Running during reconstruction/expander fills?
Comments
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DaphneRunOn - do let us all know how your surgery goes on Monday. I pray that everything will go smoothly during surgery, and that you will have absolutely no post-operative complications, and will heal rapidly and well. How exciting you are at the final phase! My swap to permanents is December 4th, so I'm not too far behind you. :-)
You have been an inspiration and have offered a wealth of helpful advice and encouragement on this thread. Thank you for that!
God bless you,
Sue
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Hi All -
I just found this thread after being on the TC chemo thread. I too am a marathoner and runner. Had double mast on August 13 and just replaced my expanders with silicone implants 3 days ago. My PS would not give me permission to run during the expansion phase but I used my bike, walked and was a Spinning nut at my local Y - I would spin 6-7 times a week. I wasn't alllowed to use my upper body so I would remain seated during the climbs and really engage my abs and back. Well, as a result I have a flatter abdomen and better posture than before the surgery. My PS told me I can do anything I want after she releases me in two weeks now that the implants are in place. She was pleased with the outcome of the final surgery and I am happy to have my Superboobs gone - those things looked like softballs!! I am anxious to start working out the upper body again and try runnning. Don't think I'll ever be fast again - I just want to get outside and run the trail along the river
Start 4 rounds of TC Chemo on Dec 5 so that will be my next fitness challenge. I loved reading through all of your posts and know there is fitness and life during treatment... Stay strong everyone.Bobbi
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Bobbi,
"Bobcat"-I love it! Wish I would have thought of it. Well, I thought I'd throw my two cents in here. After I was diagnosed in 2006 and went through the whole kit and kaboodle, I thought for sure I'd never run again, esp. since I'm at a lifetime risk for LE. I'm happy to say that life can go on. I just returned from a 1.5 hour Zumba class, and I did 35 minutes on the stairclimber after that. I have to say that with running, it definitely tires me out more than before BC. I run about 3-4 miles 3 times per week, and on those days, I'm pretty tired by 3 or 4 pm. I don't remember feeling like that before. But I am so happy and thankful to be back to my old self and living life.
Peace
Bobbie
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All of you ladies ROCK! I love the resilience that every woman on this thread has vocalized.
Yes! We will live strong!
God bless you all,
Sue
p.s. had final fill. Only two weeks to permanent switch. I'm "marching on". Can't wait to be fully released to weight lifting, running, biking, rollerblading, - you name it! Life is good.
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Hi Sue - You are just a bit behind me here!! and thanks for the support, Bobbie(bobcat came from my son's friends!). My swap went without a hitch but I did find myself more sore and tired than I was after the mastectomy. Just took it easy for a couple of days but yesterday and today had 90 minute walks. Can't lift or do anything with the arms and chest for two weeks but I have help. Curious? I was told to keep an ace bandage wrapped fairly securely around my upper chest(after the bandagaes came off Friday) so the implants settle into the pockets that were made by the expanders. I am experimenting with different methods of keeping it in place while allowing the implants some freedom. It sure is nice to have a little softness to
my breast tissue
finally and I can see under my arms! Sue - are you also having chemo or have you had treatment already? Bobbie - what treatment and therapy did you have/had? I have to take Arimidex for 5 years after the chemo - not looking forward to that but will work through it. Just bought a very cool fleece balaklava at the hardware store, of all places, but think it will be stylish and warm when the hairs goes for those long walks. Thanks for the information and support. We CAN workout through this!Bobbi
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Bobcat,
Here's my story:
Dx in 7/06, had first mastectomy in 9/06, followed by ACT, radiation and Herceptin for a year. That's standard for stage 3 with positive lymph nodes. The following September, after thinking about it for a while, I got a proph mast. on the other side. They suggested an oopherectomy, and I said no. I hope it wasn't a dumb mistake, but I didn't see any medical evidence that it would have increased my odds. I don't often run into women on the boards who've done that. Most in my situation got the ooph. Today, so far, I feel good and life is good.
Bobbie
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Hi Bobbie - I had a hysterectomy in 05 and never even considered having an oopherctomy(as the ovaries looked healthy and were still working) but have since learned I should have gone for it and now at 52 am on the other side of menopause. That's one of the reasons they are going with the chemo. Hindsight is 20/20 so I won't look back and just follow through with recommended treatment. Thanks for the response. Have a good night and week.
