Yoga post mastectomy?

sunshinegal

Hi all,

I had a single mastectomy w/ TE placement 3 months ago, have healed well, and am awaiting exchange surgery on Apr 6.

I really really want to get back into yoga. Unfortunately when I asked my plastic surgeon if/when I could start yoga, he got a strange look on his face and asked what I meant. I was like, "you know, yoga...?" It's almost like he'd never heard of it, and basically we didn't get anywhere in terms of getting advice on whether I can do it at all, with modifications for upper body stuff, or what. He cleared me to start jogging again, but I am more eager to get into stretching and core strengthening type of exercises.

So before trying to have that conversation again, I thought I'd check the boards here to see what others with a prior yoga practice have done in terms of getting back into it again. Did you modify a lot of poses, avoid some altogether, wait more than 3 months, get different advice from your surgeon, etc?

 For what it's worth, I used to do 90-minute power yoga classes in a hot room. I was thinking about going to that class this week, and sitting out any poses that might even remotely overstress my right pec area.

Thoughts? Advice? 

Cydz

I had my exchange surgery in Sept and got back to yoga I would say about 8 weeks after. My studio offers a restorative class which allowed me to get back into it slowly. I am now back in my regular class, not a power class, but we do some pretty intense postures. My doctors all told me to listen to my body and if I can't do something, just modify. I think yoga practice is wonderful for a body beaten up by surgeries. Our yoga instructors ask if anyone has any issues and they are very good at helping modify postures and the other way too, of giving me a push to challenge myself if it is reasonable to do so.  

NatsFan

I had a bmx with T/E placement and was cleared by my ps to do yoga during the time I had my t/e in place, but she told me to be sensible and not do poses that hurt - which is what yoga teachers say as well. I could not lie on my stomach, for instance, while I had the t/e's in, and there were other poses that gave me problems, so I simply didn't do them or asked the teacher for alternate moves. I had a DIEP and once cleared by my ps, I began yoga again. 

However I do a gentle yoga class, not a power yoga class.  I noticed in your signature, Sunshine, you had 4 nodes removed - this puts you at an increased risk for lymphedema.  I would be very careful about doing poses like downward dog that put stress on the arms.   Like Cydz' yoga teacher, my yoga teacher is very sensitive to people who may have issues, and she understands that I may occasionally not do a particular pose.  Additionally, she has been very good about giving me alternate poses to do when there's a particular pose I feel I should not do because of my LE. I also always wear my compression sleeve/gauntlet while doing yoga. 

Obviously you do not want to do anything until cleared by your surgeon, and I would not do your power yoga class, but if you can find a gentle or restorative yoga class and let your surgeon know that's the sort of class you plan on taking, he may be more agreeable about clearing you to do yoga.  

Good luck!

Anonymous

I am in the midst of expansion and will have my exchange in 3 weeks.  My PS cleared me about 6 weeks after surgery (or whenever my inscisions were healed nicely) for the gym, yoga, etc.  He said I couldn't damage the TE right now.  Of course he also meant within reason.  I'm extremely careful about what I do.  I take a zen-sculpt class (think yogas/pilates/tai chi kind of mix) with 2 & 3 lb weights.  It's been good for me, but I don't participate in the moves that stress my pecs. I have taken several different classes so far from weight training, zumba,etc...I just NEVER go further than my comfort level.  

When I am in doubt of what to do, I just get on the elliptical...I'm trying to keep my body active because I definitley think it helped in healing after BMX. Good luck and of course, deinitley check in with your Dr.  

xtine

I started yoga perhaps 2 months after mx. I talked to my physical therapist about it before going, and was doing some weight stuff in PT prior. I did Iyengar, which is pretty gentle. Restorative would be good too. The first week I couldn't do much weight bearing, but after the second I could do most of the poses, though it was interesting how lopsided I was.

I've stopped again with exchange, but I'm 3 weeks out and will try to go back this week. 

Definitely tell your teacher what's going on so he/she can help out and keep an eye on things. And listen to your body.