Motivation

Survivorwoman

Yay! Deanna - right back at ya! I am glad you did your excersize,too.

Actually, I have no appointments with the plastics until I want to do my nipple reconstruction. And the last time I saw them (post-op) I did not have any pain. It only started a couple of days ago, but I think it is from leaning too much on my "bad" arm while reading. However, I do have an appointment with my breast surgeon real soon and will likely ask her about it. Usually, a warm wet towel seems to help and tylenol#3 does the trick as well.

May I ask in which area in CA you live? One of my old professor invited me to San Diego. I have never been to CA. It sounds so beautiful. I hope one day I get to see it, too.

ktym

I did pretty good this week.  Last couple of days work got in the way, but, the rest of the week was okay.  However, your note inspired me today Deanna, I had a GREAT work out.

Springtime

45 on the bike today, and my injured back seems okay!! Didn't even get my bike in or out of the van, total baby!! I really wanted to be able to bike ride while this injury heals. I think it will work, so far so good! 

Tomorrow is some gardening! Planting begonia's in pots on the deck! the pansies are spent.

Glad everyone is moving! Pats on back all around!!!  

Survivorwoman

Spring-- it is good to hear your shoulder is getting better and that you can do biking.

I do love my bike rides, too. I went out for a ride very early this morning. There were only a few people in the park and it was really foggy across the great lawn. I loved the tranquility of being in the park so early: the smell of the trees, of the soil and the grass. It was really relaxing mentally , but had a great workout physically. Now I am back, pumped with energy again, and ready for some different actions. That is, sending out more resumes. I really need to find a new job. Wish me luck!

Springtime

Survivorwoman you are so right. Yesterday was a cloudy day here and it looked like it might storm at any second. But I found this "hourly weather" site and I could see it was not going to reeally storm until 5PM. Anyway - we went out cycling on the greenway, and maybe say like 5 people in 45 minutes! It felt like the whole thing was ours!!

I rested today. decided to be smart and not overdo it, though I really wanted to bike again. But tomorrow is the eliptical! Tuesday, I am trying Gentle Yoga again and hope I don't overdo it. I have to be very disciplined and just do a very little bit!! (can I do this?? I will report back!!) 

kfinnigan

Finally caught up on your posts!  I missed a lot and missed all of you.  We were gone on an 8-night coastal / Southern California trip, what fun and gorgeous weather we had before it turned back to winter around here.  Seriously, what is up with this Spring weather????

Had a crazy different massage/foot reflexology 2 hour appt. yesterday. New day spa in town, run by vietnamese, who know their stuff.  The guy I had didn't speak much english and had warrior hands, started off going down my spine and cracked my back into place in 2 different areas and found all my sore spots, I never said a word...he worked and worked...interesting, he found the area around my mastectomy site (I was face down the whole first hour then moved to a chair) and really spent time around that whole area (not front side but back and around shoulder area).  I was so sore and hurting all last week after our trip...but this guy with his ninja hands (seriously thought he could snap me like a twig, he was so strong) worked and worked and I felt really different and great afterwards.  The foot part (the foot massages include him working on my scalp, face - like getting a facial (same moves) without the cream), then feet, supposed to open all the energy paths.  

Ainm, Survivor, Joy, hugs as you heal!!!!!  

You are all very inspiring to me!  Spring, don't overdo it at yoga!  Deanna, nice ride!  Kate, wish I had your trainer!!

Springtime

OMG Kari! I need that ninga guy!!!  I had my first of 4 physical therapy sessions for my rhomboid muscle - the guy seems to know what he's doing so I am feeling more confident to try some targeted exercise. He said to try gentle yoga tomorrow! I am so excited to be getting better. A little sore from the "therapy", but happy, and it's not that bad. I rested yesterday and today. I am getting decadent!!!

kfinnigan

Spring, how often will you go to physical therapy?  Did your doctor refer you?  I'm happy you're getting therapy for that muscle, its amazing how tight muscles can wreak havoc on your body.  I'm still working on my right leg, I've come so far in the mobility of my hip area.  My chiro is so pleased.  How did your gentle yoga go??

Springtime

Gentle Yoga tonight Kari, I'll report back! I think the muscle is healing, though I am still on the NSAIDs. I am going 4x to the PT, once a week for 4 weeks. I am starting to feel confident that I will recover...