Bobbi
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Daphne,
I had a BM with tissue expanders on June 18th. I too love to run. I am not a triathlete by any means but did run 3 miles every day. I resumed running in August and ran in a 5k on Labor Day weekend. I came in under 30 minutes which is not bad considering. I have had significant pain with the expansion process and this has not been easy but I refused to give up the one thing that always made me feel better (besides God). As I have expanded, I find it harder to run, my feet hurt and I feel weighted down and I feel like I am hunched over a bit but I am still going. I am 47 5 feet tall and have a small frame. I ran 2.5 miles on a treadmill, worked out on an eliptical machine and did spinning at a hotel this morning. (my daughter had an away basketball tourney). I felt like a kid at an amusement park. I also lifted weights. I am just determined to be in the best shape possible for my upcoming surgery even if it kills me. I am recently divorced so that may be the reason I want so bad to stay in shape. It's not easy but it seems to have worked for me. My PS has been fine with it, in fact he told me to keep doing it, it has helped my skin to stretch. It sounds like you know your body pretty well and I think we all have to kind of take charge of our own health and well being. As I have learned, Dr's don't have all of the answers.
I hope that helps you, just be careful, I know that you too want the best possible outcome.
Sue...........we share a surgery date. December 4th. Can you believe it's almost here!!!!!!! I am both excited and scared at the same time are you?
Hugs ladies.
Jackie
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Jackie, we'll have to keep eachother posted on our surgeries, since we share the same date! I am a little anxious, since this is the "final". This will be what I will live with.....
With the tissue expanders, knowing their temporary, I have felt the liberty like you to exercise (powerwalk, elliptical, some weight lifting) without worry of doing any "damage". The foobs are slightly asymmetrical (had a seroma on the left which resolved, but my left breast sits slightly lower than the right. My PS said he will correct that at the final surgery. I haven't felt brave enough to run for any distance. I've got one marathon under my belt, but primarily just love to run for the fun of it. I hope to get back to that soon. I'm really praying for a great cosmetic outcome. I'm so thankful to be free of cancer, but I'm praying that God will really bless this part of the journey, too.
Daphne, was it you who asked about any treatment I'm receiving? I am so blessed that both sites of my cancer in the right breast were in situ, so the mastectomy took care of it. I got a prophylactic mastectomy on the left, because I had had numerous biopsies for the suspicious microcalcifications that exactly mirrored where my cancer was on the right. For the peace of mind component, I just got the left taken off. I haven't regretted it one iota. Peace of mind is priceless.
Bless all of you! I just believe we'll all be back to our fitness routines, and come out stronger than before!
Sue
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Sue,
Our stories are pretty similar. The BM took care of my cancer too. My foobs look pretty good right now so i am hopeful the final outcome will be decent. Mine are just really far apart. I had nipple sparing on the left side so I am a little worried how it will all turn out. At this point I am as ready as I ever will be and I just have to totally trust my PS. He is very skilled and I love him to death.
OK, I admit I may have overdone the workout yesterday. It felt good at the time but today I feel really tight and really sore. Going to soak in the tub and rest tonight, that usually helps.
I wish you the best, you are in my prayers, stay in touch. We are almost there.
Jackie
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Sue, Bobbie and Jackie -- Sounds as if we're all very close together in our surgery dates. I got my expander swapped out for a silicone implant on Monday. I found the surgery much easier than the mastectomy was. Surgery took 90 minutes, in recovery for 90 minutes, hung out with the nurses for another 90 minutes until they were confident I was fine or maybe it was just that they liked my husband and didn't want him to leave. (He is a funny guy, also very kind and charming.) I was only out of the house a total of 7 hours. Or, put another way, just long enough for our 1-year old golden retriever to eat two of my daughter's shoes.
My pain has been really minimal. I took Percocet for 24 hours and haven't even taken a Tylenol since. I have the minor inconveniences: a JP drain, sponge baths, no driving and a compression bra, but even with those, it has been easier than I anticipated. I asked the PS if I had an unusual amount of scar tissue when she did the exchange and she said I actually had maybe even a little less than usual. Considering that I was running 3x per week, with my long run averaging between 10 and 15 miles, I think that's really encouraging. I massaged my boobs 2x/daily for 3 minutes as instructed by my PS and I think that also helped.
