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

Hugz, glad to see you are staying faithful with your walking. I am enjoying the varied exercises of LiveStrong, as well as my swimming at 5:30 in the morning 3 days a week. Not looking forward to the time change this week. Darkness will come so much earlier in the evening. Hope that the lull in people’s reporting here just means they are all busy with life (and exercising). Happy Halloween! We had 700 trick or treaters in a 1-1/2 hour period last night before I was out of candy. It was lovely weather and fun to see all the costumes

I have no idea how I’ve been doing time wise but I’ve closed all of my activity rings on my watch at least 3 days a week. So I must be doing good with getting more active! I’m just still tired all the time.

I'm still exercising. Will be hiking thurs. How bout all of you! Let's try to move. It's so good for you!!!

Sorry I haven’t posted of read your posts. I have dry eyes preventing me from being on computer. Ugh. What next!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I saw that Minus Two has breast lymphedema. Anyone else? I have this and it seems to be rare in comparison to arm lymphedema. I could use advice on what works!

Hello Clynnejohn5,

I also have breast LE and I also have found very little info specific to it. I , like Minus2, have not had it in the arm and am super careful to follow all the advice I have read to avoid it! I am glad Minus sent the link for step up, because I have found it VERY helpful. When you click on the section about garments, there are links to several forums from this website that have good info about bras to look into. I purchased the Belisse from the Company Lymphedema Products ( $175) and it is the most comfortable one I have gotten and I think, the most effective. I have also purchased others from our local retailer who specializes in compression garments for those with breast Ca. and luckily, medicare covers $42 for each bra up to 6 per year. I have 2 Jodee bras trhat are more like a regular bra that I wear when I want a less "clunky fit " under my clothes and I just bought an Amoena bra ( model name Patricia) which is also pretty comfortable. Check with your insurance about coverage.

I saw a Norton trained (and studying for the LANA cert. ) LE therapist at my cancer center all summer, twice a week and then once a week for the last month. She also taught me the manual drainage exercises which I do faithfully twice a day .I also have swell spots or some call them chip pads and a full breast pad that I worn a lot when I first started to break up all the fibrotic tissue in my breast. It also helps the lymph fluid move and I still wear the small one every few days because the LE breast is still a little bigger than it should be. I wear a compression bra 24/7 ( except for the shower -LOL) My therapist also suggested a good sports bra but I haven't found any that fit comfortably . I also do arm and shoulder exercises daily but this is due to a torn rotator cuff but I figure they should also be good for LE. I walk 2 miles a day also do diaphramatic breathing in a set of 10 several times a day.

My therapist said she didn't recommend preventive compression sleeves for flying but I will do more research on this if I plan on any flights in the near future.

I do hope you are seeing an LE therapist Good luck.

All the girls have given good advice. One reason breast trunk le is not known is because docs hardly know about arm le unless your arm is hugely swollen so breast /trunk LE would be foreign territory for them.

I wear a men’s compression heat gear tee shirt two sizes smaller to help with my mild breast and trunk le. Don’t get the women’s as the cap sleeve may cut in and also not go up high enough at back if pit.

Still exercising but a wee bit fatter. Can’t get those summer pounds out of my life!

So much information! Thank you everyone! Idid the PT and use the chucks but I need more under my arm. I have an appointment for a bra/vest fitting on Friday. I’ll post how it goes.

Its a new week and a new start. Come on let’s get legs moving!

I'm still making it to Silver Sneakers classes twice a week. Sometimes & get in an extra couple of miles on the treadmill - as I did today. I've also committed to a Chair Yoga class on Monday afternoons taught by an oncology nurse navigator with 27 years of Yoga experience. Great breathing exercises and stretching, several of which she specifies are good for LE. She's also teaching acupressure moves. Even if it's not 'aerobic', the breathing I'm learning is really helping me to turn off my mind at nights so I can go to sleep easier.

Like Varga - my LE is mostly breast & truncal and I wear my compression bra 24/7.

ok I’ve upped my walking. Trying to dump 5 in a month. Impossible for me as metabo slow as molasses. But I’LL TRY!

Keep on trudging girls! Let’s go all! Move move move!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to update on my breast lymphedema. I got a swell spot and I wear it at night. It has made such a difference! On occasion I will also use the 'chuck' (a net like thing full of cushy material) in my bra or under by straps in the back. Definitely helps because I can feel my ribs much easier now! I also have a special bra on order but with the holiday I haven't been able to pick it up. I will update how that goes in the New Year. Happy New Year everyone!

flower. Good job. I’m exercising almost everyday. With those dogs eyes staring at uswe have no choice but to walk!

I got a rebounder trampoline! I love it! (So do the grandkids! ) I just jump on it a couple of times a day. Yesterday, everytime I got on it my fitbit thought I was climbing stairs for some reason?? I had 60+ floors when I went to bed last night. I usually average 20+ floors a day. Keep jumping!

MinusTwo - hope you are feeling better. I dislike how antibiotics make me feel..and it goes on for days after your done to!

I was just wondering when wrapping is needed. I'm going to OT for a few weeks ( insurance is paying 😊) and my OT asked if I had ever been wrapped. I'm learning how to use kineisotape. (Sp?). And am loving it!