Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log
Comments
-
2Fun that's my main area of LE. My arm is not bad at all but at times it feels heavy. If I don't wear my sleeve and take care of myself the arm does swell some. I had a lumpectomy and that breaat is my super boob! It's so much bigger than the nonsurgical side. That breast always feels so heavy and all my bras leave deep impressions on it. I also can feel the "fluid" pooling around the center of my chest. My chest massage exercises help. It was also my radiation oncologist that sent me for PT. She took my look at my boob before my rads started and said I needed a to get started before radiation due to radiation sometimes making LE worse. I also have a puffy armpit. It's just squishy and never has been before. My night garments help!
0 -
2Fun - I found that both my MO and my BS kind of pooh poohed the possibility of LE. I originally took myself to a see a doc at a Wound Care & LE department at one of Houston's major Hospitals. I was diagnosed with mild truncal LE on the left side - after having only BMX & SNB on both sides. At that point I got a Belise compression bra & sleeves for flying, got a few massages and went on my merry way.
Two years later when my cancer recurred, I had to have chemo & ALND surgery & radiation. The BS still wasn't really hearing me but finally said "OK go see these people". I went back to the wound care/LE doc and he said PLEASE don't go there - they're not really trained. But the RO (radiation oncologist) immediately picked up on the problem - now right truncal & breast - and sent me to MD Anderson's trained LE PT group. It's made a real difference in my life - in terms of breaking up cording, training me to do MLD, and helping me order the proper compression bras. Even though I'm 3 years past rads, my RO is happy to write a script for me to go back as needed every 6 mos or a year for refresher training and to pick up on the new technology.
As other's have written, I continually have to exercise to keep the muscles flexible and the lymph flowing. It's a pain in the neck, but it does make a big difference to have trained support.
0 -
i am also intereted to know what you guys mean when you"pump" your arms/ hands...
0 -
When you stick your arm straight up in the air and slowly pump fist 25 times it helps move the fluid out of hand and out of arm. Do a few times a day.
Drinking tons of water is good for le to. Keeps system moving.
Deep belly breathing is absolutely the best to pump our lymph systems.
Elevate arm when you can. Hanging down always, makes fluid pool towards hand. This doesn't mean you have to be religious about it, just when your resting on the couch watching tv etc.
Wear a super tight stretchy Cami with high arm holes if truncal is bothering you. The compression it gives usually helps relieve nagging ache.
Killed the treadmill and rower today! Challenged my abs with 17 pound weight restong on stomach.
Minus. Are you back to sneakers class?
0 -
Yup Hugz. I went Tuesday & will go again today. By Tuesday night I sure could tell that I'd missed a week. I really need to find something to replace three days of water aerobics now that the pool is closed.
0 -
Minus. Good job. I love plain ole walking as a alternative to gym and have hand weights at home.
So I do gym twice a week then identical session at home for third workout.
And now that finger is better I will add two more days of one hour walking. Thats 240 minutes aerobic but gym girl wants me to do 300 and if I'm energetic I do. I swear no more than that though. I got another life besides gym!
0 -
One more questions..
Do you mean pump your fist as in bend your elbow? Also I do the "bye bye" arm . It's a great stretch for cording
0 -
vargadol,
what do you mean by bye bye arm? stretch arm fully and wave bye bye?thanks
0 -
varadoll. Stick arm straight up high like your going to give an answer in school and you want to be asked. Lol Then make a fist and open and close it slowly 25 times.
0 -
Oh thanks hugz. I've been doing it wrong all this time by actually putting my arm up & down and closing my fist at the top, opening when I bring the arm down. Your tip will be easier in airplanes & constricted space, and people won't stare as much.
0 -
My LE therapist described it as raising your arm high and turn your handlike you're screwing in a lightbulb. Then pump as you say.
0 -
"The Bye -Bye ' while standing rais your arm like you are going to answer a question but as you aread raising it flex your wrist like you are waving bye bye as you are going up. Try to get 4-5 waves in I'm short so 4 is all I get. Then push your arm down with no wave. Do that 3xs to the front and 3xs to the side. No more than 3 reps. I have it on a sheet at home I'll try to find away to post it. I'm spoiling myself right now. I'm at Auto Bell getting my Odyssey clean. This is only the third time I have let anyone else clean my car but ladies I'm TIRED! The antibiotics kicked my tail!
