This stems from a former client, now undergoing post acute treatment for cancer.

He once ran with my son in 8K’s for charity as well as to raise community awareness. He recently told me of his lingering fatigue, despite completing the acute phase of his therapy. His current medications have a robust list of side effects; fatigue being the least concerning.

What does this have to do with exercise? Personal training?

He was a client, and we are still close. I can’t imagine not having the energy I enjoy now. Nor can I fathom what I would do if this was my diagnosis. Here’s the point. He told me that when relaying his fatigue to his MD, this was to be expected. And once again, the most innocuous.

Nurses have many responsibilities; administering medications, updating physician orders, overseeing ancillary personnel, depending upon your work setting.

One of our responsibilities which is just as endemic, is that of patient advocate. I told him fatigue is never a problem; as long as it is someone else’s.

My views have long since evolved from the setting of traditional medicine and nursing. That of challenging and patient advocating has not. His? We clash on quite a few things. I’ve worked in a hospital as well as a dialysis setting. I know what it means to discuss side effects as well as expected outcomes of medications. I have witnessed just as much of one as the other, as well as a few outliers in my career. So I’m not just rambling.

When I said to him, that it’s never a problem if it’s someone else’s, he agreed with me. It was a surprise, considering some of our conversations. He felt it was an eye opener, and a different dialogue would be warranted with his MD if it continued.

So bringing it back to exercise as well as activities of daily living.

Let’s skip the exercise for a moment. How do you get through your day, regardless of work schedule or retirement, if you are in a trance? We often take sleep for granted. I’ll catch up later, perhaps on the weekend. However, most of us must be coherent on days besides Saturday & Sunday. Lack of sleep just like chronic pain, can also induce personality changes, which I’ve seen up close & personal. How does this affect you? Those who must interact with you? Has anyone considered that?

We all give up routines in the short term, to achieve a desired outcome in the long-term. Most realize when we embark on a fitness journey or lifestyle modification, these effects will not be seen tomorrow. We may feel better. Or have that post exercise glow. Yet we know there will be many tomorrows before we see what we hope to see.

Likewise, we endure treatment regimes to regain our idea of health. However just as we remember it’s not all about the finish, it’s the same when it comes to our journey towards a betterment of self; however you define health. There’s something in that climb. You may not always enjoy it, and yes it will leave you breathless as well as fatigued at times. At times–just like our side effects, should be the outlier, not the norm.

All for now. Keep up and keep at it.

Like what you read? My e-book will be launched on this site soon. You can check out a free preview next month.

Questions? Comments? Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com