Exercise with Tissue Expanders

I started exercising again as soon as possible....but my weights went WAY down.  I went to 3 or 4 pounds for all arm exercises.  And surprisingly found that I didn't need to go back to my heavy weights (12lbs) now the heaviest I use for my arms is 8 lbs and it's working good.  And I walked, walked, and walked - it took a while to get back to the running but now I'm there too.  Good for you to think about getting moving again. As Maria mentioned - stretch.  It really helps. 

I didn't start working out after my BMX until 8 weeks past.  I just wasn't feeling well and had some skin issues.

I always stretch the chest muscles, but I have not done any bench presses, etc.  I work on my legs, work on the elliptical and the stairmaster.  I do some bicep and tricep work with 10-15 lb weights, but I have laid off on the pushups and tricep pushups.  Listen to your body and take it easy when you first start out.

My girlfriend checked with my ps and he indicated that it shoud not a problem just don't fall falt on my chast . I am going through the final stages with expanding my tissue expanders and then radiation will commerce . After radiation, surgey of permanent implants will take place

Hi All~

Hope I'm not jumping into the discussion too late...

I'm curious to know if anyone's PS has given strict instructions to refrain from all activity that raises heartrate.  I had a BMX with TEs on 10/24.  As a fitness professional, I'm having a great deal of difficulty with these restrictions; however, I certainly don't want to jeapordize my chances of attaining a good reconstruction result.   My PS wasn't even all that fond of my idea to take leisurely strolls through the neighborhood until AFTER my exchange surgery (likely not until the end of January.)   I'm going nutty without my daily adrenaline fix   

I just can't understand how raising my heartrate could impede the reconstruction process. It is not as though I was planning to jump back into my regular strength training regime but I'd sure like to get actively moving again! 

Thanks for any insight you might share...

~ AJ 

After my BMX with TE placement in in September 11, my PS encouraged walking as soon as I felt up to it and I was back to a mile a day within a couple of weeks and three miles a day not long after that. He also okayed the first set of exercises from the Prevention Magazine, October 2011 article on exercise for women after surgery for breast cancer (mostly just easy stretching) and for me to do the second set within a month or so (lifting with light weights 1-2 pounds). He did keep the 5 pound weight limit for lifting anything. I went to yoga classes at the Wellness Community that has free classes for people with cancer starting at about 4-6 weeks. The classes were great as the instructors would adjust poses based on what I could do (help me do something on my back when the rest of the class was facing down or putting weight on their arms). Classes were also very small (usually 6-10 or less). I could really see my improvement from class to class, it was encouraging. Had my TE exchange surgery on January 23 and the PS did some liposuction above each breas.He's encouraged me to avoid anything that would stretch that area but I expect I'll be back to the exercises with stretching and light weights by next week and probably the yoga classes too. He encourages walking as soon as I feel up to it. Although this time around, I'm being much slower in feeling up to doing anything, Walked a mile to the park the other day and will try again today. I know the walking is a real stress reducer for me. I was up to 12-15 miles per week before the TE exchange surgery. I'll be back there again, it's just seeming to go slow for me right now. I also go to "relaxation classes" at the Wellness Community. It is a guided imagery class. Last August, between my lumpectomy and the BMX in September, the first day I went to the relaxation class was the first time I slept straight through the night after getting the news that lumpectomy hadn't taken care of things and that I had DCIS that hadn't shown up on mammagram or MRI on top of the invasive cancer. Sleeping is good! I have found working on my exercise and the "relaxation" type activities helps with the sleep. A family friend also made me a pillow that says "Hope" on one side and my name on the other. I keep it on the sofa where I head when sleep seems scarce. One look at the pillow and I am at least on the way to getting back to sleep!

Marsha - You are amazing! I was filled to 600 cc but can't even imagine doing a jumping jack with my TEs in place. I did wear a breast band that my doctor gave me rather high up under my arms to help push the TEs (especially that pesky left one) down.  PS I am 58 years old

Golden, I have had health issues for several years. My asthma is rarley under control and i have lost the fat pads on my feet so it is so hard to do many exercises. Walking is extreemly difficult. I try and use our cardio fit machine but doesn't take long to be out of breath. I went from running two miles a day, swimming 70 laps in YMCA and my hubby and I use to roller blade 40 to 50 miles a week. Now going up the steps and I am out of breath. MY doctor told me to do the jumping jacks to help bring those down. I feel like the are under my chin.Well I decided to give it a try because I have been very sore since last injection. That was a hoot. But i will keep trying. My surgery is not scheduled yet. Hoping for the first part of April. My PS is on vaction in Hawaii for 6 weeks. Poor darlin!!!!!!!!!!!! Good to have someone to talk too.