It's been a little harder getting myself motivated to get out for my walks this week, because it has been a little cold but all the padding that my PS likes her patients to pack their compression bras with has helped keep me extra warm. I've managed to do about a 25-minute walk every day. Yesterday, I walked up to get my hair washed and dried at a local place that always makes my hair super '80s big. So now my boob feels like a normal size, but my hair is huge. I am still draining, but output is shutting down and it looks as if it will come out on Monday. I am twitchy and looking forward to using some of these muscles again. Shaving my armpits would be nice too. Remember the kid in the Sixth Sense: "I see dead people?" I swear that's what is under my arms.
Bottom line: not a bad process, good to lose the iron boob(s) and I bet you are all going to be so pleased.
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DaphnRunOn,
I am glad to hear you did great with the surgery. sounds like everythings progressing fine. I can't believe my surgery is this coming Thursday. I looking forward to the switch, and hopeful everything will go smoothly.
I am curious about post operative instructions re: arm movement. Are you given restrictions in how high you can raise them for a period of time after surgery? Are you allowed to raise your arms above shoulder level (to wash hair, blow dry, curl, etc...?)
Thanks,
Sue
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Sue --
My instructions were not to lift my arm higher than my shoulder for the first week, so I haven't been. I'm also not allowed to shower, drive, vacuum or carry anything heavier than 10 pounds. I feel much stronger than I did after my mastectomy and pain is only occasional and usually comes from the site where my tubing emerges -- kinda burns, every now and then. But not a biggie. This is so much easier than the mastectomy surgery! With that surgery, I also had a sentinel node biopsy and a breast lift on the other breast, so pain and weakness were throughout my upper body. This is a breeze compared to that.
I originally wrote more, but had some kind of internet spaz out and sent the original into the ether. Feel free to ask about anything I may have forgotten. The hardest thing about this phase for me is that I don't have any cold weather clothes that fit over my layers of gauze, compression bra and drain. I'll be back at work on Monday and will have to find something professional to cover all of this ... yikes!
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I finished chemo on last wednesday (11/19) and ran in a 5k on thanksgiving am. 33 mins - shameful for me but darn fast considering the circumstances!!!!
I am doing everything I can to reduce recurrence and recent research is showing 3-8 hours a day can reduce recurrence 25-50%
I am having my exchange surgery and hysterectomy on 12/9 - It will take some time to get back here again but my goal is 1 hour a day and break a sweat - it is just a matter of how much it takes for me to break a sweat!
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daphne - did you have chemo and radiation as well?
I am looking forward to my exchange ( am having a hyst/ooph at the same time) but not to backing back off the exercise again :-(. Radiation starts at the end of dec. My dh says I will be running my miles again by spring!
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Everyminute - WOW! Your 5K is the most amazing thing I've read yet, and this board is filled with amazing women. That is just great! To answer your question, I lucked out -- no chemo or radiation. My hormone positive/Her2 negative/lymph node negative status qualified me for oncotyping and my onco score came back a 12, low enough that the onco said she wouldn't give me chemo even if I asked for it. I'm on tamoxifen and very thankful. I originally had a very bumpy path to getting diagnosed and a lot went wrong or got lost along the way until I changed doctors, so when I got the oncotyping results about 4 weeks post-mx and 1 week prior to when I'd planned to start chemo, it took me a while to trust the results. I am so impressed with you completing a 5K in a very respectable time so soon after chemo -- you are a wonder woman.
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Thanks Daphne - I have to admit I was using it as a test for myself and I passed. Now I will just keep raising the bar!
I am having surgery and radiation over the next two months :-( but plan on keeping my walking and yoga up and hope to be back running regularly by March.
I look forward to running with you!
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Update - Got my drain removed yesterday (Monday), my output followed the exact same schedule as after the mastectomy -- on day 6, 25 cc's, on day 7, nada.
My breast feels so different! It's squishy and soft again. Last night, I even slept on my side rather than my back. I think it was more than a month after the mastectomy before I could do that. Isn't it funny how such a small thing makes you feel so good? I feel so good that I forget and try to do things that I shouldn't, such as grabbing a bag of dog food or trying to put something away on the top shelf. But that little twinge in the muscle stops me fast! My biggest hurdle is an easy one to overcome: reaching for the car door and pulling it shut after me. I walked 25 minutes this morning and it was wonderful, if a little cold. More layers!Jackie and Sue - I'm thinking of you and sending you both good thoughts and prayers for your exchange. I hope your surgeries go smoothly.
Everyminute - I re-read your original post more closely and cracked up: you wrote that you're shooting for 3 to 8 hours a DAY! No wonder you're so fit!
