I can no longer run :(

[born2swim]

I have been able to use the ellipse machine 4 times per week for a few weeks and I was feeling pretty alright (not normal, but ok enough to exercise). I tried to run a few days ago... and my bladder is really ****** off at me (for a lack of better words). This makes me so sad! I was training for a half-marathon when my IC symptoms started (out of the blue).

Will I ever be able to run again...?

[GriffsMommy]

I don't have an answer for you Alyssa. I know that any kind of jarring like that drives my bladder nuts, heck when I'm flaring walking hurts it. Hopefully you'll find the right treatment for you and go into remission or get them well enough under control that you'll be able to run again. :grouphug:

[kadi]

Hi Alyssa,

It's hard to know, hopefully when your IC is better managed or in remission, you will be able to run again. I know that for me, as time has gone by & I've found more treatments that work, I'm able to do lots of things I couldn't do when I was at my sickest. I generally try not to look at any of this (diet, medicines, symptoms) as "forever", but just "for now" & try to make the best of what I can do each day. I'm not perfect at this, I have my bad days like anyone, but it is a philosophy that helps me when I can do it...

It's great that you are able to use the elliptical trainer, that will help you maintain fitness, so that when the treatments work, you'll be able to really see what you can do & not have to start from scratch with a weak & sedentary body.

Hang in there, it gets better...

[born2swim]

Kadi and Christine! Thank you so much for your support (now and for the past several months!). I think about running every day and since my last attempt, I have been miserible. I sure hope this flare is temporary. I won't use the ellipse machine with a grudge anymore (after feeling what running does... and why my IC symptoms started while I was at the gym running).

I see two new urogynos tomorrow (just moved to a new city) and hopefully one of them has an idea of how to better help me! :pray:

[Briza]

Running was my exercise of choice before IC...running on the beach at sunrise or sunset, OMG, there's is nothing that compares...but even with my symptoms managed well now with diet and meds I still can't run....but I CAN rollerblade...no impact, and I also boogie board with my fins. Even if I just get out to the beach with just my boogie boarding fins to swim, it's the closest thing I've found to the running...using fins really gives your legs an intense workout like running, and helps tone the belly, but no impact. :) I prefer them to snorkeling fins because they're shorter and heavier and easier to travel with. :)

[girl]

Alyssa,

Don't know what to tell you - I would love to be able to use the elleptical!! (old knee injury rules that out). Treadmills are out for me also.

Perhaps you will get better; I hope you will get a wonderful remission and be able to run all you wish.

If not, have you considered swimming? or blading (fairly similar to running; not as much impact)

I wish you the best of luck, and that you are running again very soon!

girl

[born2swim]

Hey girl!

I really wish I could go swimming, but unfortunately there is no pool very close to me (unless they are outside and I burn too easily to make it a regular routine). So, I have settled for the ellipse machine even if it makes my knees ache. :(

Blading... boy, you would laugh if you saw me attempt to stand up on blades of any kinds. I cannot skate to save my life!

Thank you for the good luck wishes! I sure hope I can go running again soon!

[marymove]

Hi Alyssa,
I am a runner and am currently training for the Chicago Marathon. As long as I am not in a flare, my uro told me to go ahead and run. I have found that it really helps me clear my head. It doesn't cause me to flare, but if I am in a flare, I go back to just walking or eliptical. Being a runner, I can understand how miserable you feel when you aren't out their with the other runners.
Good luck, and I hope you are back in your running shoes soon!

[born2swim]

It's amazing how wonderful running makes me feel. It is how I relax. Meditation, yoga, pilates, etc are so slow and they make me frustrated. Running lets me clear my head, allow me to work out my stress, etc. Unfortunately the ellipse machine is uncomfortable on my knees, so I don't get into that groove (where I block out everything else).

Good luck on the Chicago Marathon! I had a teacher in high school that ran that marathon and collapsed. She died 5 days later in the hospital due to heart failure. Please make sure you are in the best shape and when running that event, if something seems off, stop. I wish she did. She was an athlete, soccer coach, etc. You would think she was in the best shape for the marathon. Not to scare you! I just wanted to caution you to make sure you listen to your body! Good luck! I can't wait until I can run my first half-marathon. Every winter, Walt Disney World hosts a marathon and half-marathon. I was training for that when my IC symptoms started. I don't think the next one is possible (I am incredibly out of shape). Maybe the year after!