0 -
I've only done my exercise but reading all these variations would be beneficial. No expert here on this but I think the idea is to stimulate your arm by moving it causing lymph to drain. The pump is good because it forces fluid down arm when raised.
The tai chi exercise I bumped up is especially beneficial to remove arm fluid. I've done this one in large bathroom stalls at work, shopping mall bathroom stalls etc.where I have privacy. If I had a top choice it would be this one as it's proven in a clinical trial. Plus you can get into your zone and gel out a bit restoring your mind. I don't do them always but I think I'll start. Morn, night most important.
Who's joining me at twice a day?
Varadoll. Yes please post your bye bye exercise sheet here Thx.
0 -
The Bye Bye is actually for cording but it makes my arm feel so much better. My DH popped a cord last night that the PT could not get to pop. All of a sudden I have cording again and it hasn't been a problem since
April.
0 -
here's 3 more I was given yesterday. I also do "snow angels" with a half foam roller under my spine. Thats another one that feels so good!0 -
thx I've done some of these. The bye bye is new to me. I've never had cording. It must feel aweful.
0 -
My cording isn't painful just annoying! When I reach my arm out to get something it feels like it's being pulled back. It's my own fault for not staying on top of my stretching. It's the key ladies to keeping cording away! I have tendency to put everyone else's needs before my own. I am having a hard time focusing on myself because I never have! With 6 grandchildren and a handicap child at home I'm always last on the list.
0 -
hi all!
I have been strength training with a trainer twice a week and sprinkling cardio in most days! I see OT once a week and discovered that cool weather & wearing the sleeve all day is helpful! Last appt, my OT found cording deep in my armpit. I hope this can be broken up soon! My arm just aches and feels like dead weight. The OT suspects nerve rather than LE, since I have minimal measures. Whatever it is...I have had this since mastectomy... and I get tired of it. My hand now is throbbing. To the point that I try to do everything left handed. Stretching exercises seems to be all I can do. :-/ So I will do them... I don’t really notice a diff
0 -
Jackie. A swollen hand sounds like le. Maybe try a different OT make sure their well qualified and make sure they have not taken a fly by night course on le. Sorry about cording. No fun.
Off to gym to kick stinking dang le right into a manageable corner. It's tried to get the best of me with a finger injury but I'm back kicking you know what right in the teeth where it hurts. Yah le it's you I'm talking about. Grrrrrrr...I hate le... oops wrong thread.
0 -
You go, Hugz!
Stay strong,
Binney0 -
My second week back at Silver Sneakers tomorrow. I still haven't figured out a replacement for the water aerobics I did the other three days. But then I have so much paperwork to catch up with I don't have time yet.
0 -
Ok first time on fall cleanup in the garden. Also dug in a new small tree and moved things around. Two hours intense gardeningand sweated like a nervous granny who is still hot flashing!
I'm counting it my cardio cause I was breathing heavier while digging roots and preparing soil. I was so careful of my finger wound cause it's tender. Had bandaids and gloves on it. I'm on the Mend with it and take bandaids off at night to start to get it more tougher. Whoo hoo
0 -
Hugz, you make me laugh since I AM a granny who's still hot flashing (thanks, Anastrozole)! Yard work definitely counts as cardio in my book so you get full credit (Now will you come to my house? We could use some new landscaping & I'm out of ideas).
Glad your finger is coming along; that was pretty scary. I'm back at the gym lifting weights again & (thanks to your suggestions) didn't lose any momentum while on vacation(s). I've also started "pool jogging" again & discovered I really missed it. (I love the serenity of it & I actually feel well-exercised when I'm done.) This weekend I'm attending an outdoor birthday party for my 4 yo granddaughter & I expect that to be a lot of cardio! I've been thinking about signing up for a yoga class but wonder if I'm flexible enough at an arthritic 68 to manage any of the poses!
Keep moving, everyone!
0 -
JKL. So glad you kept up workout on vaca. What did u do? Find a gym? Etc.
My trouble is I'm running out of land to scape. But then I should be cutting back anyway as it's getting a bit much for me to handle.
