Exercise - Working Back to it After or During Treatment

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    tarheel. Good luck with the surgery.

    The cold is a bit better. My wbc is not lowered by kadcyla, but still.

    Today got walking in but feeling a bit nauseous. I think everything is the cancer. Need to stay where my feet are, not where my head is going

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  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited April 2014

    I signed up for palliative care services and one of them is physical therapy. The PT visited me for the first time yesterday and gave me some exercises to do. I got through them OK but then had a dizzy spell, and later in the afternoon during a nurse visit my blood pressure took a real dive. The nurse thought it was dehydration. Today I did half the number of each exercise and didn't get dizzy. It rained today so no walk outside, and I'm not sure I could even get all the way around the block any more. Tomorrow I see an occupational therapist and a social worker. I hope your nausea is gone gritgirl

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  • JWoo
    JWoo Member Posts: 1,171
    edited April 2014

    Hi ladies! I hope you don't mind if I join your group here. I am just starting to really work out after everything with the guidance of my LE  PT team. This is what they have me doing this week every day, and it is kicking my behind! It has been a long, long time since I have actually worked out. (years) 

    walk 5 minutes flat at 2.5 mph

    walk 5 min with 15% incline at 2.5

    25x countertop pushups

    2x 10 seated tricep pushups (not dips)

    10x hold supine small ball between bent knees - squeeze ball and hold for 10 sec

    10x 4way bridge lifts supine

    50x prone alternating kicks

    25x window washers prone (heels in/out)

    10x heel lifts prone

    3x child pose for 30 seconds then rock 30x

    on a 55-65" ball: bounce for 5 minutes (this is fun- like being on those toys we had in the 70's)

    2x5x leg walk out planks (on ball- start in sitting position hands on hips, walk out till ball is under shoulders with back straight)

    Then some specific theraband moves for my LE, and manual lymph drainage. 

    I am so sore, but it feels good. I am not good at working out without specific instructions and have been afraid of making my very mild truncal and arm LE worse, so PT is really helpful. I am just on day 2, and have PT one every Tuesday right now, so 5 more days of this till they give me new instructions. While I am doing these, I get winded, but it isn't painful. I am pretty sore a few hours later though.  

    I've got 70 lbs to lose before I have my recon, so I am determined to keep going. 

    I hope you are all doing well and getting some activity in where and when you can!

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    curveball. Good for you. I am big believer in physical therapy.

    Jwoo. That is a lot to do. Wow.

    I am doing better today. Sore throat seems to be going away. Going to yoga tonight. I am motivated by losing money. I bought a 5 class pass and it's about to expire.

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited April 2014

    good to see some action on this thread. Hope everyone else is doing well. I have not been online as much due to crazy busy work schedule. My daughter and I are on a 5 day vacation to Naples Florida so I am hoping to get a bit more activity in. 

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    ginger. Sounds fun. I went to yoga tonight. Good but a little harder than I'm used to

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    Have been reading but not exercising - hope all are doing well. After five weeks of laying on the bed and two surgeries - last one on 4/2, my PS has cleared me to return to walking and lower body at the gym. My neighbor and I walked about 3 miles last night - it was great to be out again!

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited April 2014

    JWoo, welcome. There is strength in numbers here. You have a good plan in place to help with your weight loss.

    SpecialK, hello there. I'm happy to hear there are no surgery complications and you are walking again. 

    I have progressed in my exercise to run a mile in 10-1/2 minutes. I'm so happy. When I started, it was hard to run a mile in 15 mins. I will have to take a break from running after my surgery and I'm truly sad about it. At least 4 weeks of no running or other strenuous exercise.

    The good news though is that I can shower or bathe the day after surgery. With all my night sweats, I didn't want to wait. :-)

    Good luck to all in reaching your fitness goals. 

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited April 2014

    specialK-I can't believe you had to have more surgery; you have had enough! But glad to hear you are able to regain some activity. 

    Tarheel- I am so impressed with your progress. Congratulations!

    Gritgirl-some of those yoga classes can be tough!

    We are on our last day in Florida. Got to do a little beach walking and some outlet walking on the cloudy days. 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    ginger - I can't believe it either, lol!  The re-meshing needed to be done, but as is usual for me it spawned another surgery.  I feel like I should have a super-hero outfit that says "Surgery Girl" on the front.

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    i typed out a long response the other night and then lost it. harumph. but i'm back now.

    specialk, enough with the surgeries. :-)

    tarheel, hope your surgery goes well.

    i have been staying basically active. gardening this weekend. yoga tonight. walking in between.  i dream of being a marathon runner, but i hate running. so i'll settle for the walking.

    hope all are well. :-)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    gritgirl - I agree on enough! Got the stitches out and have an unhealed area. PS is giving it a week - if not healed I lose the left side recon for the summer.

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    specialk. I'll be knocking on wood that it heals

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited April 2014

    specialk. how is the healing going? 

    tarheel, did you have the surgery?

    I've been minimally active.  just feel down lately.

    was watching a concert film for the singer Pink. in her act, she does all this trapeze stuff. incredible. she is clearly so buff, she has a 6 pack.  my goal isn't a 6 pack, but rather to walk 6 blocks. :-)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    gritgirl - not bueno.  I have an appt on Thurs and I am feeling that the PS is going to schedule surgery for the following week to remove the implant.  This is what we discussed at the previous week's appointment.  I am doing all I can to improve the situation - walking, increased protein intake, taking zinc and excess Vit C, and excess amino acids.  I don't see a whole lot of difference though, so I am feeling resigned to this.  I am coming up for a vaccine visit in June though - maybe a lunch?

