Exercise - Working Back to it After or During Treatment

TarheelMichelle

yay Rhody!!

Yay everybody who is getting out and about!!

TwoHobbies, you've realized what gritgirl has been emphasizing. Our exercise patterns are not like normal people. We can't push ourselves, which is necessary in people who want to improve their fitness. It's hard to back off when we are used to pushing ourselves but when we exercise, we don't need to overachieve.

I lost weight on ovarian suppression. Less estrogen = fewer fat cells. Hope the same happens to you, TwoHobbies.

The "cancer diet" has been good to me. Not much of an appetite, except for my sweet tooth.

I haven't managed much exercise this week. Just a quick jog on Monday. Hope the weather improves tomorrow so I can take a drive to the mountains for some walking.

Claire_in_Seattle

Tarheel Michelle....I loved your picture at Cape Hatteras you posted on another thread. All of you look GREAT. Your husband is a lucky man. Hoping you get to the mountains.

My "ride in the sunshine" turned out to be a "ride in the fog".....never did burn off. I would be more bummed if I hadn't done a run yesterday in the most glorious late afternoon sun.

I spoiled things for the rest of my life by doing things such as cycling in the rain during chemo. That is, I have NO EXCUSES these days, so I have to get out there. I think the important message is not to give up.

Posting a picture from a hike in Vermont two weeks ago. I grew up there. I am so thankful and grateful to be able to do these things. - Claire

TarheelMichelle

wow, what pretty scenery. The only thing missing in that pic is YOU. 😃

I've never been to Vermont, but any time I spend sightseeing in New England reminds me that beautiful scenery is not exclusive to the South, as I was taught as a child. 😉

RhodyMMM

Tarheel, I know what you mean about the "cancer diet." I have been steadily losing weight, just a little at a time which is the way to do it. I have had a poor appetite since my diagnosis, and the chemo just makes it worse. I try to make sure I am getting plenty of protein, but my issues with neutropenia are making it hard to get lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I crave grapes and apples, so I am trying to cram them in the first week of chemo before my WBC count drips. I'm not usually much of a dessert person, but boy is my sweet tooth in high gear these days! So I try to add some low fat ice cream to get the protein and sweet without the fat and calories.......but the cheesecake I had last night was yummy! Guess I better walk again today.......

Have a great day ladies, it's a beautiful one here in western Pennsylvania!

Claire_in_Seattle

I was lucky in that Neulasta was part of the protocol I was on, so was supplied gratis. I never had to worry about whether I could eat "fresh". I just went for it.

That said, I just cooked up some plums and pears that needed using up. Just cut into chunks and put into a buttered baking dish, added in a bit of water and brandy, but honey would have been fine. Sprinkled on top with hazelnut flour and turbinado sugar. A handful of frozen blueberries for color. Cooked until all was soft and crunchy on top. Planned on having last night, but will also be good for breakfast.

Roasted winter squash was something else easy that I wanted throughout AC. Which reminds me....would love some now. It is sweet and packed with good stuff. Reminder that I need to get one of those LI cheese pumpkins that the market is selling and make some pumpkin custard. (To roast pumpkins and squash, you split, deseed, and roast. When the inner pulp is soft, you let cool and scoop out. No peeling!)

Baked apples are delish, and easy to make. So are poached pears. WA state has amazing pears, and I ate a lot of those. To put it delicately, I never needed the prunes I had laid in just in case.....

Hope all these help. - Claire

TwoHobbies

Yes Tarheel, I finally learned I have to go slow but GG had to kick me a few times before I realized it.  Its good to hear you did not have weight trouble with ovarian suppression.  Crossing my fingers I'm the same.

Rhody I found myself eating unusually during chemo.  Some weeks I was on the "kids menu" of cheesburgers, mac and cheese, grilled cheese.  Other days I'd be back to normal and crave broccoli salad.  Just like the exercise, do the best you can during chemo and you can work on doing better later.

I did about an hour of exercise yesterday-45 minutes mowing my lawn and 15 minutes walking my dog.  Today is going to be my recovery day.  

gonegirl

sounds like everyone has been moving. I've spent the last several days sick with a nasty cold so nothing but sleeping for me. The one good thing is that I have no choice but to eat the healthy food in my house, haven't been able to get out. I hope I'm able to get out tomorrow. I'm tired of laying here

TarheelMichelle

💐🌸🌷 Feel better soon, gritgirl! 🌺🌻🌺

So sorry to hear you've been sick.

gonegirl

just back from doctor. Apparently bronchitis again. Scares me more than cancer in a way. Hard to breathe. Good side is I climbed two flights of stairs. :-)

Claire_in_Seattle

YIKES Gritgirl!!! The CEO of the nonprofit I consult for got walking pneumonia. So take care of yourself and feel better soon.

