Muscles Have Memory

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010

Muscles have Memory

Going into this 3rd week of radiation, I am starting to feel the side effects. The fatigue is weird; it feels like something is not right in my mind. It felt like my equilibrium is off, and my head is fuzzy. Fatigue is different than being tired.
I am still dealing with the neuropathy in my legs, but I think I have learned to just live with it for now. When I am through with radiation, I can see a naturopathic doctor. Eric contacted one that he knows, and he said it is best to wait because most Naturopathic doctors use a lot of antioxidants. At the same time, I was told many use any antioxidants or vitamins. It was explained to me that during radiation, all of my cells are being zapped, the good and the bad; if I am feeding the good ones with antioxidants, it will interfere with the radiation therapy.
Yesterday I started back at the gym; I took a cycling class. When I finished cycling, I could feel that my muscles remembered my workouts a year ago. I am told that muscles have Memory. As I cycled tonight, I got a little teary-eyed. I hope I can continue through my radiation. The radiation techs told me to take it slow and not to overdo it. That was so hard; all my cycling friends were there on the same bikes, in the front row. I got on that bike right next to them and had a hard time not taking off and pushing myself. I was cycling 2 classes a day, plus either a weight class or another cardio class, usually two-two and half hours a day 6 days a week, as much as I want to be able to do all that again, I know it will take time, and I have to listen to what my body is telling me. I promised my doctor I would stop if I got too tired and fatigued. He felt tired of me asking, "can I go back to the gym?" So, I am taking it slow and trying to be grateful for what I can do and not focus on what I cannot do.