exersize & crohns

[rocco9]

Have any of you had good results with exsersize with the crohn's?.I'm having a hard time getting started,With some depression going on,And so much going on in my life at this point.Its really getting me down,My G.I. doctor said if i can control some of the stress it would help a great deal.Any feedback would help.I'm will to try anything,Maybe some support for this sight will give me the kick in the pants that I need to get started,,,,,,,,,,,,Thanks Rocco9.......ps hopeing to hear from someone..........

[rocco9]

HI again, Its funny you mention badminton, I have to great kids 20 and 16 both boys in the summer months the wife and I and the kids really get into some good games of badminton.Back in the late 70's the wife had take 2nd in new england in racquetball she is also a very good golfer.As a matter of fact LOL everything she does she seems to do well in.She is now working on a Ph.d. Which i can't wait to be done........LOL.I just want to retire and rest.I'm a steel worked and tired of it......But the money is not there yet .Lost to much in the stock market,,,,,some day.....

[lizziecee]

Hi rocco - squash at 53 yrs is probably a no-no, although my husband. who used to play ice hockey - yes, they do have it in England!, and sailed a racing catamaran for some 30 yrs, only started playing squash at 45 yrs, in order to keep fit in the winter for the sailing season.  Racquetball is similar to squash, although the lines on the court are different - think I only played racquet ball once, when visiting the US on business and was surprised that hitting the roof of the court was within the rules.  

Why not try badminton? It is a very social game, and if played in a foursome not as tiring as squash or racquetball..  I have never been in a gym in my life, so don't know if that kind of exercise would help. I did try tennis when living in Spain as there were no squash courts locally (and it was too darn hot in the summer) but despite some tennis lessons with Lew Hoad (you are probably too young to remember he was a Wimbledon champion) my serve was hopeless - still tried to do it squash style. My forehand could send the tennis ball over at least two adjacent courts, so gave it up. I did do a lot of swimming in Spain as we had our own pool and our social life, being early retirees, revolved around friends' pool parties. We have an outdoor heated pool at the Fort, but I don't care to share it with hordes of kids splashing about, so rarely use it. I get enough exercise just doing the housework of our own apt and a holiday apt we have here, since my husband is disabled and can't help out with those chores.

I live in an isolated Fort on Plymouth Sound and there are no social activity clubs nearby. Most of our neighbours in the Fort get their exercise walking the coastal path on the cliffs right outside, but that's not my bag - I do get some exercise these days with retail therapy!

I don't know whether clinical depression is a side effect of Crohn's, and the subsequent malabsorption factors.   I got severe clinical depression in my mid 30's, although I was not aware of any lifestyle problems.. Had a great job, wonderful caring husband and no money worries. My gastro said I had a chemical imbalance in my brain and no amount of "positive thinking" would sort it out. He gave me a short course of anti-depressants and within about 4 weeks I was back to my normal bubbly self. It re-surfaced about 18 months later, went back onto anti-depressants for 2 weeks, and fine again. Not had it since, even though I got breast cancer 5 years ago, but I am on much better medication now and not underweight any more.

Take care,
Liz.

[rocco9]

Thanks Liz, I used to play alot of hockey,Being 53 I have no desire to go out in thoes cold rinks anymore.How is that game of Squash? I used to play alot of racquetball but gave that up also.I do have to find something.........Thanks again Rocco

[lizziecee]

Hi rocco -

I was 24 yrs old when diagnosed with Crohn's in 1970.  I didn't do any exercise until I was 30 yrs when I started playing squash, 2 or 3 times a week. I found that this concerted exercise really did help with my stress levels and my symptoms were mostly in remission until we retired to Spain in 1985, and flares became very common. Don't know why, but I did get some unusual medical problems there, like Leshmaniasis form an abandoned dog I was feeding. We eventually repatriated back to England in 1991 as the docs in Spain said they didn't know enough about Crohn's then.

I am 63 yrs now, so obviously squash is out of the question. My symptoms have been in remission for 7 yrs as I am on weekly injections of methotrexate. Exercise will most probably help, and it can't hurt!

Good luck - maybe try and find a sport to do with others, rather than jogging or walking.

Liz.