Motivation

Awesome walking, Deanna, and awesome running, Harley! Deanna, check out the classical stretch workouts on PBS if that's available in your area. My flexibility is much improved with that program. Kari, Right now no one wants to start 'treatment' for my shoulderblade pain because the cause has not yet been determined; the 2 MDs' want to get bony mets ruled out before I proceed. Reading the insurance co's denial and examining their decision tree makes me think that a bonescan would be the best request at this time. I'll keep pursuing all this tomorrow.

I am even confused about how much exercise I should do. I did a little walking on Saturday, then 30 minutes of stretching last night, after no exercise Wed--Fri last week. Sometimes movement seems to make the pain no better or no worse, sometimes worse.

Spring, GREAT for you--walking + yoga! Ainm--22 weeks straight is amazing! Is there any other Wii Fit program you like? I have to mix things up a bit or I get bored, and my body gets strained. kmmd, Glad you are feeing a little stronger and able to work out--even lightly. That's progress! Diane--gardening really can be quite a workout. Hope you got a good walk in today.

 And to all else who check in, try to move as much as you can! I will remember that tonight, even if I just do 10 minutes. kmmd, I shared your 10 minute rule with my sister this past weekend, and she thought that was a great way to get started. Thanks to all for shared wisdom & support!

It was very cold here today.  Of course my sis in Chicago would not agree with me.  I did not walk again today.  I continued to garden.  I took a really nice hot bath a little while ago and plan on an early nite.  A friend of mine sent me a link to you tube, I am not that good, and it was a pink glove dance.  It is kind of entertaining if anyone is interested. 

Brrr - cold and snowing here today.

Thank you all for your kind comments.  I do the free step on Wii because it gives me a chance to catch up on some tv that I record - I step while I watch!!  I think it is my way of taking my mind off the fact that I am actually exercising!! 

I do it every day because I know that if I don't do it one day then it will be easier not to do it the next day and before I could blink I'd have piled on all the weight again and I would be back to being unfit and doing no exercise. 

My motivation - exercise cuts down on the risk of recurrence and being overweight is a negative factor.  I think I have myself frightened into doing this but I am still so nervous that I will eventually revert to nature (my nature that is) and undo all that I have achieved. 

I've also read posts from others who are taking Tamoxifen and some of them seem to start putting on weight after about a year of it - I've been taking it for the past 7 months?!

But the bottom line is no matter how much weight I lose or how much exercise I do I'm still scared.

But I really do find it helpful to log on here and even when I don't post I do get inspiration from reading how you are all doing. Thank you.

Ah, gardening--Diane, what wonderful therapy and exercise! I will look forward to that soon. Harley, I hope the nice weather perked you up some and that you felt inspired to move. If not, well, tomorrow gives you another opportunity.

Ainm, I don't know if I am coordinated enough to step while I watch tv! I might end up in the Emergency Room! I only did about 15 minutes of exercise last evening--just wiped out, I guess from working full-time, recovering from treatment, managing new symptoms, and being my own cancer navigator. I have not yet done any exercise today but will push myself to do at least 15-20 minutes. Ainm & Kari--I have been taking tamoxifen since last August, with varying as well as waxing & waning side effects. I had to work to put on weight after chemo (lost almost 20 pounds and regained about 10 pounds); I have had stable weight for the last couple of months but my waistline seems thicker. When I took Arimidex, I experienced the same thing. And, Ainm, I understand about the fear issue: I tell myself that I want to move and work toward greater well-being in order to celebrate the joy of living--and I really mean that--but I also have times when I am unnerved by fear. I have learned that for me, living with uncertainty means I am sometimes fearful. I am still learning how to manage that fear. We'll keep trying to do the best we can, right? And, Kari, thanks for the positive vibes. Sometimes I consider not even posting about this issue, but I feel calmer when I do. I will keep you all posted as I now try to get an MRI + bonescan, my oncologist's latest idea.

Take good care all!

Well, I ran the 2 miles today.  It was nice outside, and sunny.  But tomorrow will be rainy...  UGH!

I also have the fear of recurrence.  I think that it may never go away completely for me.  I will try to exercise every day...  my dh makes me feel bad when I DO exercise... see, he has been waffling lately... so if I go out and run, it makes him feel bad...  But, as I tried to explain to him, it's one of the things I CAN control... so I will try to exercise MORE, and he'll just have to feel bad.

Gardening is WONDERFUL exercise!  I need to start getting out and weeding... I have to keep up with the weeds... they get a head start and I never seem to catch up!  I want to plant something new in our front flower bed.  I can't decide what to plant.  There is some kind of flowering shrubs there, and they were just beautiful when we moved in, but they seem to have just withered and dried up.  What to do?

Brenda,

Hope you can get your insurance straightened out, and hope that scan gets done, and your results are all clear!!

Harley

LOL  Diane, our soil is very sandy, so I'm not sure that things grow very well here, either...   but we do the best with what we have. 

I'm going to bed... kind of tired...  I will try again tomorrow.  goodnight, everybody.

Harley

Hmmm, gardening, maybe I could start growing a snow garden, cause I'm beginning to think winter is here forever. 

