Running during reconstruction/expander fills?

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited September 2009

    Sue - that is absolutely AWESOME!!!  I am so happy for you!

    Sandy - Wow!  I too am very impressed.  Even before DX, my personal "best" in terms of stamina was a 15k in January.  Not even close to thinking about something that challenging again ....what you accomplished is amazing!

    I am hoping for a 5k this year....amazing how things change and can change so quickly.  I wasn't even doing 5k's anymore before BC, wasn't feeling challenged enough....now, I'm training to complete one again and thankful for being able to do that!

    Runs this weekend so far - today and yesterday - happy to be out there but not as productive as I had hoped - it's gonna be a recovery period for sure, will try again tomorrow...the issues are more with my stamina and tired legs than the new "foobs" - though I am going to have to work with those as well - I wore one sports bra and it seemed to be support enough - my implants are really small though so I sort of expected this to be ok....breathing was a bit off - though my implants are small they are also still bigger than my pre-BC chest was, so trying to get used to all of that...

    I am sure it'll all work itself out - my good news - no additional surgeries in the foreseeable future so I feel like I will be able to make progress without the continued time off, interruptions etc...

    Hope all are well!!!!  Keep running, ladies!  You all are my inspiration!

    Julie

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited September 2009

    OK guys!!! I am two weeks post op and thought I'd feel better than this!!!  I walked about a mile (a slow mile) with my husband and our westie yesterday but still no way do I feel good enough to run.  My sternum hurts so my husband said that the PS told him he released the muscle from the rib cage and then stitched them closer together.  I will say the TE were very far apart and under my arm pits!!!

    Anyway!!!!  My sternum hurts when I walk even!!!!  I am dying to start running again and really thought I'd be good to go sooner than this!!! UGH!  Anyway- I am trying to stay patient and deal with it!  Only a couple more weeks right?  At the most!!! 

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited September 2009

    Oh I brushed up an article I wrote called "the long stupid race" and sent it into runners world as a freelance article!!!  Wish me luck!!!  If you would like to read it- go to cheribass@blogspot.com

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited September 2009

    Cheri,

    Don't rush yourself with the running.  A couple more weeks, etc won't make that much of a difference in the long term but going back too soon might.  I understand wanting to get back to it as quick as possible, I was there myself, but you've got to listen to your body and take your time.  

    Best of luck on the submission!  RW's one of my favorite mags, hope you get in....I haven't checked out your article yet but will....

     Julie 

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  • bobcat
    bobcat Member Posts: 681
    edited October 2009

    Hi Lady Runners - I haven't been on in a while but see everyone is doing their best to get out there and run.  I have been having acupunture for joint pain from Arimidex and finally ran 5 miles yesterday PAIN-FREE!!!  I am signed up for the Breast Cancer 5-miler on the 17th and I think I will be able to do it! 

    Cheri - I will check out your article.  Good luck to everyone.

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2009

    Bobbi,

    Great news!  Congrats!  I am sure you will be successful in your race on the 17th!  I cannot wait to do another race.  Not sure when that's gonna be, however.  Have had some problems with motivating myself to run lately - being so far behind where I was before all of this has been hard.  Silly in the overall scheme of things - I know I should just be happy to be out there running at all...I keep telling myself that...

    Today, finally, I had my best run probably since my last surgery....yah, I feel encouraged that someday I WILL get back to feeling really good about running and back to my former distances and stamina....

    Will be thinking of you on the 17th!!!  You go, girl!

    Julie

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2009

    Signed up for a 5k on Nov 14th.  Think I'll be able to do it, nice to have a race goal to look forward and train for again!

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Hey bobbi and Julie, awesome that you have some upcoming races to spur you on!

    I'm happy to say I ran a half marathon this past weekend.  It's just about 11 months since my bilateral mastectomies (with reconstruction finished 12/4/08). 

    I was SO happy to be out there doing some distance, feeling my legs work hard, and celebrating LIFE!!!

     Stay strong, courageous and beautiful as always. ladies!  You all are an awesome gang!

