Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log
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Vargadoll, you should see some quick results with the antibiotic, but if you don't please let them know again. Here's more information on cellulitis, including suggestions for when to use compression and/or MLD:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...
Good on you for insisting on being seen! Cellulitis is no joke. Several gals here have developed cellulitis with no obvious point of entry for bacteria. Keeping skin well-moisturized can help prevent micro-fine cracks from causing problems. One woman here finds dealing with raw meat to be an issue for prompting cellulitis, so she wears plastic gloves to work with meat. Hoping this will never happen to you again!
Please keep us posted!
Gentle hugs,
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varadoll oh boy. The cellulitis beast bit you. Well your on the right path. Your body is in fighting mode so be kind and rest up. You may feel flu like too or maybe not. People react different. To be honest when you wrote the word red I did think cellulitis but the lump thing threw me off. Thank goodness you pushed for today's appointment and didn't wait two weeks. How even more serious and dangerous that would have been. You may have gone septic. I'm one of the girls that doesn't touch raw meat ever, plastic gloves are my luxury item, I don on do my meat thing and peel off into the garbage.easy. I got the idea from someone here. I think she got cellulitis to. So much easier than trying to get bacteria out of fingernails.Ive never had the cellulitis beast and try to discourage him from visiting my body. Such a crapshoot though. What it tells me is that you really do have a faulty lymph system. Hence le. Dang it!
2fun. The nurses set me up wrong on crutches. I'll fix them thx. No chair cardio today. To busy! My ankle is really doing good with the lazer three times a day and light wrapping with short stretch.whole side is purple now. Off on vaca. I'll try to check in after the cruise part.
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Hugz4u- Oh my!! When o was hanging ornaments in the tree I poke the underneath of my thumb nail on the LE side!! I was on antibiotics for a sinus infection when this happened. This is my 3rd sinus infection since I finished rads in May. I think that maybe the antibiotics slowed the cellulitis but couldn't stop it. The poke is healed now. Gezzh! My right hand is my dominant hand! Than you for your response. Could my pump have made it worse?? Besides resting (which is impossible! I have an adult child who has multiple handicaps and an 11 y/o grandson that lives with us) what should I do?? Wear my sleeves? Do MLD? Get an appointment with my PT?
Hope your ankle is healing!
♡Teresa
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dangit. My hand is swelling. I can’t tell if it is all the way up my arm or just my hand. Ugh. I think it is just my hand and wrist. Tuesday was supposed to be my last PT appt. maybe not. So tonight, pulling out the pillow to prop my arm and hand up. Tomorrow I’ll wear glove and sleeve to work. Just, dangit
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hugz, you get bad fitting crutches when the nurse or tech give them to you, and not the PT..that drives me crazy! One reason I don't work in hospitals!
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hi all, back from vaca last sat. I ditched the knee scooter once off the ship but somehow gained five pounds from vaca. Duct taping mouth shut today.
Today I went to Physio for 1st time and he said I don’t have 3rd degree twist as doc said but a bad 2nd degree twist. Amazingly on vaca although sick with a cold I worked real hard on rehabilitating my ankle and it has paid off. Even went to gym on cruise for hand cranking cardio.
Physio gave me a bunch of exercises today which I hate but I’ll do them.
Yesterday was first time I walked one hour/three miles but I’ve been walking about 20 min and pool exercising 30 min daily while on vaca.
Today back to gym but no jogging. Doing 4.5 miles a hour walking and I have to build up slowly to get there. Ankle tired but all in all I’m doing great.
Hey all let’s step it up a bit! New year let’s start off on good foot!
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PT for wonky neck yesterday. Exercises added. Working on stretching and ROM from 2nd MX. Hopefully at the end of the month, I can get back in the pool.
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Glennie good for you for progressing. I believe you will get back into the pool because you are being diligent.
I’m doing my ankle exercises to from pt so we can encourage each other. Let’s fix ourselves and move forward together from these dang injuries and surgery.
JUST DO IT everyone! Then go watch tv
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Went to Silver Sneakers class yesterday. Unfortunately my AARP/United medigap policy is cancelling the fully paid benefit for gym memberships effective Jan 1st. But since no one knows what they are doing yet (including United Health Care), my key card worked just fine.
The memberships are not being cancelled for the HMO/Advantage policies, only those with standard medicare, which leads me to believe "they" are trying to get everyone to switch. Not this lady. I love my existing docs. I love being able to see whoever I need w/o a referral. I love having access to places like MD Anderson & Mayo Clinic.
I was furious and spent two hours on the phone in November trying to find out why this program would be cancelled when everyone knows we have an obesity crisis and all the docs are emphasizing how critical it is for seniors especially to get up off their butts. After 13 phone calls, the only thing I could learn was that not enough people used the benefit. Hells Bells - of course they didn't because it was never advertised. I paid for my own LA Fitness gym membership for 2 years w/o realizing that it was actually covered in full by my AARP/United insurance. As was a membership to the YMCA or most other gyms. Now supposedly the insurance will pay 50% of what ever one location charges per month. Dumb. Of course monthly rates will be higher and the gyms will want to charge my bank account every month.... And of course now I can't take classes at LA Fitness and swim at the YMCA (which has a warmer pool)
Not to pick on United. And not to mention that I'm told this only involves a few states - such as Texas & Tennessee - and the rest of the country still has the benefit. BCBS medigap policies (in Texas) never paid for it in the first place. They only offered the benefit for their HMO policies.
Sorry for the rant. Thanks for listening. If you're on medicare - do check out the Silver Sneakers program with your insurance company. Maybe you'll still have this benefit. The classes are amazing & you are encouraged to slow down if you need to or just do what you are able to manage. Lots of people come when they are recovering from some injury or other. Not to mention it includes full membership to a facility for all their classes & equipment.
