hear rate in zone 1 for endurance training.
Note that on top of this, I can function pretty normally, stand to wash the dishes, climb stairs whenever I need to
In fact, I enjoyed a meal out with my daughter a week ago, so I'm getting a social life back.
Once I'm a month into cycling, I'm going to have another crack at walking, however I may do it a different way. Supermarket shopping. Currently I use my mobility scooter, but I suspect as I can be on my feet in the house for 30 minutes, several times a day, I can push a trolly round the supermarket.
Its going ok, I still have much fitness to regain, but i'm able to progress. The fatigue seems to have gone, as long as I progress slowly, and do not go mad, by cycling 50 miles!!
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natswright
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So good to hear how much you’re improving over time and the E-bike sounds ideal. Seems as if life is getting back to normality for you and I wish you well for the future xxxx🥰😘💕
Your doing Amazing by the sounds of it and I have read a few people saying that E bikes help them so much. Hope you are inspiring others in the group but I think at 66 my cycling days have gone. Take care on your bike and make sure it doesn't get nicked these days. Brian
Hi Nats. As my name suggests I ride an electric recumbent, have covered I’ve 10k miles in last 3 years. It offers me all that you are finding! Brilliant keep it up, good for breathing, joints, minds & so much more. It’ll just get better 👍
Great news natswright! Dont forget supermarket shopping isn't just wheeling the trolley, there's loading & carrying the bags, carting it to the car then upstairs, putting it away.I know only too well how pushing yourself just that little bit too far can set you back. P ×
Yep, and its very hard to gauge if I'm up to it, but I have to start somewhere. I've done short shopping trips, so will try a slightly longer one, if I feel up to it of course!
Well done. The e bike sounds great . If you are used to cycling anyway then you are regaining not only a lost skill but gaining so much more. Supermarket trolleys are great for getting around I have found . I had a Zimmer when I broke my leg years ago but supermarket trolley was so much better ! Bit of a problem getting it on to local bus though!
Haha, good point! I did consider that I can lean into it. I suspect some of my issues walking are anxiety. In the past, I really did have issues walking, now i'm improving, I get anxious the longer I walk. To beat it, I have to take the worry head on. Once I succeed, i'll no longer worry!
Yesterday, I pushed up to cycling 10 miles, and I felt fine afterwards. Legs especially seem to be improving.
However, I'm continuing to find bits of me that are recovering at different rates! My chest ached a bit afterwards, and today is still a bit sore, although I have managed to clean my hob and splash back, that required quite a bit of scrubbing to get clean!
I'm slowly getting used to what to expect from exercise so feel less anxious as I slowly move on, but no one prepared me for how unfit i'd be after pneumonia.
I feel this is where folks need more help, it's one think to recover from the acute phase of the illness, around 6 months, but I reckon it's going to take me 12 months just to get back to baseline fitness.
Some would argue that my fitness is getting quite good these days, as a "couch potato" would struggle to cycle 10 miles.
However, I could not manage 10 miles on a normal bicycle, probably 5, and only if the route was completely flat!
Hi Nat.This is very interesting. You say covid pneumonia recovery do you also have COPD? I do. I have severe pulmonary emphysema and I am wondering if en ebike will help me get around more as I get quiet tired walking and out of breath. I also use oxigen when out and about. Your opinion and any other member's opinions would be much apreciated.
I do not have COPD, but I do have lung scaring. My issue is more to do with severe deconditioning and covid may have damaged my muscles, so I can fatigue more easily. I do not get out of breath, but have trouble walking more that a mile as I get tired.
An e-bike has transformed what I can do. I've been feeling the 10 miles a little today, but I have been quite active around the house!
I suggest you read this story, it may give some guidance, that you can ride with an O2 supply.
HiThis is great to here. When I cycled, it was easier than walking. Now after pneomonia struggling to walk. May try the ebike when weather and I improve. I have one steep hill, then flat. Which model do you have. I still have my bike in hope, Thanks Lorraine. Well done!!!
Hiya, I have a Volt pulse, they cost aroun £2000 to buy. I'm much more recovered now, I still have minor aches in my legs, and neck, but can comfortably walk 5 miles now.
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