    :-)

    Sue

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  • RitaSurvivor
    RitaSurvivor Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    Hey I can't thank all of you enough for posting.  I have been searching for info on running and exercising with expanders.   I am a triathlete and I am about to start chemo.  I was afraid to try running or even walking hard.  I'll be on this forum again!!

    Rita

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited October 2009

    Sue - Congrats!!!  So awesome, girl!  You are amazing to come so far in such a short amount of time!  And I love your new pic - was that from the race?

    Bobbi, how did your race go?

    Rita, welcome!  

    Still looking forward to my little 5k in November.  

    Hang in there gals!!!!  And keep running strong!

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Julie - a 5k is no "little" deal.  Awesome that you are out there running again, and have a wonderful goal for November!  We all have much to celebrate.  As one women recently told me - you've already won your race (against cancer) -- anything else is just "icing on the cake". 

    Stay positive and strong ladies.  Way to go on keeping moving and living life!

     :-)

    Sue

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited November 2009

    Hey, running ladies,

    Hope everyone is doing well!

    My 5k is next Saturday.  I am really nervous about it. My goal is to run the distance without having to stop. 

    I ran a 15k last January, before DX, am hoping to run a 10k next January - same race, the shorter distance.

    Best wishes, will let you all know how it goes next weekend,

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    Awesome, Julie!  Have fun and ENJOY YOURSELF!!!  Let us know how it goes!

    :-)

    Sue

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited November 2009

    Hey, ladies.

    I did my 5k, met all of my goals!  Such a great feeling.

    Training for a 10k end of January.

    Really feeling like I am moving on finally.

    Thanks so much for your support!

    Julie 

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  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    whooo hoooo way to go Julie : )

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    Congrats, Julie!  That's awesome!!!

    :-)

    Sue

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited November 2009

    Great Julie!!!  

    My last surgery was the end of August and I am slllllooowwwwwlyyy (very slow) running again.  It can be so frustrating to compare to where I was last year at this time.  But, as one friend put it so wonderfully, at least I know how to train and have learned the discipline required.  Julie to be able to run a 5K and meet your goals is fantastic.  I am afraid to run one, right now, because I feel like if I get a horrible time- I will be down on myself.  So, I congratulate you on actually giving it a go!!!

    Rita- hi.  I had a hard time running with the expanders.  It just hurt!  I have talked to others who have ran the entire TE time!  So, I think it is very individual.  I now have my implants and would say I am a D cup (even though I wanted a C) so maybe that it why it was so uncomfortable.  I am a big swimmer.  Love it.  I am in the masters swim club.  I had a very hard time with my TE's with swimming.  My stroke was off in a big way.  My advice in the swimming arena would be to have someone watch your stroke before and after you get the TE's in (in the master club we have a coach who stands outside the pool and watches us) if your stroke is off, stop swimming.  If you continue to swim with a bad stroke, you then have to relearn your stroke later.  It is better to take that off and not have to relearn!!!

    Good luck to you and I hope you can continue doing everything throughout!!!

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited November 2009

    Cheri,

    I really think that the surgeries take more out of us than we would expect in terms of recovery time.  

    I am the same age as you, was also very active before, during and after BC, am a runner/racer and it has definately been hard to get back to where I was before DX.....I am not there yet but you are right there is a blessing in all of this that you learn what it takes to start over....

    I signed up for a 10k at the end of January, my goal is just to finish without stopping....however long it takes is not a concern....

    Hey how old are your boys????  I've two myself (16, 14) and one girl (11)...

    julie

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited November 2009

    Julie!!!  When was your last surgery?  Mine was late August.  I wonder if it is from the anesthesia?

    I am so excited for your 10K.  That is fantastic.  

    My sons are 13 and 10.   I started bringing my oldest son to my 5K's  a couple years ago and we had done one we really liked on NewYears day and I am thinking about doing that one but have only ran 3 miles without stopping one time since my surgery.  I can go up to 6 miles but walk at least a mile of it.  It is sooo frustrating and I am glad to see someone else having the same problem and it is not just me.  I wonder how long it will take.  Right now I am running at least 4 days a week.  It is not just my lungs either.  My legs feel like I have run a marathon at times.  It is so odd.  I am really trying to be smart and not get injured.  It is really mind boggling how long it seems to be taking!!! I asked the PS how long it takes to get the anest. out of your body and he said a good 3 months.  It is surprising it takes that long.  