MaraUK

Hi gritgirl

Sorry your not well. Please take care of yourself.

Hugs Mara

SpecialK

gritgirl - hope you are feeling better soon - usually 24 hours of antibiotic and you start to see a glimmer of improvement - hope so anyway.

Tomorrow morning I have the 1st of three skin cancers removed, the others will be done at two week intervals as the doc does not want more than one set of stitches in at a time - all three locations are in the middle of my back - the most involved one is first. They are removing this one with a wider and deeper incision because they think it is a recurrence. They told me I might be there for 6 hours - that is longer than any of my breast surgeries! Should be interesting!

So, tonight I walked and ran my usual 4 mile trek - walked for about 2 1/4, then did a walk/run combo for the remainder. I think I will be able to walk, but probably not tomorrow.

fredntan

i restart chemo wed. my new doc found some bone mets. its very early not in marrow. had to go to texas to get scans etc. doing my tx same place. my docs in va minimalistic.

not sure if i said anything. my cancer diet has went to hell in handbasket. stopped taking those 20+supplements i was taking

i am okay. have come to terms with it. was so hard leaving my girls. will be in texas at least six months. no snow for this girl

Claire_in_Seattle

Fran.....sounds like you are in the right place in terms of treatment. I am so sorry you have to down this road, but I am also optimistic for a complete recovery for you. Early is very good news indeed.

I would be eating everything in sight too prior to chemo. Don't worry, and also don't worry about some wine or beer. At the same time, you do need to focus on staying strong for chemo.

Since Texas has amazing meat, how about a steak dinner this evening. Either microbrew or wine to go with.

Raising a glass (later today) to a complete recovery for you. - Claire

gonegirl

specialk. Good luck on the surgery.

And fran. Good thoughts on your chemo.

I am still sick. Hope I can be up tomorrow. Waiting for doc to call to say what chest xray said. Apparently my time off work is only for illnesses. That sucks

SpecialK

fredntan - sent you a PM, but hoping all goes well with your coming treatment - please know we are all keeping you in our thoughts.

So - I leave the house this morning for my appt. and get half way there and have a flat tire. Not good, but I pull into a shopping center parking lot and there is a police officer parked there. I called the surgery center and they said just get there as soon as possible but they didn't cancel - yay! I went over and asked the officer if he had any taxi service numbers, that I was late for surgery. He says hop in the back and I will take you, so I arrive at the hospital in the back of the police car - threw the valet parking guys for a loop! The doc and staff thought it was hilarious. It was a little surreal because I was in the back seat of the police chatting away to the officer, I was thinking most people who ride back there are not so happy! They managed to get a clean margin on the cancer but I have essentially had a lumpectomy on my back - the incision is close to two inches, and the doc who closed initially missed cauterizing something because I was bleeding enough that they opened again and cauterized and sewed again. So a lumpectomy and a re-excision all in one day! When all the lidocaine wears off (I probably had a dozen injections) it is going to hurt! Yay for leftover old surgery pain meds that are not yet expired!!! I was laying on my stomach - I have a 600cc implant on the left and a 650cc implant on the right - it was like laying on bowling balls - I forgot to take my bracelet off and it was digging into my wrist of my LE arm, but I couldn't move because they were cauterizing and sewing and talking in hushed tones, lol! He asked if I was on any blood thinners because I was bleeding like a sieve. Nope - I guess I am just a bleeder! Very odd to be operated on and be awake - I don't really recommend it - I saw all the bloody instruments and the gauze, the fish hook and thread to sew with - not supposed to see that ... Then I got a ride back to my car from my old boss in the hospital, and waited for AAA to come and change the tire! Fun!!! Tomorrow will be tire shopping!

gritgirl - hope you are feeling better SOON!

gonegirl

specialk. You have been through it. Glad it's over. Sounds like a trip. Hope the meds work. When I have to lay on my stomach, I joke my fake boobs are like gummi bears, they eventually pop back into place.

