My joint stabilisation cycle log

[Woman]

I started another thread but @LevButlerov asked me to create a log, so here it is! My other thread is here. For some background, I’m a woman with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome and ME/CFS, which together make me quite disabled. My body doesn't produce collagen effectively so my joints don't hold together very well. To compensate, my muscles tense up in order to stabilise the joints. I see a physiotherapist who gives me exercises to strengthen my muscles so that they don't need to hold as tightly to the joints. Progress has been very slow because doing the exercises often causes of flareup of the pain. I've decided to start peds in order to get out of this pain flareup cycle and strengthen. I'm hoping this will also relieve the chronic fatigue, because the constant pain feeds into this.

I'm now one week in and I'm already seeing some improvements. I've managed to do my exercises without causing pain flareups which has meant that I can do them more frequently. My body feels stronger and I can see my muscles getting slightly larger.

I really appreciate the interest and encouragement everyone has shown so far! I know I'm training on a different level to the majority of people here, but I would love to hear any feedback you have. If anyone has trained from this kind of state of severe deconditioning or has used peds to help with chronic illness/connective tissue problems I would also love to hear from you


Stats

Height 177 cm

Weight 62 kg

Age mid 30s



Supplements

Coq10, vitamin D, liposomal vitamin C, carnitine, propolis, Quercetin, psyllium husk, electrolytes (equivalent of roughly 3 bottles of Gatorade daily)



PEDs

10 mg testosterone transdermal daily

5 mg anavar split between two doses

Considering switching the transdermal testosterone for NPP - I'd appreciate guidance on a starting dose of this



Diet

I eat a Pescatarian low FODMAP diet because that's all I can really tolerate. My EDS causes low gut motility so it's very easy to become constipated. I focus on eating as much lean protein, olive oil, and fresh vegetables as I can. I have a limited tolerance for carbs but I can get through roughly 60 g of sourdough bread per day. I've been fine-tuning what I can cope with for many years and this is about the best I can get in terms of protein and nutrients. Any changes to increase protein or carbohydrates makes me constipated and then my appetite is suppressed, which makes it unsustainable.



Training

I have no capacity for cardio at this point

I do a number of low impact exercises that I regularly consult my physiotherapist about. These include glute bridges, clams, leg lifts (while activating my core), and bicep curls using a 500 g dumbbell

Where possible I alternate between doing the lower body exercise exercises one day and the bicep curls the next, with the core strengthening on a daily basis

 

[LevButlerov]

I started another thread but @LevButlerov asked me to create a log, so here it is! My other thread is here. For some background, I’m a woman with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome and ME/CFS, which together make me quite disabled. My body doesn't produce collagen effectively so my joints don't hold together very well. To compensate, my muscles tense up in order to stabilise the joints. I see a physiotherapist who gives me exercises to strengthen my muscles so that they don't need to hold as tightly to the joints. Progress has been very slow because doing the exercises often causes of flareup of the pain. I've decided to start peds in order to get out of this pain flareup cycle and strengthen. I'm hoping this will also relieve the chronic fatigue, because the constant pain feeds into this.

I'm now one week in and I'm already seeing some improvements. I've managed to do my exercises without causing pain flareups which has meant that I can do them more frequently. My body feels stronger and I can see my muscles getting slightly larger.

I really appreciate the interest and encouragement everyone has shown so far! I know I'm training on a different level to the majority of people here, but I would love to hear any feedback you have. If anyone has trained from this kind of state of severe deconditioning or has used peds to help with chronic illness/connective tissue problems I would also love to hear from you


Stats

Height 177 cm

Weight 62 kg

Age mid 30s



Supplements

Coq10, vitamin D, liposomal vitamin C, carnitine, propolis, Quercetin, psyllium husk, electrolytes (equivalent of roughly 3 bottles of Gatorade daily)



PEDs

10 mg testosterone transdermal daily

5 mg anavar split between two doses

Considering switching the transdermal testosterone for NPP - I'd appreciate guidance on a starting dose of this



Diet

I eat a Pescatarian low FODMAP diet because that's all I can really tolerate. My EDS causes low gut motility so it's very easy to become constipated. I focus on eating as much lean protein, olive oil, and fresh vegetables as I can. I have a limited tolerance for carbs but I can get through roughly 60 g of sourdough bread per day. I've been fine-tuning what I can cope with for many years and this is about the best I can get in terms of protein and nutrients. Any changes to increase protein or carbohydrates makes me constipated and then my appetite is suppressed, which makes it unsustainable.



Training

I have no capacity for cardio at this point

I do a number of low impact exercises that I regularly consult my physiotherapist about. These include glute bridges, clams, leg lifts (while activating my core), and bicep curls using a 500 g dumbbell

Where possible I alternate between doing the lower body exercise exercises one day and the bicep curls the next, with the core strengthening on a daily basis

thank you for starting this log sister @Woman EVO family is a no judgement zone, dont worry.
please share some pics of you with your face blurred so we can understand your base, and muscle base and understand you as we start this log off, thank you sister