Survivorwoman

I did my bike ride around the park : almost 3  miles + going and coming = 4.5miles in total. I am so glad that we have this motivation board. Thank you Ladies for cheering me on. I hope you all did some workout tonight. Katia

Springtime

Go survivorwoman! 

Gentle Yoga - I took it easy, I think I will be okay. Yay for healing! 

Survivorwoman

Great news Spring!!!  I am glad you are healing and feeling better. I think you inspired me and I am going to do yoga tomorrow. Then off to job hunting afterwards.

dlb823

Katia, San Diego's a beautiful area, and the weather's idyllic.  You should go!   (I live about 2 hrs. from there, near Palm Springs, and my antique mall space is in Temecula, which is San Diego North County.)  What sort of work are you looking for?  

I just got back from a 1.5 hr. walk (approx. 6 miles).  We have a rare cloud cover here this a.m., so it was cool enough to be enjoyable the entire time.  

Glad your back is starting to heal, Spring.  Sounds like you've figured out how to exercise without exaccerbating the problem.  Good for you!     Deanna

Survivorwoman

I did a twenty minute bike ride today, though, I was going to do yoga. Well, at least I did something. Tomorrow I will do more.

Deanna- at this point I am looking for any work that will come up. I thought I had a couple of leads in a few hospitals, but no one calls me back for interviews. I am bummed out. I do have a BA. Yeah, it is in psychology, but I have volunteer experience and also lots of office experience. The only thing is that I have to leave my mornings slightly open to be able to see my doctors and the clinical trial nurse every two months or so. Also, if that wasn't enough bad news..... I just found out that my oncologist, who I like and trust a lot, is leaving the hospital. I am tired of hearing bad news. When does it end?

And this is why I love going for bike rides, I worry about nothing during the time I pedal, pedal, pedal.

kfinnigan

Spring, yes I would say you are well on your way to healing! YAY!

Katia, good luck with the job search, don't be defeated - I love your attitude about biking, nothing ain't gonna stop ya and pedal pedal pedal.... LOVE IT!!  Hoping you find another onc that you like/trust, that's a huge deal.  I had to see a different onc during chemo and I did NOT like him at all.  I love my onc too so I can only imagine your feelings.

Deanna, very odd spring weather we have had also.  We broke records here for a new high temp because it was soooo low and cold.  BUT, today will be about 80 degrees, so happy for that.

Received an email from our community association that they will offer Pi-Yo (combo Pilates/yoga classes) for free to homeowners on Monday nights!!  However, not sure when I will be able to attend, as my daughter is working the next 3 Mondays, and I go over there after work to sit my little angel.  But I am excited for when I can go!

I walked yesterday morning and this morning for 15 min on our treadmill along with some stretches/exercises and 30 min at lunch yesterday.  Trying to get back in the swing of things after goofing off! 

dlb823

Kari, my neighbor does Pi-Yo and loves it!  Hope you do, too!  Gosh, how old is that little angel now?  

Sorry your onc is leaving, Katia.  Will they automatically assign you a new one, or will you have to find one yourself?  And I sure hope you get some positive response to your job search!  I'm going to pray that you make the right connections and find something you really like.

Well I waited until mid-day to walk today, and it was okay, but not nearly as nice as when it's been cooler and breezy.  I still managed to do an hour and a half -- same approx. 6 mi. route I've done for the past few days.     Deanna   

kfinnigan

Deanna, glad to hear your neighbor loves Pi-Yo!!  I'm looking forward to it when I get the opportunity.  Baby girl Savannah will be 4 months old tomorrow.  They surprised me at work today and we went to lunch.  Savannah had been asleep and when she woke up she looked at me and smiled, she has the cutest dimples.  She's certainly my motivation!  I'm headed over there after work and DD and I will go on a walk.  Looking forward to it!

You amaze me at how far you walk!! 

Survivorwoman

Thank you Kari and Deanna for your kind words. No luck so far in terms of a job, but I am very open to all the possibilities. Please keep me in your prayers Deanna. Thank you. Something is coming my way, I know, just have to be patient , I guess.

I went for short bike rides yesterday and today, too. It was raining on both days and in between showers, I quickly went out. Tomorrow I am going to do a full loop around the park. Then on my way back I will stop at the farmers' market. I am so grateful for being able to do that. I just remembered that last summer, while I was undergoing so many treatments I wasn't able to do it or to get stuff from the market. I was so miserable. I love our farmers' market. It is the best in New York City.

