Trouble finding the balance

Hi, ladies! Boy , I know what you are going through! Although I had one sided mastectomy and ,later lat flap . My Drs had to really explain to me exactly what and why the restrictions.Im a former fitness trainer and used to working out vigorously every day. The forced inactivity was the WORST! I finally negotiated with them, I could go to the gym, but no upper body work. And no elevated heart rate. So I would get on an exercise bike, recumbent bike the easiest to get on and off. Bike gently for 30 min or so, slowing down if I broke a sweat. Do some leg machines on baby weights. Apparently the forceful pumping of blood from a real workout could put strain on all the internal healing. But after 6 weeks the Docs gave in and said i could do more and more. Did they give you range of motion stretches to do yet? Do them religiously, but dont stretch to painfulness! Gradually do more and more, but unfortunately takes a while. I thought once all the external incisions looked healed, I could do my weights full on but there's a lot of internal stitchery to heal. Multiple layers . So take it easy but do walk or exercise bike.So hard to be inactive, I know!!

Oh it is good to hear some fellow souls are struggling with the same things. Not that is good that we are struggling, but there is not a step-by-step manual to move thru recovery, but at least we have each other. I had my double mastectomy one month ago. Unfortunately am still dealing with drains, which seems to restrict my movement, because I accidentally pull on the drains and that hurts! I feel like I was less fatigued and had a more optimistic feeling right after the surgery. I am frustrated that I cannot concentrate better. I try to walk 2 miles a day. In addition, I am on exemestane (Aromasin) and I think that is creating an undertow of nausea, as well as contributing to the fatigue. Oh yes, and I have had an infection. Too much going on at the same time to sort it out. I know listening to my body is important, but I don't like what it is telling me! I know from previous experience that you have to try to do things to find the edge of your capability, but I don't even feel like I have the energy for that!!! On some level I know this too will pass, but I also know it may take a few months. I guess I have to also remember I had two surgeries in July for lumpectomies and a sentinel node removal. I guess it has been a triple whammy! On the one hand I don't like to complain, but I am so glad this forum is available!

Btw, I had the same pain lower down under my incision towards the side. Still get that now, even . My Drs said no heat til healed as in increases blood flow. You are healing in multiple layers, inside, where layers of skin and muscle or fascia were moved around and sewn together. I wanted to really start in working out when it appeared to me that the incisions were healed. My surgeon said that only represented 20 % of healing. You know it's also possible that because you had major trauma to your chest, that you hold yourself in protective posture, caving chest and shoulders forward due to pain, that is understandable but might als add to back pain. Look online at the size and shape of the lat muscle and you can see, it'll take awhile for your body/ back to adjust. I'd say in 2 more weeks you will notice a big difference. Try a little, minor chest opening type stretch, on pillows, elbows bent

I'll jump in even though I didn't have reconstruction. I had BMX last year and then scar revision surgery 9 months ago. I didn't bounce back as quickly as I thought I would either. My oncologist and surgeon both reminded me that not only was it major trauma to my body, but also that it takes quite a while for the anesthesia to completely wear off. They both said do my exercises to loosen up the cording and tightness, walk as much as I could, and most importantly listen to my body. I felt like a real slug after a week but my husband insisted that I at least lay down and rest for a while in the afternoon. I do think that helped. Even now, I sometimes feel the need to lay down around 1 pm.

You have just started to recover. Give yourself time! You will get back your energy but for now, listen to your body.

Jennie, natural to feel depressed because it SEEMS RIGHT NOW like you will never be back to your former active self, but YOU WILL!! That's my message to you, you didn't lose your former self, you are experiencing a temporary setback, stress,- temporary! Pain also causing depression. Make simple challenges for yourself, I put the a piece of tape on the wall and tried to reach past it, kept moving the tape, kept reaching it. Can't explain the ridiculous triumph I felt just reaching past my last one.Keep trying to open your chest with stretches, you dont want your body to get used to a "caved in" chest. It'll be painful in a good way to get that opened up again.When you're propped up in bed put 2 pillows on wither side and try to extend your arms in a "T", elbows bent at first. Hold it for a few seconds, rest ,repeat. Feel a SLIGHTLY painful stretch, dontvpush it. Echoing walking outdoors, help stave off that depression that wants to overtake you! Message me anytime for pep talks, been there!

Oh Jennie, I'm calling today a win for you too! I know it feels like baby steps, it's so frustrating but you're doing really well. Are you still taking any of the post surgical meds? Not the pain stuff, but antibiotics or I forget all the crap they had me taking, had a chart it was so complicated. Because they nauseated me. I lost weight every time I had surgery, anesthesia made me really sick for days, and lingering nausea from all the other stuff, even the stool softener. The pain meds made me sick too. Had to keep crackers by the bed,and water with a little lemon. As far as chemo went, I got by with just hubby 's help. Didn't want anyone around.i had 3 wk cycles 1st week of eac cycle, maybe 4 days feeling like shit then couple of days feeling like when you're getting over the flu, weak, fast heartbeat with little exertion. Take it easy those days, then surprisingly you'll feel pretty good, normal, til the next round. Day of chemo, boring long day getting infusion, takes hours, bring music, or books, my husband took me then left, I wanted to be alone , went to breakfast after, no nausea 1st couple days. Then went home- slept!!! It's a tiring day. So may not need mom, i didnt. But you had double mastectomy! I had unilateral. I had chemo before surgery, so thats different too. Gets better every day right now! Small victories!