Question for you reconstruction ladies...

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Leighrh
Leighrh Member Posts: 317
edited January 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

I am  faced with the decision of lumpectomy vs MX or BMX.  I was just wondering if there were any of you that were avid exercisers before surgery(particularly BMX/reconstruction surgery) and how long it took to get back to exercising again?  I have been doing Crossfit for 8mths or so and I'm totally in love with it.  I hate to have to give it up.  It involves a lot of barbell work and pull ups etc... I want that gym to be my haven in all this crazy mess so I was just wondering about how long I wouldn't be able to do the upper body work if I chose the BMX route.

 

thanks so much!

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  • MerrellGirl
    MerrellGirl Member Posts: 67
    edited January 2015


    I chose the bmx route and I think I was out of the gym for approx 6-8 wks.  I had expanders put in under the pec muscle at the time of bmx, so I held off on strenuous upper chest work for another 4 wks after I went back to the gym.  I had lymph nodes removed, so during the recovery period I went to physical therapy to work on the "cording" that developed where the nodes had been removed.  The PT was vital for me - I saw how much it helped once I went back to the gym. 

    Hope that helps.  MerrellGirl

    Oh yeah, I had diep/gap tissue reconstruction in November, and I went back to the gym 8 wks post op.  Feeling really good now at 10 wks. 

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited January 2015


    Yes..I have been a fitness instructor for over 20 years.  I had BMX with TE's and implants 4 years ago.   I started walking about 2 weeks after BMX. I got back to the gym doing cardio at week 3 - elliptical without full arm use.  I slowly worked arms back into it.  I did some weight training and physical therapy in addition to cardio all through my TE fills and chemo.  I went back to teaching aerobics a few weeks after finishing chemo.  I now do yoga, aerobics, run and weights.  I don't have any real issues but I don't do heavy weights for chest....I just do pushups and lighter weights just to be on the safe side.  Other than that, I do everything I want to do with no issue.  During reconstruction the muscles on my chest felt really strange but slowly that went away and was completely gone after I got rid of TE's and got my implants. 

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  • Leighrh
    Leighrh Member Posts: 317
    edited January 2015

    Thank you ladies for your input. I still have no idea which direction to take and I am trying to weigh all variables.  I am very active and down time is hard for me to grasp.

     

    thanks so much!

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  • Staple
    Staple Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2015

    I also do crossfit. My doctor gave me partial release to get back to it at 4 weeks, then full release at 6 weeks. I still eased into at the 6 week mark and was pretty careful about explosive barbell movements and pushing as my doctor was most concerned about that type of movement. I did lose my push up and pull up for a while, but was able to get it back and can now do what I used to.

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  • Ami1026
    Ami1026 Member Posts: 32
    edited January 2015

    Hi Leighrh -

    When I had my umx and subsequent expanders, I was able to exercise regularly and without any trouble along the same type of timeline as Staple mentioned.  After my exchange to implant (and lift/implant on natural side) I started Crossfit about 3 months after.  I had been doing a lot of kickboxing and aerobics/cardio with small hand weights before with no trouble.  I have had no trouble at all with xfit, and totally love it too!  It does feel "weird" on pushups, burpees :-) and pullups when the muscle contracts, but it hasn't held me back at all.  The heavy weight movements, I don't notice anything at all.  Best of luck to you - - you'll be back to WOD'ing in no time!!!

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  • amieclemens5
    amieclemens5 Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2015

    Hello,

    Sounds like you were very active during your chemo.  That is great.  I was curious what kind of recon you had.  Did you do the Back flap surgery or just have the expanders replaced? 

    Amie


     

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