I will be thinking of you as well and praying for a strong recovery after your hyst/ooph. I love your goal of 1 hour a day and break a sweat -- I try to do small things like take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk rather than drive -- and I think those things add up, plus functional fitness is probably the most important of all. I hope you'll continue to post here and let us know how you're doing. BQ in ABQ - I hope you come back to this thread occasionally. Somehow I missed your original post and I'd love to hear about your BQ sometime! I qualified for Boston on my 45th birthday and it was a total surprise, not even a goal of mine, didn't even look at the clock while I ran. I've only done Boston once, but it was a blast and I would love to go back someday. The b/c is just my latest excuse, before it was my hamstring, no my SI joint, oops, broke my ankle, damn I got pneumonia for 2 months ... well, just life in general catching up to me. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm a firm believer that it's the journey, not the destination.
Can you tell I'm happy to be drain-free and that even a 25-minute walk got my endorphins blasting? I am babbling! Off to earn my paycheck.
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3 to 8 hours a day!!!! What???? um...no.
1 hour a day is my goal and to break a sweat every day. I did a yoga class last night, but didnt break a sweat. The Y also offers vinyasa yoga and you do break a sweat doing that!
So my exhcnage surgery is 12/9 am also having a hysterectomy/ooph at the same time - but plan on walking at least 30 mins a day within the first week or so.
My doc told me no drains with exchange - she better not have lied!!!!!
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Everyminute - I was a little surprised that the exchange involved a drain again, although my plastic surgeon warned me it would. Maybe it's an individual preference of the ps? Mine is very particular about the oddest things (no showering).
Sue and Jackie -- Just wanted you to know that you are both in my thoughts and prayers for your surgeries tomorrow. When you're feeling up to it, I hope you'll let us know how things went.
Bobbi (Bobcat) -- Also thinking of you starting your TC chemo on Friday. My breast surgeon linked me up with a former patient/nurse who'd had a double mastectomy and chemo following her ILC diagnosis and who was SO encouraging for me to talk to. She told me she managed to exercise throughout her surgeries and chemo. She said the days she least wanted to get out and walk or get on the elliptical or lift a dumbbell were the days she ended up feeling the best after she did it. She was a wonderful presence in my life before and after my surgery. (She really made me laugh when we shared stories of telling our adoloscent kids about having cancer: we both expected drama but instead got hugs quickly followed by "so what are we having for dinner?")
Me - Great little 3.5 mile walk this morning. I wore my Garmin Forerunner and was pleased that I'm already up to a good walking pace. Onward and upward!
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DaphneRunOn - Thanks for keeping me and Jackie in prayer for tomorrow! Jackie, I'm thinking of you, and will say a prayer for you tomorrow as I'm heading off to surgery, too.
DaphneRunOn - you are an encouragement in how you are getting out there after surgery. Good for you on your 3.5 mile walk! I believe I will be able to get "out there" soon after surgery, too!
God bless you all,
Sue
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I'm curious if anyone has advice about exercising while the mx incision is still healing? I guess I'm one of those slow healers, unfortunately, and the mx incision isn't holding up too well. That, and my skin is really thin I guess (I don't think I had too much fat to begin with in the chest area, so maybe that's a factor too). I'm about three weeks post mx/expander placement and walking about an hour in the morning and another thirty to forty minutes in the afternoon/evening, but I'm paranoid about opening up the wound.
Anyone else had the same issue?
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Hello,
According to info. from the book " Living through Cancer" by Dr. Carolyn Kaelin MD (who herself had breast cancer and mastectomy) - the tissue goes through different phases of healing. Initially, the tissue is very weak. By week 3 it "begins to pick up strength as strong cross links of collagen are built. By the end of six weeks, 80% of the tensile strength will return...the new skin will never be as strong as it was before surgery (reaches about 90% it's original strength by a year)
I did very reasonable powerwalking from week two to 6, then began to add more aerobics and gentle weights. My PS recommended no activities that would cause vigorous bouncing for the first 6 weeks (ie. no jumping jack, or running.) He said power walking was perfectly fine.
According to the book I mentioned above, to promote tissue healing take a good multivitamin, and eat a healthy diet, emphasizing lots of fruits and veggies (vit. C and Vit.A found in fruits and veggies are great for wound healing) also include zinc (which should be in a good multivitamin) , lean proteins, and healthy carbohydrates and fats -- all essential for healing.
Other things the book mentioned:
If you are a smoker - quit. (smoking cuts the oxygen that reaches the tissues and slows healing),
If you happen to be Diabetic, watch your sugars to keep in a healthy range.
