What I would LOVE to be able to do right now is some yoga. Especially for my upper body and back. I just feel really compacted. This surgical camisole doesn't help. It comes up pretty high into the armpit area and chafes a bit. I'll check myself for swelling this morning and wear it another day.
I did start some of my post-op stretches last night. I'm actually not as stiff on my left as I thought I would be. There is one broom stretch where you put your "bad" hand on the end of a broomstick, and then bring it up over your head as far as you can. I was able to extend it up all the way. Granted, I did have pain meds in my system. I'll keep doing these exercises, though. I really do not want to lose mobility in my upper body. I'm supposed to do them once a day for 10 days, 10 repetitions each. Then I can do it twice a day. There is a video I checked out at the library on post-mastectomy exercises that looked lame a few weeks ago. I may re-check it out now and try it. One thing I didn't like was the lady on the video, a breast cancer survivor, refers to women with breast cancer as "victims." That turned me off. I'm not a victim! I'm a warrior! But I could do the video with the sound down, I suppose.
Mom and I are going to go for a longer walk this morning around Discovery lake. I'm hoping that will get the blood flowing and help this feeling of stiffness and compaction. A brisk walk with some stretching afterwards will probably help me feel much better.
It seems there's lots of post-mastectomy exercise sites on-line, too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stayingabreast.com/site/browse/exercise.htm
http://www.bolithomd.com/procedures/post-mastectomy-exercises/ - which, oddly, shows a man doing the exercises... yeah, I know men can have mastectomies, too, but still.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/28314-post-mastectomy-exercises/
And on and on. The video might not be your style, but I bet you can find some helpful, yet challenging ones on-line. Without the "victim" affirmation.
Not knowing how much room you have to put anything to help with the chafing, but moleskin can help with that.
*laughing*
I *am* listening... not always trying to fix things.
I was telling Sarah that you were doing so, so phenomenally well because of your fantastic pre-op health and fitness level. I promise, many (if not most!) women would still be barely up and around, yet here you are, doing exercises (and well, too!) and going for a walk! Fantastic, Tonya. You really are doing great... and I am totally inspired by you!