Swimming after reconstruction

DebiTCO

I had surgery on 4/3/07 -- bi-lat with immediate reconstruction with DIEP on one side and TRAM pedicle on other.

I went to the lake last week for the first time since surgery.

It felt pretty weird; my front didn't feel the cold water. As I started to swim, I really felt uncomfortable. I could "feel" a pull like sensation across my abdomen. I wasn't really in pain, but it didn't feel good either. If I had to describe the feeling it was like I was turtle and my front felt like the flat side of the turtle [not the curved shell part]. This probably sounds like a strange description, but everything just felt taught and generally, that kind of feeling has all but vanished for me.

I have really good range of motion in both arms having exercised as soon as possible after surgery. I work in our town library and reaching the top shelves is no problem for me. So I was dismayed to find that swimming was so unpleasant.

So, have you been swimming? If so, what was/is it like for you?

I was really disappointed because I love the water and this was the first time I had a chance to get to the water since way before surgery. [Living in the southwest kind of puts a damper on getting to the beach. ] It was also our anniversary trip, so not being able to swim bummed me.

Thanks for listening!
Debi

thomcat

Debi:

I had a unilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction Sept 06. I LOVE the water and decided I wanted to start swimming laps after I finished chemo this past March. It was a struggle for me because I had discomfort in my shoulder, rib cage and stomach. I just kept on swimming and it feels better now but not quite the same before surgery.

HTH

Cathy

barbara913

i had a latflap almost 2 years ago, and i know the muscles are obviously different, but going in the water is so weird to me now. i wasn't a big swimmer, but did like to float around, and even that is weird to me... i guess it's good i don't live in a warm weather state, year round
barbara

iodine

I was never much of a swimmer, even tho I know how, but did scuba dive.
I am a lot further out than you are tho. Due to major joint problems I had to change my workout to the pool. I began doing back stroke laps last spring and LOVE it. I, too, have great range of motion after my unilat implant(actually had to do it twice).
My guess is, just keep doing it. It's another one of those "new normals" we have to take on.

moogie

It has been strange feeling for me too. I have bilats with implants, and the muscle contraction that occurs with every stroke took some getting used to. I had to get a suit with good front coverage because when the muscle contracts, the breast area distorts and gets concave near the breastbone.

I also have nerve twinges in my sides after a workout, and I think it is probably from nerves still healing....and exercising muscles that have been mushy for a while. All in all, swimming has helped me: My lymphedema arm...which was getting bigger.....shrunk once I started a program of lap swimming.
Moogie

roseg

I was just in New Hampshire and noticed the difference on my recon side.

I'm a chicken about getting into the water. I HATE cold water!
So I remind myself that my recon side doesn't feel anything. Hey - that's less to shiver about.

It's really good to stretch your chest out. We don't want to get old and have our nice not-saggy boobs hidden because our shoulders are hunched over.

Don't strain yourself, a little each day is the way to go.

SandyinSoCal

Hi Debi,
I am about 5 weeks post-DIEP and my ps said I could start swimming at 6 weeks, but as much as I want to get back into the water, I don't think I'm ready. When I am upright, my belly is super hard in the 6 inches above my incision. It feels like I am 10 months pregnant--it is so tight that it feels like it's ready to burst. The scar over my hips feels a little tight too. I don't really understand this because I was told that my tummy didn't have to be pulled super tight. I hope it's just swelling that will resolve, and not muscle that needs to be tightened up. I heard that ibuprofen can help reduce swelling, but my doc said no NSAIDS. Reclining or lying down offers some relief, but as soon as I stand up, I can feel things shifting downward and it's driving me crazy. I did hear that you can experience tightness in the abdomen for up to a year after DIEP.

cbl

I had just a TRAM on one side and I know exactly how you feel when you describe being a turtle. I went on a 2 week beach vacation 8 months after my surgery. The tightness across my abdomen was wierd the first day but after that I felt like it loosened internally - not the skin so much as the muscles relaxed and stretched. Not feeling the water temperature was something I didn't notice (I notice it in the shower everyday!) but perhaps that is because I had only one side done. The swimming really helped stretch and strengthen everything. Maybe you just have to work through the discomfort? I haven't had the opportunity to go swimming since then but I would if I could.

happynewyorker

Thanks for the information. I'm having my reconstructive surgery and a lift on my left breast in June of this year (2015), and our building has a pool.  I'm not sure about getting the areola done during my reconstructive surgery.  But the information was helpful on the feeling when swimming.