    I am glad I am not alone in this, it really has been driving me crazy.  I am going to start running or biking at least 6 days a week next week and hopefully it will start getting easier.  How much do you run?  How far?

     I started running in races about 5 years ago,   

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited November 2009

    My last surgery was August 12.  That makes sense if it takes that long to get the anesthesia out of the body - I have just only recently had some runs that I would consider to be good and they're still not a regular occurence.  Before my 5k I had not run quite three miles without having to stop so I was worried about the race but was able to do it then with the adrenaline, etc.  Since then I ran 4 miles a week or so ago without a break - that was my best run by far since all of this started.  I figure if I can get back to running 5 miles within the next two months I should be able to finish the 10k.  I am also not pushing it, however, I would rather not risk injury even if it takes a little longer to get to compete again.  I generally only run three or so days a week, it was the same before DX - if you are doing 4 - 6 days, even slowly you should do well. 

    I regret that I took all of this for granted before BC - I was bored running 5k's and running 5 miles was so easy.  10 and 15k's were a challenge but I still did not appreciate what it took to be able to do that.  You live and you learn - I will never take even a short run for granted again.... :)

    Julie

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited November 2009

    Julie!  Ain't that the truth!  I didn't realize how much I loved running until I couldn't do it anymore.  (Darn TE's were killing me and I just couldn't do it) I walked a lot.  Not the same!!  I love running now and do appreciate it so much more.  Yeah- I am the same about injury.  Don't want to get sidelined due to my own stupidity!!  I just rejoined the Y and did the treadmill yesterday.  UGH!  2 miles- walked 2 minutes- 1 more mile- walked 2 minutes and then finished the .10 - I am hoping I have the same as you and snap out of this soon.  I had my surgery  the end of August so those chemicals should be out of my body soon.  This is a bit gross, but I can still smell it in my urine!!  It's been 3 months now- get out of my body!  :)

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2009

    Cheri,

    Sounds like you are doing great!  Hang in there, girl, it'll get better no doubt!  Slow and steady, that's my motto, as long as you are moving and feeling good, that's what it's all about and your strength WILL improve, it just does take a while...I am not too far in front of you as to when I finished my last surgery and am still struggling on most of my runs....still there have been those few that have been very good - can count them on one hand (:)) - but that encourages me that there are lots more to come!!!!   For you too I am sure!

    Julie 

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited December 2009

    OK tried swimming for the first time (I am going to sign up for a tri this April) I cried the whole way home!!!  I did 4 lengths and had to stop- I did this off and on for 30 minutes and then my arms were just toooooo sore.  (I am BMX) Just about 25% of what I could do last year at this time.  Maybe even 10%.  Talk about a pity party!!!  I am still bummed about it but will hash it out again in a couple of days.

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2009

    Cheri,

    Hang in there! 

    I've never swum (is that a word???) before but can only imagine the upper body (as well as lower) strength that is required to swim for any length of time/distance.

    I think that what you are doing is way harder than what us plain runners are - all of the surgeries directly impacted all of our chests (duh, sorry to state the obvious...:)) and our arms (so important for swimming) not to mention our stamina with the lingering drugs, etc.

    You can't be too hard on yourself.  Even though I don't know squat about swimming I do know that if you keep with it you will improve with time if it is truly something you love and want to do.

    I'll be pulling for you!

    Julie

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited December 2009
    Thanks Julie.  It's hard sometimes. Just thinking my body is letting me down!  Grrrrr.... I appreciate your words- even though I know all that your saying- it is nice to hear them back and be reminded of them.  Swum is a good enough word for me Wink
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  • DaphneRunOn
    DaphneRunOn Member Posts: 35
    edited December 2009

    It is so great to come here after many months away and find this thread thriving.  I think you could take it and turn each woman's contribution into a chapter in one of those inspirational "Chicken Soup" kind of books and hit the bestseller list.  I am definitely visiting more often and hoping you all will infect me with a dose of your grace and good spirit.