I'm still exhausted. No exercise for me. I'm still working on learning how to use my bronchodilator. New tools

fredntan

gritgirl hope you feel better soon

claire i think i am on my third beer! 

specialK -i will tell you about my tire changing fiasco. too tired tonight. i didnt get pm:(

Ginger48

specialK- nothing's ever simple! I got a chuckle out of thinking of you in the back of a squad car though. Hope you heal up quickly!

Fran- sorry you have to be away from home. Sending healing thoughts your way.

Gritgirl- hope you are on your way to feeling better!

My exercise today was putting away all the lawn furniture and pool equipment that has been out about 2 months too long. Then I got about an hour of lawn mowing in before the rain came.

TarheelMichelle

SpecialK and gritgirl, hoping you will be back to your normal gorgeous wonderful shining selves soon.

I have been up at 6 am and in bed long after midnight for past 3 nights, helping my teen son with a school project and getting some other things done. I'm sorry I am not more eloquent in my good will wishes. I'm just thinking about you and wanted you to know. Headed to bed now.

Peace and strength, everybody.

SpecialK

fredntan - I re-sent you the PM, hope you get it!

Thanks all for the good wishes - today is four new tires and the hair salon. Didn't get much sleep despite taking a Vicodin - the location of the incision is not conducive to a good sleep position, so I watched a bunch of DVR stuff and slept in snippets. Today may be an extensive amount of caffeine type of day, lol!

gonegirl

specialk, take care of yourself, and try and get some rest.

i'm at work today, barely. still feel pretty crappy.

ginger, sounds like you work too hard, girl.

tarheel, you get rest too.

i think i'll declare today, get a rest day for us all.

MaraUK

Hi gritgirl and everyone

Not much exercise this week so far but I did manage a dance for my hubby's. 65 birthday celebrations.

Even though it was a slow one.

Mara x

Claire_in_Seattle

Hmmmmm......slow dancing. Will leave it at that! - Claire

gonegirl

mara. so glad you could celebrate with a dance. How lovely

Ginger48

gritgirl- yesterday was a day of hard work. My husband is still recovering from shoulder surgery so things have to get done. I was very frustrated from an unproductive rheumatology dr appt. so I put my frustration to good use. But today I came home from work and plunked down on the couch and did not move so I guess it balanced out.

TarheelMichelle

ginger I TOTALLY sympathize with the unproductive doctor appointments. Do you mean the ones where you spend 2-3 hours sitting in an exam room, see a doctor for maybe 5 minutes, and leave wondering exactly what part of that nightmare was "medical care"?

I am hoping we can all rest and recover and feel up to baby steps/dancing and other activities.

How's your breathing, gritgirl?

SpecialK, I hope the pain subsides quickly. Do you have to keep the surgical areas dry (meaning no showers?)

SpecialK

tarheel - they steri-stripped the incision and I am allowed to get it wet, they just said to let the steri-strips fall off on their own. Right now it is a combination of discomfort and itch - it does seem to be less painful than yesterday, so that is good, but I got a better look at it last night - the incision is about 2". The tape is DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! I have an adhesive allergy and this is paper tape but OMG it is itchy! I have to go pick up a Femara refill today so I am going to talk to the pharmacist about different tape. Right now I am wiggling and twitching because it is so itchy - I look like I have Tourette's. My DH changed the bandage last night and the incision, and surrounding area, is surprisingly swollen. My back looks misshapen, lol! I also failed to sleep again last night - got about an hour earlier this morning.

TarheelMichelle

omg girl you need rest! Could the swelling be the result of an allergic reaction? Maybe the paper tape is irritating too?

Maybe Benadryl could calm the itchies?

There's no way you could look anything like Quasimodo so get that out of your head. Hmmm .... But Halloween IS right around the corner.

I have an itchy scar from an excisional biopsy this summer. I hate the itchies and hope the pharmacist can suggest something that helps!

SpecialK

tarheel - DH looked at it pretty closely last night - I don't think it is reacting, just swollen from the re-excision. I am thinking minimal tape is best - DH put a bunch on last night and most of it stuck to my t-shirt probably because I was wriggling around, lol! I re-did it this morning with one piece of tape - it was ridiculous because I looked like a contortionist! Benadryl is a fantastic idea, thanks! - it also might make me sleep - I was surprised the Vicodin didn't do a better job at that! I tend to be itchy with healing scars too!