MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

HomeMom...did you get any evaluation or treatment for LE?  I went and they gave me some instruction on exercises and stretching using 2 & 3 lb weights.

Of course, the Y is helping now too....look, they even give you nifty shirts!

homemom:  GO GATORS!!!  And if you google the Livestrong program, you can see which Y's have it. I know there are some in the Orlando area that do. I'm in Gainesville,, and we don't.   Booooo.   And there are some exercise thread in the lymphedema section, if you want to check them out. Carol and Binney over there are very helpful.

Jbok:  nifty shirt!

Hi Jules! Looking through your surgery time line...you have been on a long road!  

Vent away, sister!   We are here!

So excited for football...GO PATRIOTS !!

Welcome to all of the newbies.  Elimar we will miss  you, happy that you are able to move on. 

good morning all

Well I rang the bell hard and loud yesterday - twice and will do so again once herceptin is done next June!!

As far as exercising goes I went to the gym prior to cancer so have slowly returned to my routines. As I only have 1 fully developed arm I do my arm weights. I watch for swelling which may or may not start regardless of what I do. All I know is that I feel so much better doing cardio and weights

As far as football my teams are 

1. Broncos for PEYTON. Used to be the colts so this Sunday night will be interesting

2  saints. Drew BREES!  He will become my main man once PEYTON retires

3 Green Bay. Aaron Rogers. Always hated them when what's his name was qb. Couldn't stand him!!  Fabre. Ugh

4. 49ers. Have loved them since the 70s. They are the future

Plus I'll always have a soft spot for Miami. They were my team when I was a little girl. 

Yay Footballnut! Congrats! Like you, I use to workout up to the day before my mastectomy but I haven't been back to the gym since I think partially because I loved lifting and doing weight training on my arms but since any upper body exercise is prohibited I've been unmotivated to get my lazy butt back in the gym, glad to hear you are going back to your routine. 

Great pics, FBN!  Miami is my team for the pros,, I grew up there and remember the great undefeated season!!

**sings** "Miami has the Dolphins, the greatest football team. They take the ball from goal to goal like no one's ever seen."   Those were good times!!

Mulligan:  why is upper body workout prohibited?  Is that due to upcoming surg and recovery?  You have surg tomorrow??  OK, I can see that you would need to take it easy for a while, but then you should be able to get back to it.  Start very light,, it's frustrating as all heck.    It took me a long time to get back after my MX, and now I'm having a HX the end of this month.  Frustrating, as it's another setback, so right now, I'm just working on cardio to build endurance before surgery.

FB, Congratulations! You looks so beautiful and happy!

This exercise thing... Last night, I swept our rather large backyard patio to remove all the dirt, fur and miscellaneous debris deposited by my boys' dogs. I couldn't believe how sore my neck, arms and back were afterwards! Unfortunately, my still recovering breasts and sides swelled up pretty badly. Guess I'll have to approach this return to activity more slowly than I had hoped.

ARGH!  I am so frustrated with a friend!   VENTING

She was diagnosed just 2 months ago.  She has carefully watched me, supported me and often commented how I inspired her through my FB posts of my journey. 

Yesterday, she just finished her second chemo treatment and posted on FB that her and her friend left chemo and stopped  for a couple of beers.   They then went home and had happy hour.  She made it sound like a nice day out of fun after a pedicure.... REALLY? 

a. I don't know about you, but alcohol was the last thing I wanted after a day long of chemo, steroids and benedryl

b. WHY would you do that to your body?

c. Why would you boast about it on FB? 

I wrote her a private note and told her I was genuinely worried about her mind set .  Either she is in a really bad place or in deep denial of the seriousness of self-care during this.  I also told her I was disappointed with our mutual friend who took her to the bar and hosted the happy hour.  We need support from our friends for good decisions and voices of reason when we are too crazed to see straight.   I'm sure I pissed her off with my candor.  

 Ugh, obviously I am worried that this may be more of an alcohol dependency than we (or she) admits too.

 whew...thanks!

jbok:  you did the right thing.  Someone needs to tell her. Chemo is no time to be drinking. Your liver and your whole body  is under enough stress without that.

FBN I would love to get my exercise mojo back!

Glennie my PS didn't want me to take any chances in rupturing the pockets he created or having the TEs shift. 

Jbokland, you are a wonderful friend, I hope your friend will get that ah-ha moment and realize she can't do that. 

ahhh, Mulligan,, that makes sense now. After you get the implants, you should be able to return to upper body workouts, no??  Is that today?   Thinking positive thoughts for you!

Homemom...yea Aaron Hernandez..very sad but Bill Belichick should've known...he had a history ! Jbok..I agree..and Im glad you called your friend out on that..my aunt had stage 2b IDC a few years ago (she just reached her 5 yr mark yay !) but she also had hep C and was still drinking during her chemo and rad ! I stopped talking to her for quite awhile because I couldn't watch her do that to herself. She actually got really mad at me when I told her how I felt ! We are ok now..shes actually been a great source of support for me since I was diagnosed and she stopped drinking

The best research I have seen on alcohol intake: most healthy females appear to be able to process 1/2 oz pure alcohol per hour. That is equal to one 12 oz beer, one 1oz shot, or one 5 oz glass of wine. The factors that reduce one's capacity to metabolize that efficiently include illness, fatigue, dehydration, flying, having one's period and using various meds. My goal for nutrition in general is to support my functioning, and that of my internal organs, so I drink less than daily, and limit it to one 5 oz glass of wine on days I do drink. Sometimes it just doesn't sound appealing, or I have a metallic taste in my mouth that makes it even less so. I keep an eye on blood work, not wanting to see liver enzymes going up. The other really useful factoid for me is that more than two drinks per day, or three on weekends, and neglecting to space them an hour apart, will likely drive up my tolerance, thus needing more volume of alcohol to get the same effect. Being both cheap and unwilling to drink larger quantities, I keep that in mind when tempted to have more. The idea of having to have three or four glasses to do what one or two used to do just frosts me! I really liked what Barbe said about her decision to just stop, also. That was a snappy, cogent explanation of just making a choice that works for one's self. Her tone about that was so practical, direct and self empowering. I am definitely headed in that direction.