Exercise can be tricky when you’re managing symptoms and treatment. Tiredness can be a big factor. Some people find that gentle exercise does help, and others may find it exhausting and hard to know where to start.
What’s been your experience? Have you found anything that helps? We’re all different, but let’s share what’s worked – or maybe what’s not worked – so we can learn from each other.
Before being diagnosed with stage 5 CKD in 2020i played rugby. Since then, I started a touch rugby team for renal patients, their families and NHS staff. I found the mental side of things was my hardest hurdle but having the our touch rugby team with people in similar positions and experiences has made a huge difference. I look forward to our Tuesday training session, as do the other players, to bring a boost for physical and mental health.
Other than walking my dog, swimming is my go-to exercise. I sometimes use 2kg hand dumbbells to exercise my upper body, but can’t say that’s a regular activity. I was a gym member, but it doesn’t work for me anymore. The other thing I do, although not what you’d call exercise, is Transcendental Meditation, which has many benefits to health.
Hi. My eGFR is around 20. I regularly attend Silver Swans ballet (aimed at older peoples, no experience necessary) and tai chi. I also try and do some of the Kidney Beam video exercises https://www.kidneybeam.com, but I am not very good at consistently doing them. If you don’t know it, it is worth having a look. They tell you how to adapt exercises to take account of fistulas and catheters. There are also specific programmes, for example, post transplant.