I just can't wait to get out there running again!

[Angeles]

Can you do either orthe above if you have Vulvodynia + IC?

Forgot to add, eliptical machine?

My current excersice is Kundalini Yoga (mind, body and spirit type of relaxation and repetitions) that helped me a lot. (Can't do it when I'm flaring though) Hoever I feel to I need to add some cardio. I feell I need to do something to sweat. There's a saying that goes: "If you sweat and laugh everyday, that's what makes a person healthy, happy and whole".
I used to use the eliptical several times and week as well as goint o the park for long 1 hr or more walks or used the threadmill. I loved to hike in my trips to Northern California. I was in shape! I haven't done any of that after I was dx with IC. My excersice is walking my dog aroung the appartment complex for 6 minutes 4 times a day, using the stair to the second floor at home and work + my yoga once or twice a weeek.

[born2swim]

You know, I miss running so much! I would break a great sweat, feel my heart going, my controlled breathing, and my legs felt like they had so much strength and freedom. I miss it so much!

I don't know much about Vulvodynia, but I hear cardio can be a challenge with that. I hear swimming is even worse (due to the chlorine).

I am not much of a yoga fan. It is too slow for me. Running was actually calming and meditative for me. Ellipse machine hurts my knees a bit, but I can do it. I try not to go too high on the resistance. Weight lifting was doable, but I got thsi weird "twitch" in my pelvis when doing this one exercise standing up using a cable pully (doing my triceps). That was uncomfortable. They ruled out PFD (3 doctors checked me manually and found no sign of PFD). So... whatever that twitch was, I won't do it again!

[leelee88]

Born2swim

I truly understand, I am not a runner by any means, but I use to ride motorcyles all the time, my husband had just bought me a brand new one right before I was Dx with IC..It was a passion of mine like you with running.. It is so sad how IC can just take it all away.. We are in the process of selling it and it breaks my heart! But if I can't ride it breaks it even more looking at it just sitting there.. I really hate this disease...:(

[born2swim]

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry to hear that you are selling your bike! I just wish you would get better! I know someone with IC and she would drive her Porsche all the time. It became too painful and had to stop. It broke her heart, but she kept it and finally she got well enough that she can drive it, and drive it all over the place. Just have faith that you will be back on the roads again!

[SandyRN]

I used to be an avid runner. I'd take my dalmation and we'd run about a mile and a half, maybe 2 miles every single day. It was great, and we both felt great. Now he hurts from arthritis and I hurt too. I miss running so much. Heck, I miss WALKING! My daughter is walking right now, training for her high school swim team and she asked me to go with her and I had to say no because I am just hurting too much to go. I can barely get through the grocery store using the buggy like a walker!

I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to run again. Not sure if my dalmation will ever run like we used to but maybe I can get him out walking again when the weather cools off. We're both so pitiful sometimes...I feel like we relate to each other...he knows when I hurt and I know when he hurts. :(

[born2swim]

Sandy,

At least you have company in your misery! I am sorry to hear you hurt too much to even walk. I can't walk either. It isn't from pain, it is due to urgency/frequency that I can't do it. I am serously considering Interstim now. I want to run again. I want to sleep normally again. I want to ride roller coasters, go swimming, watch a movie in the theater without disruption, etc. Once I can run, I know that I am feeling well. That is the worst thing for my bladder and one of my favorite things to do! It's so sad. I miss it like I lost my best friend!

[Angeles]

I would love to run, walk in the park, tresdmill, too,However I have to say that I found in Yoga a great confort. I recomend a book the "8 Human Talents" about a particular type of yoga which can be very challenging too... who knows, maybe we can run again one day, or take a nice walk, little by little....
Hugs to all.

[born2swim]

I wish I could tolerate yoga, but for me it is just so boring. I need intense exercise or I get bored easily. Running is awesome for me. Lifting weights is awesome for me. Even rowing is wonderful... but alas, I cann't do anything but weights (and even that is a hit or miss depending on the day).

I am praying I can get out there running again soon...