    Quick update on me -- I am 50, married with two teenaged kids.  I used to do marathons and triathlons. I went through a single mx July 2008, got a silicone implant Nov 2008 and then  nipple reconstruction around April/May 2009.  When the bandage came off, it was Flat Stanley City.  Six months have passed and I have twice cancelled appointments with the PS to schedule a re-do of the nipple.  Some other stuff was going on in my life that was huge but somehow manageable (changed jobs, uterine-cancer scare, mom's major illness, best friend diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma), so I don't know why this minor nipple do-over seemed so insurmountable.   

    Anyway,I am finally sick of being in nipple limbo and ready to tackle the situation, so today I made a pre-surgical appointment in January and am looking at surgery in February.  I have a goal of running the National Half-Marathon on March 20, which may be foolishly close to the nipple do-over, but I need a goal to shoot for and I'm not ready to sacrifice it now on the off-chance that my nip won't let me run three months from now.  No coulda woulda shoulda's, instead I want to be like Yoda -- "do or do not, there is no try." 

    Sue/On Eagles Wings - I'm so glad to read that your lump was scar tissue.  AWESOME job on the half-marathon! 

    Cheri - I totally understand your emotions about your swim.  I am getting in the pool tomorrow for the first time since June 2008 and if I make it TWO lengths, I'll be thrilled.  I was never a very good swimmer -- your masters team would have left me drowning in their wake -- but I enjoyed it and up 'til my mx last summer I could swim freestyle for a mile or so. I've overcome a few physical challenges since my b/c, but swimming looms bigger than any of them.  I have butterflies the size of pterodactyls -- all for an event that will likely last less than 5 minutes!  I don't know if I'm dreading finding out how poorly I swim or if it's the dread of being one-nippled in a thin tank suit in front of the college-aged life guard and the freaky pervert man who just sits in lane one and stares.  Both, I guess.  But I think the high level of my dread is telling me that this is one of those things where I just need to get over myself and do it.  My goal will be between two and four laps.  We'll see ...

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  • Blondie1964
    Blondie1964 Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2009

    DaphneRunOn,

    Thanks for starting the thread!  It's been a big help to me to have other women in similar situations to touch base with during this challenging time. 

    I also had a unilat MX (my last recon surgery finished in Aug 2009) and have yet to decide about the nip recon....the "one headlight" thing sometimes bothers me but not so much, hubby and I joke about it on those cold AM runs...for now I just want to be done with surgery so am taking a break...maybe I will change my mind later on down the road....

    All,

    I just signed up for a 10k on January 30.  That's gonna be a big challenge for sure but I also need a goal to shoot for ..... 

    Julie

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited December 2009

     Daphne- how was your swim???  How many lengths could you do?  How is your pec?   I think you are right to continue your training despite potential nip surgery! Go for it!  I don't have any nips yet and am still getting used to my new look (my implant surgery was Aug) - I don't think I will be getting nips for a while.

     OK I broke through some sort of wall last week.  Ran a complete 5K (on the treadmill at the y)!!  Another day I ran 2 miles and swam for 30 minutes.  I am back!!  I swam again Saturday (my best friend went with me for back up support).  I did cry again but had an epiphany!  Last year when I was swimming like this (I usually swim a lot in the winter) I hadn't been diagnosed yet.  I think that is what is brining me to tears.  Swimming reminds me of not being diagnosed.  (I was diagnosed in February but was training really hard for a triathlon) Also I am not happy about the new bathing suit look but really- Lance is right- it's not about the pool!

    I am having yet another surgery in April (I had to wait till after this tri to do it) to remove some odd flap of skin that has developed from my TE's (I had a BMX) so it's on both sides.  The excess skin is under my arm pit.  My PS says it will take a good 6 weeks to recover and will be a 6 hour surgery...  grrrrr.... 