Brenda, let us know how things turn out.  Thinking of you!  I'm totally frustrated with my weight right now.  Just working on healthy isn't cutting it.  I have to start working on shedding some pounds! 

Spring, don't know about Kari, bhe acupuncture helped my back pain and insomnia a lot, my hot flashes considerably, neuropathy and appetite, not so much yet but we're trying.

Deanna, hear you on the Olympics, kept me up a little late last night.  I'm going to check out that Natural and Home grown thread.  Maybe they have some tips on snow gardens. 

Brenda, wow you lost a lot of weight during chemo, which probably made your muscles a lot weaker too!  So it will take time, be patient, to gain strength back.  I know my muscles went kaput during chemo!!  But I'm slowly getting stronger.  Still sending you many PV for some relief from that shoulder pain.  Another gal was saying she developed bursitis in her shoulder after rads, so who knows.  Just do what you can and don't beat yourself up over it.  I too, have a thicker middle, WTH??Deanna, I think its the lack of estrogen too.  And I weight more, each time I get weighed, I say "oh dear".

Spring, Acupuncture gives me relief sometimes I notice.  Yesterday it REALLY DID!!  I have a rx for acupuncture for neck & back pain.  Since my pcp already sent me to physical therapy for the back pain, then they can send you for acupuncture, and then she said if I don't get relief I can go to the spine clinic.  But you know, I am determined to try all complementary medicine before giving in to shots!  My gal felt my neck out of place (yeah I felt that too), so I am going to my chiro after work, my acu gal said to go 24 to 48 hours after acupuncture to get added benefit of the chiro treatment.  So I've learned with acupuncture that its all about your energy and zones being freed up so the energy can flow, my gal is way into Chi Gong and Tai Chi, but she said to be careful of who you go to, even Reiki, cause they can leave your channels 'open' and you will be susceptible to illness and other negative things.  She's cool to talk to.  Of course, I only get my allotted time slot with her, and I think I get 4 more sessions that are 4 weeks apart.  BUT, I no longer have that stiff neck and my back is better than it used to be.  Sorry I'm rambling, if you have any more questions, let me know, cause I think I got way off track. lol

Deanna, I get really lonely at home.  After bringing up my DDs, it was always the 3 of us through thick and thin, and then I met my DH and he is out of town 4 nights per week, and I miss everyone!!!  boo hoo

You girls that garden, I think that's great!  It KILLS my back so I don't really do anything.  But my DH plants a veggie garden each year.  We had killer tomatoes for 7 months last year, it was GREAT!! 

Smiling as I read all your posts. Too tired to do much posting of my own, but I did want to report that I managed a 30 minute classical stretch workout this evening when I came home from work. I'm still waiting to hear about scans, insurance, etc. Thinking of you all and hoping we all continue to heal and move at the right pace for each of us!

kkmd

Iam doing the Koeman fun run.  I do not run--I have never been able to do that.  I walk.  Our fun run is downtown Vegas.  We walk, cheer and then go and eat lunch.  The 3 day is going to push it for me.  I have never, even before this condition, done anything that physical.  We'll see if I can do it.  I go the PS tomorrow and determine the next surgery (oh yeah).  I want it next week and over.  It'll probably be in May.  Hopefuly your snow garden will melt soon so pretty flowers can take it's place.  Have a great Thursday everyone.  diane

Spring, my acupunturist says yes.  She actually brought the issue up to me, it wasn't one of the things I had asked her to treat.  So, we'll see how well it works.

KMMD, would you ask your acupuncturist how it is that the needles in you do not cause a lymphatic reaction? You know, we're not supposed to get bug bites or needle sticks for fear of causing our lymph system to respond to that area with more fluid. I am confused about this. If you could ask next time you go, that would be great to know!!! 

Harley I hope you feel better.  You should take it easy.  Stay warm-I don't know if your getting what they are up north. 

diane

KMMD, thanks. I had my last MLD (Manual Lymph Drainage) therapy appt today (4 weeks, 3x a week) And I go back after 2 weeks and then at the 6 week mark. I and asked there, about acupuncture, and they are open to acupuncture, and actually send folks for pain teatment, but said they didn't know about LE and acupuncture. I think you are a pioneer. Would you let us know what you find? I don't really have it in my arm (though they said it was starting at the top of my arm when I went in last month!), mostly it's under my armpit on the side of my chest, They call it "tructal lymphedema" but they are always focusing on my arm too, and suggest I wear the sleeve prophylacitically, and always during any exercise when the heart rate could go up. 

Anyway, pls report back.... I think it is interesting what you are trying... 

On the run here (in more ways this one) this a.m., but wanted to do a quick fly by, just to say "hi" to everyone.  Just finished 3.9 miles, 2.0 yesterday and 4.8 on Wednesday, if I didn't already report that one.

Spring ~ Interesting info' on the truncal lymphedema.  I have a touch of the same thing, but haven't seen a therapist for it because the medical folks I prefer (UCLA) are 3 hrs. from here, and my local docs don't seem to think it's a big deal, even though it's very uncomfortable and bothersome on some days.  Anyway, keep those tips coming, and I may PM you with some questions when I have more time.  And kmmd, that's very interesting that you're doing acupuncture for your LE.    

Have a great weekend, everyone ~  Deanna