Yes you can do yoga. Me no spring chick either but I started stretching with some yoga poses and other stretchestwo years ago with dang arthritis. You just have to know your limits and start slow. Stay away from downward dog poses and anything that puts to much weight on your arm if you have lymphedema.
Yes you will be in full cardio with grandbabes.
Killing the treadmill today then planting for fall. Then falling into bed tonight exhausted! Yes this helps my insomnia filled nights. Last night I didn't even know I hit the sheets. Also exercise slaps cancer in the face which makes me feel good about moving around.
0 -
Hugz I love how you take care of all of us on this thread! Just want to wish you a great day and hoping your hand is doing okay after gardening.
I have come to the realization that cardio helps, stretching is a necessity for scar tissue, adhesions, nerve flossing, and nerve irritation. I can have really bad days... but once your 6 months post op... no one wants to hear it. They ask but they want you to say your good. You might cave and share the exhaustion of dealing with chronic achiness, heaviness... and they will say, “ but you are doing good?” Lol... SELECTIVE HEARING
I WILL CONTINUE TO GET CARDIO IN EVERYDAY! It really does help. My shoulder and scapula are tight on my bad arm side. Trying A.R.T next week... fingers crossed all! Nerve irritation is now what they are calling my “ not lymphadema
0 -
Hugz, Jackiebro is right; you do take care of all of us! I followed your suggestions & found a local health club that even had a personal trainer available to check my form on their weight machines. I also ordered a pair of water-fillable weights that I can take with me when I travel in the future. (I never did convince DH to let me use his legs as a weight, though. Maybe he didn't drink enough to find the idea appealing?) Walking on the beach was a good enough workout that I managed to eat amazing seafood everyday without gaining any weight!
You've inspired me to try yoga - I found an introductory class at the hospital (it's for breast cancer survivors so it should be perfect) & will begin next week. Can't wait!
Love that you're using your treadmill today. That's my default whenever I don't make it to the gym. I put Netflix on my Kindle, slap on the headphones & start walking. BTW, you're still welcome to bring your landscaping skills to Virginia. I'll provide Margaritas!
Jackiebro, sorry you're dealing with so much discomfort. You're right to keep exercising, though. Hope it helps! (And when friends & family only want to hear you're fine - when you're not - come here & tell us. We get it!)
0 -
0
-
Just dropping in the check on everyone and I saw Hugz did Fall cleaning!
I got my compression sleeve and I’m putting it on a few hours a day, I just need to remember to put it on when I do my daily walk. Hugz you are awesome and thanks for your helps.
0 -
Awe thanks girls. it's always good to help others, we are all into this together. We can bounce of each other for ideas. Two is better than one!
I don't know what I'd do without the founders of stepup-speakout.org. Now those girls from here worked so hard develop that great site! Do have a look in there! They are the best. Binney was such a help with my finger and all you girls for encouraging me.
I'm inspired by all you and these threads wouldnt exist if you didn't contribute.
Today I gardened my pants off. Two hours of transplanting and digging. Bed early tonight!
0 -
Ok dragging butt here. All that gardening did me in. I'm having a completely lazy day.
Paulette. So we're you just prescripted sleeve and hand protection for exercise and flying cause you don't have lymphedema?
If your inner elbow gets sore because it's not use to sleeve then go buy anti chaf product that sports people use. The one I use is called Glide. I also alternate with scar tape in my sesnitive inner elbows so sleeve doesn't rash me out. I have finicky skin.
Jackiebro. I love your exercise attitude. Yes we have to keep moving. Slight gentle stretching to get shoulder area should be helpful. But do ask you A R T therapist about which ones to do. If I don't stretch out my body I shrink up and start to curl in more so with upper body.
Minus. Do you feel in the groove yet with two weeks of silver sneakers? Having a class to go to is motivating and gets me out the door to discipline me.
JKL lol. I thought using your DH legs for weight was "pushing the envelope" but hey we have to be inventive. Going away myself next month and I'll have to come up with some ideas for weight training.
At home I have no bosu ball to turn upside down to do my hamstring lifts so I use a small stool and a rubber balancing disc that i rest on top of stool. This creates unstableness and makes my hamstring lifts more work. Soon I'll be graduating to the Physio ball which I do havefor my hamstring lifts, lifting and rolling ball back and forth. Phew I get tired just thinking bout it!
0