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  • DaphneRunOn
    DaphneRunOn Member Posts: 35
    edited December 2009

    Blondie (Julie):  Your 10K goal sounds like something to look forward to.  I did a race on New Years Eve last year, just about a month after my exchange surgery and I loved ending the year with an accomplishment like that.  I hope your race makes you feel as happy as mine did for me.  The one headlight thing doesn't bother me often, but it's enough that I definitely want to finish the recon, get to the tattoo stage -- and not see my plastic surgeon for a good long time.

    Cheri - I'm so happy to read that you've made a breakthrough in your swimming and running.   It's hard to hold a strong woman back!

    Me - Yep, I actually swam. There were mixed emotions, but now that the first session is over, I'm smiling.

    Some of my worries turned out to be ridiculous. My Speedo disguised the single "headlight" (borrowing from blondie/Julie) just fine and my arm and chest muscles held up pretty well. I can feel that I'm holding too long on one side while I roll to breathe, but I expected that.

    It used to be that the only others at my pool so early were the lifeguard and a small but weird cast of characters straight out of the Star Wars bar scene. But it seems now that one of the local masters swim team is practicing there, so the rest of us have to split our lanes. I felt worse about my awful swim stroke with this new pressure not to run into the other guy in my lane.

    So what I did was warm-up by trying to get my swim cap on my head - not easy with a cap that hasn't been used in 18 months. (Maybe I should start using talc?) Then I bobbed up and down in the water for a while.

    When I couldn't avoid it any longer, I did 6 x 25. I swam really easy and sometimes I would do catch-up drill instead of freestyle. After that, I did 6 x 25 of a drill I don't remember the name of - you alternate gliding on one side with one arm to your hip and the other one extended toward the wall. After each length, I'd stop for a few seconds. I finished with 50 freestyle easy and then I left.

    I must have been thrusting my head & chin forward, an old "turtling" tendency I thought I'd overcome, because my neck feels sore. I guess this return-to-swimming is going to be a long journey for me, but I'm glad I've taken the first step. It's on the schedule again for Friday.

    By the way, this took me 20 minutes to write -- and I think I only swam for 10 or 15!

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  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 285
    edited December 2009

    Daphne!!!  I love it!!!  So you are about a year ahead of me as last year at this time I was not even diagnosed yet.  My exchange surgery was August of this year.  Love that your nip wasn't an issue in that speedo.  No worries!!! yay!!  That does suck to share a lane with someone right off the bat.  (especially sharing with a dude)!!!  I would highly suggest you ask the master swim team leader how your stroke looks.  I met with mine (privately) and she looked at my stroke above the water, under the water and followed my swim above the water all the way down one length.  She knew what my stroke looked like before hand so that was good but still they can give you insight on what you may need to work on- which arm is not coming out high enough..ect..  Be sure to tell them your health issue.  Swimming peeps are very helpful when it comes to looking at your stroke and giving suggestions.  Trust me- my neck and shoulders still hurt- but it did that before all this surgery when I would swim more- it is normal.  I am having an issue with my sternum (kind of a burning sensation at odd times) and talked to my PS about that today.  He told me with bodybuilders and swimmers it is very common and it is a pec build up issue and it will eventually get easier but never quite go away.  My fear was it was stitches popping out and that I would have a uni boob and he said NOPE. yay for me.  Ha you made me laugh about that swim cap- mine still had sand on it from the year before last.  I always wet my hair in the showers in the ladies locker room- then put hair conditioner on it - called phyto- and then put the swim cap on in the mirror in the locker room!!!  No shame in that!!! Not at all- I have long hair and want to make sure it is in all the way.  If I had to I could put it on in the water in the pool but I like to look in the mirror to make sure I got all the "stragglers"!!  I swim tomorrow morning with my trigirls group and will think of you with a big smile when I put that cap on!!! :) (don't use talc-yuk!!!)

    I am amazed at you running a 10K a month after your exchange surgery.  It took me 3 months to be able to run more than 2 miles without walking!!!  What is up with that?????  Now I am able to go 3.5 and it is getting easier and easier every day but gosh I hit a wall for 3 months.  seriously!!!  I can still smell drugs in my urine even now and I hate that!!! When is it going to stop?????  

    I think it took me longer than 30 minutes to write this- ahhhh!!!! 

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