Kicking LE's butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log

homemom, try a imak active glove from drugstore. Maybe 25 bucks. Mild compression .works for some girls in a pinch.Lots of deep belly breaths throughout day.

I will try and post my tai chi breather thread exercises. Easy and fast to d

hugz thanks. Is that the brand name or the name of the type of glove? It seems glennie's ideas worked somewhat, I'm starting to see my one vein that usually pokes out

Homemom, the glove brand name is IMAK active glove. Purple on these threads really liked using them

Walked 30 minutes

The NTC where I joined has several water aerobic classes and yoga as well . I'm in a holding pattern until I see what I CAN do without getting some sort of flare up. Plus I have recon surgery next month. I didn't see the IMAK glove at Walgreens so I bought their brand of a hand support glove. It really hasn't done much. I'll look at the two drug stores near me, or should I try Wal-Mart in stead??

Hugz, the problem with athletic compression sleeves is that they don't provide gradient compression, i.e. more at the wrist and progressively less up toward the armpit, to move lymph upward. At least that's what I'm told.

Susan,

I eat my breakfast and do all my computer reading while I use my Lymphapress. It becomes easier as time goes on and creates a quiet time in an otherwise busy day. Think of it as one hour to do what you want to and put the machine in that area.

Hugz, hip scope will be on May 4. I'm madly preparing, stepping up my exercise (you know, so I can get the one step forward before I have to take the two steps backwards during recovery!), and preparing food for the freezer, so DH doesn't have to worry about how to feed us during the first few weeks. And I'm grimacing over the pokey spring, because I sure won't be gardening in May and maybe not much in June. Wish I could get some of the spring garden trimming and cleanup and first round of weeding done before kneeling and squatting will be out of the question!

Hugz, I might rest, but the weeds sure won't. I'm lining up some young folks who look for odd jobs, hoping I find a good person or two to help out. DH does the heavy work and I do the fine tuning, and he's not patient enough for my pruning and trimming and weeding--plus he has his hands full with the rest of the maintenance. Oh well..can only do what I can do, shouldn't worry about the rest. That's true about so many things in life, and so very hard to reconcile to. This week and next I'm doing a lot, to get behind me what's possible before I'm on crutches and in PT.

And exercising! I've been on my bike (bike mounted on a thing-y to be able to use it indoors) every day, for 30 minutes. Not hard on the hip, and only somewhat annoying for the knee.

Amy, I'm scheduled to go to a crutches how-to session with the PT department of the hospital, and I will take them home--as well as a walker--to practice on for a week before the surgery. Your suggestion is spot on. Thank you!

Proud, I intend to leave the hospital with both walker and crutches, to keep my options open. I've already discussed this with the orthopedic surgeon, and he's on board with whatever I prefer. The PT clinic where I'll go to learn to use crutches and walker is managed by my LE therapist, so I'll have good advice on making the best of this. Thank you for the offer! We have several walkers in family closets, formerly used after surgeries.

Speaking of walkers, crutches, and all, I think Laural's surgery was around now, no? Hip replacement, I think she posted. Laural, if you're keeping up with this thread, I hope all's well and your spirits are up!

Carol

Have you girls seen the rolling walker(includes seat) that has padding for you to rest your forearm on and push with forearm instead of hand, They give it to people with hand arthritis that needs walker. This might be easier with LE as long as you dont put your full weight on it. they raise the height to above waist level i believe. Maybe that wont work with your surgery. just a suggestion.

Also pad those underarms on the crutches. yup that foam we use for wrapping would probably work if wrapped around enough times.

and Laurel I hope you well

I have been out of commission with a stubborn case of bronchitis for 2 weeks. Today I started an inhaler and breathing treatments in hopes of getting the lungs all settled down before my surgery at the end of May. I have 5 weeks left of work to hobble through. It's a good thing the kids I work with are so cute. As I was walking one of my first graders down for therapy (and coughing), he said "I see you are not a fan of coughing." They keep me laughing. I also have all my equipment lined up for after the hip replacement. So hoping to get out in my garden at least a little this weekend as spring has arrived here. Also hope to get back into the pool next week as I have had to take time off to cough...nope, I am definitely not a fan of coughing

Laural, dealing with what one of my young friends calls 'coughitis' is horrid enough at any time, but it must be particularly odious when you just want to clear the health decks, getting everything ship shape so you present for surgery and subsequent recovery as strong and healthy as possible. How frustrating! I am sending you lots of positive thoughts for the breathing to clear asap.

Back to the pool last night. My body says Thank you!