Weight training after node surgery

To Dansmom, I have my first radiologist appt next week, where I guess I just got a preview of what will happen. And yeah, not looking forward to another chunk of my life (5 weeks) dedicated to something I never asked for. Of course the other way to look at it is that it is the final step in getting back to my old life.



I too, have to go on Tamoxifen for five years after. That's another thing I dread. So many people are "balancing" their hormones these days - putting their hormone levels where they were in their twenties. It's supposed to keep you young, strong, and lengthen your life span. These drugs - Tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors - do the opposite. They make your hormone levels about like that of a ninety year old woman! I will age faster, get weaker, and become more brittle, during these next 5 years. Yuck, I heard it makes you fat too... oh boy.



Anyway, I see my surgeon today so she can give me the go ahead to start exercising, even though I started two days ago - tee hee. I remember doing the same thing after I gave birth to my kids. The doctors tell you not to exercise until the 6 week checkup, but do your normal activities as soon as possible. That was a contradiction! So I only listened to the second part, and started doing little abdominal crunches in my hospital bed!



What Hope said makes sense. It seems that the muscle contractions would help lymphedema to drain out. I bought a book on fitness after breast surgery and it does recommend alternating sets of an exercise using the arms with one using the lower body or core, sort of like what your trainer is doing. This book goes further, recommending that the entire workout is based on this alternating of sets so you avoid a pump.



You are all such an inspiration to me. I love to hear that it is possible to get my life back and it's so helpful to hear how you all have done it and are still doing it!

Thanks for your input. Wow... you sound like an amazing woman. Anyone of any age would be in great shape doing what you do... but at 60! Good for you. I'm 49 and hope to be where you are someday.



An update... I have been adding weight and sets a little at a time. So far, so good. But no where near where I was, and I estimate that I've lost about 5 pounds of lean muscle mass. Bummer.

Hi Felicia.  Everything is great.  I'm always a little paranoid about getting the lymphedema.  My arm is numb and tingly in spots (and probably always will be) and so I'm always imagining that it feels swollen.  Radiation wasn't too bad - my olive complexion was a real advantage, so I didn't get too burnt up.  Mostly, it was just a pain in the butt having to go to those appointments every day.  The Tamoxifen has caused no problems at all - what a relief!  Work outs are going well - although they bear no resemblance to my old work outs.  I superset opposing muscle groups and mix in 5 to 10 minutes of cardio between sets to keep fluids from pooling in one place.  So far. so good, but I probably will never regain the strength or muscle mass I lost.  I haven't even tried to do a pull-up.  I've lost some flexibility and it hurts like hell to reach too far up or forward.  Pull -downs on a machine are as far as I've gotten there.  Gained back all the weight I lost while on Chemo - not a good thing.  Since I lost some lean muscle, I am now fatter although I weigh the same.  Not too worried though, hopefully that will work itself out in a few months.

Hope you are doing well also.  Keep fightin!