Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log

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Comments

  • Laural
    Laural Member Posts: 212
    edited August 2014

    Glennie,

    Sounds like you may need to contact a company directly and see what they might be able to come up with. I know that JoviPak does custom garments, as do some others. May be worth trying to get a one sided compression garment that works for you. It is indeed a do-it-yourself condition.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    Thanks, Laural. I think that is a good idea. After wearing my swell spot most of the day yesterday, when I took it off, there was a pocket of fluid just above it that the swell spot just can't reach.  **sigh*

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    Well, I walked everyday this week.  I did my resistance exercises on Monday,, but had to skip a mid-week session as I had so many appt's this week. So when I did them today, I felt weaker!  URGH!  If I feel weaker after skipping one day,,, how much worse will it be when I take off a couple of weeks for surg??? 

    blah,,,,

    I will keep going,,

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2014

    glennie, I'm sorry you're struggling with garments. I wish I had suggestions for you. Keep going!

    I did water exercise classes twice last week and ran/walked laps in the pool twice, as well as walked the dog.  Hiked 6-7 miles today which was very hard because it was too hot. I was nervous about my bilateral LE, getting overheated like that, but I seem okay. I'll keep plugging away at it, trying to get in shape and do what I can to prevent a recurrence.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014

    thanks Jeannie.  I'm off to Daytona Beach now and plan a LOT of beach walking!   

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited August 2014

    Wow, we got quite the activity going on here!  Glennie, sounds like a perfect way to get some steps in!

    I've been in the gym as usual (2x per week, except when traveling for work), working on abs in particular lately.  Plus the normal upper and lower strength training workout.  Cardio--still babying my knee, but I'm able to do lots and lots of general-activity walking, which this past weekend meant lots of outdoor work.  I thinned out an overgrown thicket of native dogwoods and did lots of light pruning elsewhere.  Even moved some landscape rocks yesterday (that was hard and I had to do some thinking about how to budge what felt un-budgeable at first!).  Today through Sunday I have a house full of family --picture people sleeping everywhere--and love every minute of the prep work.  I got 6.2 miles of steps in today, just being in constant motion getting things done.  It's not Daytona Beach, but still I'll take it!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    my trainer always asks me about my balance and if I fell the past week.  Well I had some stumbles so he has decided to work on some dif things. He thinks I am doing fine on my core exercises but we are adding some things.  He has me bouncing a ball.....and some other things.  Today I was really serious about my leg exercises so now, home about 2 hours at the gym.  Can I say bushed?  Not sure how many of my chores will be attempted this afternoon...

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014

    at the beach!  Got on a walk last night and again this morning.  Will go again tonight. And did some swimming in the pool with my nephew.  I actually did 4 laps of side stroke in addition to dog paddling around.  

    Rain on and off so have to get out there when I can.  

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    beach walking counts double! sand is tough!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014

    well to be honest,  I'm at Daytona and the sand is so hard here you can drive on it.  So maybe not double.  The ocean breezes are lovely.  

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    then count triple!  but do enjoy the sun and get your Vit D!

  • Laural
    Laural Member Posts: 212
    edited August 2014

    I had state conference the past 2 days. I have found an inexpensive hotel with a Jr. Olympic swimming pool indoors that opens at 5:30 a.m. so was able to get in 45 minutes of swimming laps the last 2 days. I wish I had access to a pool nearby my house as it makes my arm feel great and I don't even have to sweat Happy

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited August 2014

    Dog walking but not anything speedy. So high in humidity, can't seem to move.

  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 2,780
    edited August 2014

    punched myself in the jaw while donning my sleeves to head to the gym. Hadn't done that in a while. It hurt. Lol.

    At least I'm going to the gym, right? Winking

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited August 2014

    Estel. Yup..that really SMARTS! Since I got my donning aid SLIPPIE I haven't broke my nose. It has been the best 20 bucks spent ever. Don't you just want to cry when u do that though? 

    Good for you for going to the gym. Love hearing posts like that! I managed to get in 40 min stroll.

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2014

    it's always one step forward and 2 steps back for me. Excellent hike on Sunday but got blisters. Waiting for those to heal and my little dog became very sick so I've been caring for him. I won't give up, it's just life, but it does get frustrating!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014

    Back from the beach. Those morning walks were nice. Now it's back to pounding the sidewalk in the humidity of Central FL!! 

    I wasn't good at keeping up with Lebed, etc while I was on vacay,, so I gotta get back in the program!!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    ANNOUNCEMENT!  went back to the gym for the first time since MX. (last August) 

    So I'm woefully out of shape. I've been walkiing, but after doing stairs at beach hotel, I realize I need more.

    So I tried the elliptical machine, the recumbent bike and the Arc trainer.

    elliptical is the only one that use arms at all. It is also the hardest of the 3. So I did 2 mins.  Don't want to overdo. You all think elliptical is a good cardio for LE, since it gets the arms moving too?

    Bike is easy,, Arch trainer was the middle of the 3,, It's like climbing stairs, but no arm movement involved.

    No weights at gym. Only doing the prescribed band exercises, etc from the PT.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    congrats for starting!  just go slow and it will improve

    yeah, weights are scary but my trainer measured my arm and started me off with one pound weights!

    only increased when it was clear that no swelling occured

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2014

    glennie, good for you! You are making steady progress from when you started. My rad. onc. thought the elliptical would be good for my LE, with the arms. I was doing it but now I really prefer the pool. I can work hard or not in there, I don't get overheated (just warm)  like I do with most other things and the water pressure is good for LE.  I tried hiking 4-6 miles last Sunday and yesterday but I got way too hot, even in the AM. I would like to be able to hike but I sure don't want to swell from it.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    Jeannie, I guess you will have to wait for fall when it cools off to hike.  Don't want to be swelling,, that's for sure.

    Now that I made it to the gym for the first time, I have to keep going back. It has nice AC!! Beats exercising outside right now. Unfortunately this gym doesn't have a pool, or I'd would swim too.

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2014

    glennie, or anyone here, is there a YMCA near you? I was able to attend for free for three months because I enrolled in the Livestrong program they offered. We met twice a week and got to try classes, equipment and get to know each other. I now have friends I meet there regularly, which makes it more fun to go.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    We have a Y, but there is not a Live Strong program.   Boo.

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 2,700
    edited August 2014

    yeah theres not a livestrong program in any of the y's near me, either! in los angeles! is it something they advertise, or do you have to ask? i am doing PT through my LE office, because i have seriously lost strength in that arm,  and now range of motion, because of new onset of pain, sharp and long pain, i don't think its really helping.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    my local Y has the live strong program but I belong to a private gym and decided not to use the Y program.

    sort of think I researched some way on line to find that the local gym had the program, they do not advertise it at all and I had to hunt for it!

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 2,700
    edited August 2014

    thanks!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    thinking now that the live strong web site might have directed me to a list~~

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited August 2014


    I just checked at Live Strong,, there still is not one near me and I couldn't find anything directing me to another site that might have it.  If you think of anything else,, please let us know!!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited August 2014

    I just googled  livestrong cancer survivor programs at the Y

    it took me to a map, lots of sites in florida, did you see that?

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited August 2014

    Your local Y should have a website where you can find out the programs they offer, like Livestrong. I think it's listed under "Healthy Living" or something like that. There is a Livestrong curriculum but, like everything else, it is only as good as the one leading it. I was very lucky to have a nurse/physical trainer leading mine at the Y. She is even friends with Sherry Lebed and was very receptive to all the LE info I gave her from SU-SO or is it SO-SU? I was very, very lucky.