Hello

I told my GP I'd like to try Hydrotherapy as gentle exercise is recommended for lupus yet I find normal swimming pools too cold water, also I've found it hard to motivate self to do any exercise regularly, and when I have tried swimming on my own I've overdone it and been very tired & achey for several days after it.
My GP referred me to physio with no problems as she said it sounded like a good idea. I had to wait about 6 months before I saw physio for assessment to see what would be the most suitable for me
- they asked why I'd gone to see them and why I thought hydrotherapy would be good for me & what did I expect as an outcome.
I just explained about how I needed graded gentle exercise as there is research to show that regular exercise carried out long term can help the levels of fatigue experienced in people with lupus & fibromyalgia (it will however probably make you feel more tired at first as you get used to it) and that everyone seems to say try gentle exercise to help your lupus.
I also explained the problems I'd had when trying exercising on my own, and that although I knew it would not cure my lupus I want to remain as healthy/fit as I can be.
Anyway physio accepted all this and referred my for the hydrotherapy. They also gave me tips on improving my posture to help with fibromyalgic/muscle pain I get in my shoulders.
So far I've had 2 hydrotherapy sessions held in a small meter deep pool of warm water. I just did really gentle movements under supervision and rested for the next couple of days. I ached slightly more than usual after it and was a bit more fatigued but I do think it's worth putting up with that if in the long run it helps me stay as fit as I can be
I think normally they only give you 6 hydrotherapy sessions in total but I'm going to try to see if I can continue it for longer/permanently if that is allowed. My sessions start again in Sept (they take a summer break as sessions are held in a special needs school that is closed for holidays) so over the summer I'm going to try and find a public pool that has water warm enough for me to try the exercises on my own, and I'm also looking into costs of gym membership to see if private gyms with a pool have water that is any warmer than public swimming baths. I'm even considering saving up to get a big hot tub/exercise pool I could have fitted in my garden but as I'm on a low income I don't expect I'll be able to afford that luxury