Did your doctor use any "alloderm" in your surgery (basically a skin graft from a human donor, that is used frequently by PS in mastectomies in order to add extra tissue between the expander and your own skin, and also helps hold the expander in, because it's used like a "sling" - i.e. sewn to your chest muscle and cradles the implant on the bottom, where the pectoralis (or chest muscle) doesn't fully cover the expander. If this wasn't used, that may be why your skin is so thin and not healing as well. Just keep an eye on it.
As long as your eating well, avoiding vigorous bouncing movements, getting plenty of sleep it should eventually heal.
Hope others have some additional input for you.
I had to remind myself to not be too aggressive in trying to get back to previous activities, (even though I was biting at the bit) because in the long run, allowing time for the tissues to heal and gain strength is key for long term success.
Walking is absolutely great though, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Make sure your doctor answers all your questions. That's what he's paid to do!
God bless you,
Sue
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Wow, thanks for the great info. Nope, I don't believe my PS used Alloderm, so I think that's exactly what's happening: my skin is being stretched to the point where it's almost breaking. It was also good to hear that the tissue will begin to pick up strength after week 3. Now that I'm basically at wk 3, I have to say it does look like it might be a little better. Fortunately, I don't smoke, and I am trying to eat well, but I really have had little to no appetite, and I'm not a big eater to begin with. I'm going to have a protein drink before I go to bed, however.
Again, thanks so much for the great tidbits; they have really calmed me down. I try to ask the PS questions during my appointments, but I never seem to know what to ask when I see him.
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Hi Digger --
Sue gave you great advice. In addition to the vitamins & protein drink that she mentioned, I highly recommend taking Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules. You can buy these at the drug store and they do fantastic things for your skin's elasticity (and your heart and your joints.) Be sure to get the fish oil capsules that are labeled Omega 3. The fish oil might help with your skin's fragility. I cannot say enough good things about Omega 3 Fish Oil and I take one 1500 mg capsule a day.
What Sue said about timing reflected my healing pattern as well. Right around the 6-week mark, I suddenly felt a huge gain in my comfort. Please be sure to wear a very good sports bra during this time. I've already raved on and on about my two faves the UnderArmour Endure and the Title 9 "Three Reasons" in a previous post in this thread. My PS also liked me to use surgical dressings to pad my bra, protect my incision and provide added stability for the breast during the first 4 weeks. (She said sanitary napkins worked equally well.)
If you continue to be concerned, I'd call your PS for some guidance about your healing process. I ask mine every dumb question I can think of. Turns out she has heard it all before!
Daphne
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Hi Digger,
I also meant to mention (you might already be aware of this), but that during the expansion phase, your body is actually creating or growing more skin!. I thought that the skin I had was just essentially a "fixed commodity" at my breast, and that with the expansion phase and the constant stretching, it would get more and more thin in the process. My PS said this is NOT the case. He reminded me of the women in Africa that put those plates in their lips, starting small and then eventually getting to the size of salad plates. He said the skin adapts to the stretch by growing more skin tissue. This comforted me, because before he reassured me, I kept thinking, I am so small, how in the world is my skin, (which the book says is about the thickness of leather) ever going to cover the permanent implant size I want to end up with? My PS said not to worry. For one thing, most of the implant is covered with the pectoralis/chest muscle. Only a little bit is uncovered by muscle (and in my case, it has alloderm over that little bit. You may actually have alloderm, too. LOTS of doctors use it, but dont' really mention it in the process to patients.....more of a doctor's procedural knowledge, vs. what they inform patients of. You might ask your PS if he used it.)
The PS can proceed with the fills as fast or slow as is comfortable for you. He will be looking for how your skin is adjusting (looking at the color - which signifies good blood supply - and how your incision is doing). It's normal to have bruising and some discoloration for quite a while the book says. Signs that your skin is not doing well, is if it began to turn black (which means it's not got a good enough blood supply and is being pressed too far, too fast.) The book mentions this, but in all practicality I have never heard of someone on this board ever struggle with that severe of difficulty.
I think you will do just fine.
ps. Daphne's recommendations were great. I, too, take Omega 3 Fish oil. It's great for the skin, hair, and nails!\
p.s.s. I use protein drinks, too, if I'm not taking in very much in natural form.