Deanna - 6 miles walk ? That is amazing!

Survivorwoman

Deanna- I will find out about my onco situation on Monday. I have an appointment. Another sister called me today in tears about our onco leaving. She found out today when she wasn't able to make an appointment with her. She is devastated just like me.

ktym

Hi everyone.  Had a tough time getting the workouts in this week, but, the ones I've done have been GOOD ones.  I've been frustrated with the slow pace of the weight loss, then, I stopped to think about it, and it is going off exactly at the pace it went on.  So, guess I have to figure my body is telling me something and just keep on plugging away.  I've started in on another round of PT. Kind of felt like a walking train wreck by the time she identified how many parts of my  chest/shoulder/neck on the cancer side are messed up.  Hope this works.  Being on the Tamoxifen I'm worried about being able to do upper body weight work and not losing bone density.  The weather better pick up around here soon ( the mosquitos are big enough to pick up a person and fly away with them) because it is only a couple of more weeks before my surgery and I'll go insane afterward if I can't get out and walk.

Speaking of which Ainm, how did your surgery go?

ktym

Okay, now this is motivating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFfAbwWhVPk 

Survivorwoman

Thanks for the video Kate, it was fun!  What surgery are you doing?

OK< had a bit of a lousy morning, crying, and self-pity etc. But now I am doing a lot better (Ativan worked, though I was not going to take it.) So I am off to a nice bike ride and maybe do some yoga in the park. Why not? 

Hope you all will get to do some form of excersize today. We need to pump oxygen in our bloods to flush the cells.

ktym

Survivorwoman, the ovaries are coming out, hopefully through a laparoscope and not an open procedure.  I'm dreading the return to activity restrictions, but, it needs to be done

Survivorwoman

I am sorry that you have to get that procedure done. I had an ovarian cyst that ruptured ten years ago and though my ovaries were saved, I had an emergency laparoscopy procedure. It wasn't too bad, though, I was not able to do stuff for about two-three weeks. I am sorry you have to go through it. I am sure two months after the surgery you will be able to resume your walking exercises.

I went for a nice ride. The park that is normally empty was packed and people were everywhere. So I came home to do yoga. At least I got the bike ride checked off on my list.  I feel great!

ktym

thank you

Harley44

kmmd,

Sorry you have to have the ovaries out...  YICK!   Hope it all goes well.

I have gone running TWO days in a row...  amazing!

Harley

ktym

Harley, yick says it so perfectly, thank you

kfinnigan

Kate, when is your upcoming surgery?  Sending you soft hugs.

Katia, sorry you had a rough morning the other day, sounds like you've rebounded nicely.

Been plugging away and have sore legs to show for it!  I noticed I sure have a lot of cellulite on my body, YICK!!!!!!!!!!! 

dlb823

Hi, all ~ We got back last night from a nice, long weekend in Scottsdale.  We mostly went to see a car that DH found (like he couldn't come up with one in CA?), but that meant he was overly willing (haha) to let me decide what to do the rest of the weekend, including lunch at the Queen Creek Olive Mill, a place we'd seen on a Food Network show. So the only walking I did over the weekend was antique malls and shopping, but I just got in an hour walk today.

So sorry about the need for more surgery, Kate.  Hopefully, it will be much easier than you might be fearing.   And great to see you're back running, Harley!      Deanna

Survivorwoman

Hi Ladies-- What a day! 

I don't know what was going on but there was a madhouse at the hospital
today. There were at least 50 patients in the waiting area. I had two appointments
back to back, and in-between an impromptu appointment with the psychologist,
too. My first appointment was the one I was worried a lot about b/c I found out
last week through the grapewines that my onco was leaving. But at least this
one , as it turns out, is a lot more compassionate than the one I had first b/c
she have signed me over to another onc who is also an attending. I am so relieved!
I did not want a student doctor like the one I had first while I was still undergoing
chemo. The first one was a nightmare. (Deanna,
thank you so much for your prayers! They worked. Now, my next thing is finding
a job.)

About the exercising. We have rainy weather in NYC, so
biking is out, but later on I will do some yoga. It has been a while since I
have done it. Today is the day!