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  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited May 2014

    hi girls...I have a bunch of different "favorites" on this site!  I only recently joined...undergoing 6 cycles chemo...TAC..may 12 is my 5th..June 2 last one!! Then radiation ...I am hoping to keep my lumpectomy...

    Special K....I see you on other boards and have learned a lot from you...

    Gritgirl....I am also slowly trying too move around!  Being a kindergarten teacher kept me moving, but now on medical leave since January, with chemo and deep muscle fatigue..it's hard to do stuff for long!  But now I try to walk on the beach...

    I think when I am moving I don't notice the aches....when I rest and get up I feel really weak! So it's good to see others taking baby steps with exercise ...I will ask my surgeon about pt...Rosie 

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2014

    welcome Rosiesride! We just do what we can...

    Special K- what did your dr say?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    ginger - I had surgery this morning and my left implant was removed. It will be out for several months, then back to an expander and hopefully another implant. Maybe Santa will bring one. I lost my original expander before chemo so have been through this. Not in pain - have not taken any meds yet.

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited May 2014

    specialk. I am sorry. I will be around in June.

    Welcome, rosieride.

    I've been off lately. Too much turmoil going on. Not in my life, but in close friends' lives. Overwhelming.

    Been getting around as much as I can. Got back to the gym last week. Been skipping yoga a bit. Got to get back to regular.

    Hope you all are doing well

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2014

    Special K- sorry to hear that. I was hoping you could keep it! You are one patient woman...

    I have not been on the boards much lately. Life has been too busy. I hope everyone is hanging in there!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    gritgirl - we will get together for sure!

    ginger - too busy is a good problem!  I was hoping to keep the implant too, but it did not work out.  Having lost an expander earlier in the recon process made this recent experience easier - I knew what to expect.  PS says it will be out for 60-90 days, then an expander, then an implant again, I hope!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2014

    great attitude Special K; hang in there!

    I just got back from Relay for Life and carried you all in my thoughts on the survivor lap. Hope everyone is well...

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    ginger - what a sweet thought that you had all of us with you on the lap!  I have only been to one Relay for Life, I found the survivor's lap a strange experience - like I was an imposter - can't explain it.

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited May 2014


    SpecialK, what is wrong with the implant that you just had removed? I see all the reconstruction in your sig and I feel like someone needs to award you a Purple Heart.

    I passed the 3-week mark after my reconstruction/fat grafting surgery, and went for a run Saturday, and am about to try another run. Running VERY slow about a mile or so, then walking another mile. I could probably get by with just walking if I didn't like milkshakes and ice cream so much. My weight has crept up a few pounds and I don't want to get any bigger. I feel guilty that I don't do more than running. It would probably be helpful if I did yoga or Pilates. But with running, I don't have to talk to anybody, and if I feel like crying, it's OK, I don't have to worry about how it looks.

    Like everyone else, I go through periods when I'm not on the boards as much, but I think about everyone, and I do try to read what's going on at least once a week. Spring always revitalizes me, and I try just not to think about cancer at all. Hugs to everyone, and wishing you strength to get out and enjoy the good weather.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    tarheel - nothing wrong with the implant - something wrong with my skin!  Unfortunately the designation in the profile for any type of repair or revision is "reconstruction" but what happened is that I had new allograft put in the first week of March - I had two areas of non-viable skin (goes back to my original problems at the time of BMX and skin necrosis - same area) that refused to heal and stay closed.  Had revision of those incisions and a smaller implant so the skin was not as stressed, but no go, so the implant was removed a week and a half ago.  I will do another expander and exchange later this year.

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited May 2014

    SpecialK I hope the next try is successful. It all sounds like a huge hassle. Healing is a long process for sure. 

    I wish there was more "explaining" space for us when we fill out our data. For instance, I'd love to share I had fat grafting so I could connect with other women considering it. 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    tarheel - my understanding is that they will soon be modifying that profile area so that we can elaborate.  Not sure when that will be happening - when you look at my sig line I look like some sort of reconstruction junkie!

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited May 2014

    hey, all. Sorry I've been gone. Been a little less active and traveling a lot. I get home on Tuesday and hope to get back into a routine. Where I am has a pool and been swimming. Need to add swimming. It's helping shoulder. I am a bag of bones.

    Tarheel, so glad to hear all is going well.

    Specialk, sorry to hear about your surgery

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    gritgirl - yay for swimming - great exercise and good for ROM!  Is it warm up there? I always remember my kids started summer swim team on the Tues. after Mem Day weekend (the weekend the pool opened) and the first 2-3 weeks could still be a bit cold on odd days.  Of course, it is already blazing hot and sticky here.  Healing OK from surgery, skin is staying closed so yay for that!  Will be on my way up in about three weeks - will be in touch!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited May 2014

    specialK- the survivor lap is emotional but in a good way. So glad to be there each year.  I walk with my daughters and my mother-in-law who is a 13 year lung cancer survivor. The first year I was only 40 days from diagnosis and I did feel like an imposter. I think I was actually still in denial. Now after 4 surgeries, lymphedema, a frozen shoulder and other issues, I have decided we all go through different kinds of treatment but this diagnosis is very "real" for all of us. You most certainly fit into the survivor category and I was proud to carry you all in my thoughts. I would not have made it to where I am without the support I have found on these boards. I hope you are continuing to heal...

    Gritgirl- I need to get back into swimming. The closest pool is about 35 minutes away. But summer is almost here and then I can get into the lake. 

    Tarheel- I am impressed with your running. Keep it up! I don't think I will ever be a runner...

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