Blessings,
Sue
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I hate to say that I do have black areas on the skin near the incision and then another fairly sizeable area just above the incision line that looks like there's alot of pus underneath it. It's definitely more than just bruising, which I could definitely deal with. I guess he just wants to wait this week out to see if anything will grow underneath the black, or my understanding is that he's going to strip the black stuff off and drain off the swollen area when I see him on Monday. I think if he does that, he's also going to drain some of my fluid in the expander (which is a bummer, because it's starting to look like the size of a real breast mound...) Not really looking forward to it, but, you do what you got to do, right? I've amazed myself with what I'm able to get through over these past couple of months.
In the meantime, I did get on the treadmill for an hour this morning then went to Whole Foods to pick up some good food, and that's keeping me going.
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One more follow-on question: in the three weeks since the mx, I have not worn a bra (well, except for that first week when I wore the surgical bra). I prefer a camisole instead and just moved onto a light t-shirt. I wear these under a sweater, since it's cold here in CT, and I find these the most comfortable. That, and since I'm so small in the chest area anyway, my other breast doesn't need that much support. I think the good breast is even smaller now anyway because I've lost some weight.
Anyway, you guys mentioned wearing a good support bra. I guess I'm worried that a sports bra (I bought one from Lululemon that fastens in the front) will push on the incision? Should I not be worried about that and just focus on the support?
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Sorry to hear about the black area... just maximize the stuff you can do (eat well, LOTS of fruits and veggies) Protein is important in tissue rebuilding.
Personally, I never wore a bra, sport bra or anything during the expansion phase. Like you, the incision was too tender, and also pressure against the TE always hurt me. I wore a light camisole under by shirts/sweaters (for something soft against the incision area). My doc said to wear a sport bra if comfortable, but not needed. Since the TE go under the pectoralis, unless your doing jumping jacks or something vigorous that your not supposed to do in the early weeks.... they are not going to go anywhere. By about week 10, I was overexpanded to a D+, and jogged a bit without a bra. This didn't hurt anything. The sports bras always felt so darn uncomfortable with the TE in.
If you have some black areas on the skin, along with the pus beneath that one area, I would also worry about compressing the skin in those areas. My thinking is that the extra compression could aggravate those problems.
Anyone else have some suggestions?
I pray even now that your doctor and you can work together to get these areas resolved quickly, and that you will be onto a speedy healing.
God bless you,
Sue
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Digger - I hope that by giving your body more nutrients and fluids that you see improvement. Through all that we have undergone, I have always found the waiting the hardest. You have a tremendous outlook and a strong spirit. And, let's face it, you are kicking butt on that treadmill.
Digger and Sue -- I have heard quite a few women say they weren't comfortable with a sports bra during the healing. For me the opposite was true, so it just goes to show that we all are different. My experience was that the bra kept my breast very stable and actually PREVENTED any rubbing. Nothing, but nothing, moved and there was never any rubbing. I have been sleeping in my Title 9 sports bra since my surgery because I actually find it more comfortable than going without.
As for compression, compression garments actually encourage healing and promote better blood flow. In fact, compression wear has become very popular for post-workout recovery and for airplane travel and post-surgical recovery for that reason. (CW-X, Skins, UnderArmour are the most popular brands and my CW-X running tights are like superhero tights for me.)
With that said, I 100 percent take back my previous blanket statement that you should be sure to wear a good sports bra, because Sue's experience humbled me and showed that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another and also because I think your PS has had a lot more experience with difficult skin healing than I have so I don't want to recommend anything that runs counter to his instructions.
Protein - You'd be surprised how easy it is to get more protein once you make it a goal. Tuna is a great source of protein and easy to prepare in a hurry. If you like coffee, a venti skim latte from Starbucks has about 20 grams of protein, is loaded with calcium and is about 210 calories. That counts! One of my favorite meals while I was recovering was a salad with: mixed greens or baby arugula + chicken or turkey strips + sliced apple + walnuts + dried cranberries + crumbled gorgonozola + balsamic vinegar + extra virgin olive oil. I could throw this together in seconds and it has all kinds of wonderful nutrients. I am also a fan of protein shakes. Heck, even Carnation Instant Breakfasts are good for protein. Maybe try to set a goal for yourself of 80-100 grams of protein a day? It'll help all your connective tissue/muscle to heal. And drink LOTS OF WATER!
HUGS!
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- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
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- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
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- 26 Furry friends
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- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
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- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
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- 586 Alternative Medicine
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- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
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- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
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- 591 Pain
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- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
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- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team