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Hugz, you're baaaaaack! Missed you. I take it there were no LE issues on the trip? All good!!
Minus, I hear your pain. Ahh, the new year and our insurance woes! Aaaaugh!
Hugs,
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Ladies with trunchal lymphedema, I'm trying to get a handle on my expectations, and how to handle this long term. My left breast is primarily affected. I'm finishing up with OT (lymphatic massage) and currently have a Swell Spot I wear in my bra.
Having trouble finding the right undergarments to wear. The compression bra that was recommended is horribly uncomfortable. Am frustrated that no one told me this was a side effect of radiation. Basically looking for hints and tips, for the gift that keeps on giving!
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6 cats - I have breast & truncal LE. I use the Wear Ease "Sidney" bra and I wear one 24/7. My PT says it is high enough under the arms and up the back to do the job. Occasionally I add a swell spot. I've been using this bra for several years now with great success. http://www.wearease.com/
When I fly, I wear the more heavy duty Belisse bra by JoViPak. https://jovipak.com/upper-body/bellisse?product_id...
I wear sleeves & gauntlets when I fly since I don't want the LE to progress to my arms. Also when I do long duration repetitive activities. And I don't allow any blood sticks or blood pressure on my arms.
Other ladies will chime in with what works for them.
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I used an EAB Breast binder and I would put the swell spot over my MX scar and under my armpit to direct drainage that way.
Now that I've had 2nd MX and am flat, I will have to change this up, but this worked for me for a long time as a UNI.
https://www.eabmedical.com/product/breast-binder/
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I'm going to gym to kick le in butt today. Doing my PT ankle exercises to, but boy he sure did give me many! I'll do them just so I can get on with life.
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Hi, Hugz, glad you're feeling ready to exercise again! Listen to your physical therapist; I'm still doing PT to strengthen the muscles around my arthritic knees & it helps a lot with the additional AI joint pain. I also continue to do all the arm & shoulder PT I learned after surgery & it has kept my right side pain free & limber, despite a stubborn cord. It's freezing here in VA but I spent 45 minutes lifting weights & an hour on the elliptical at the gym today - at least it kept me warm!!
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Good job JKL. Keep moving.Yes I want to strengthen up ankle so I can jog again although my family has banned me from jogging ever again.
My Pediatrist says I'll be back one day getting surgery on foot so I want to try and be careful and delay that as much as I can. I realize each time I sprain ankle I enter the “surgery zone".
I hear you are freezing your butt off. It's so sad to see iguanas dropping from trees and oranges freezing. The ice storms leave such a mess with so much tree breakage and power outages. bundle up!
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I disappeared for awhile because I’m doing radiation, and it flared up my LE. I still have 10 more treatments to do and I know I need to go back to PT. Need to find out from RO when will be the good time to start PT and my pump also. I have to stop my pump so it might irritate my skin and I can see why. Skin turned red already so I npdont need more. I’m working on manual massage twice a day, hope I don’t need to bundle up by PT.
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Hugz glad to know you have a wonderful vacation, time to workout again!
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Paulette. Thx. your so dedicated to le self care. Good for you for moving forward with this dang cancer. Soon rads will be done. Ten left and counting downwards now
Did cardio workout but today ankle is bit cranky. Thinking it might have been five minutes of rowing and all my PT exercises that put me over the edge. Taking my X-ray to foot doc tomorrow and straightening this whole ankle mess out! Ugh
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hugz go easy on your foot, do other workouts. I can’t walk the last couple days because of the rain. I trimmed all my roses before the rain came, next task will be fertilized. I’m going to work on my yard this spring, and you said you’re doing too. 😂
I have to keep on top of my LE, I’m hoping by summer I don’t have to wear my sleeve that much. I don’t think I can take the heat with the sleeve. I’m praying LE will calm down ..... good night ladies.
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I have split firewood and shoveled a ton of heavy wet snow and I thought these exercises would be enough to keep my mild LE under control. WRONG!
Time and again I have to go back to the floor exercises, flat on my back, as being the most helpful so far. Despite all the stretching and what-not I do standing up, none of it has the same impact as laying on the floor and putting my arms straight out to my sides, or up above my head and feeling that incredible pull. I do NOT feel that pull doing the same thing standing up.
I encourage all LE sufferers, even if you think you have good range of motion, lay flat on your back and just spread your arms out to the side, or up above your head, or cross each over your body in turn. Keep your shoulder blades flat on the floor, let your shoulders relax into gravity. Even that can produce a stretch where you didn't know you needed it.
These exercises have, for me, 95% cleared up the armpit, side and rib swelling. My arm swelling is very reduced. The only thing that has not been improved by these floor exercises is my breast, which is still very swollen each night and hurts every morning. But I am trying some techniques for that too and if I find anything that works, I will share.
I am a slow learner but am catching on that this is a forever thing. If I don't keep up these exercises, I pay for it. There is no slacking off. Good luck everyone!
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Runor. Your right no slacking offwith le care. Thanks for report. I would love to see this move posted in a couple pictures as it's hard to imagine. I'd like to try it gently first as I tear muscles easy.(For privacy if you decide to pic, don't show your head.)
Walked 40 min today. 2 miles.
Edited: ok I tried to do it. I'm feeling a stretch in back of shoulder, lat and some trap muscle. Is that what your talking about. How often do you do it! Thx.
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Hi Binney4:
I love my fitbit. I'm on my 3rd. I just got the new Ionic (because it is showerproof). I love it, because it also monitors my pulse and my sleep - so I can track those. I'm just a nerdy data geek - ha. I started out with a Fitbit HR (no longer made) then got a Charge before my Ionic. I love that I can track my meds, etc. through reminders to my watch that just quietly buzz on my wrist. Not obtrusive at all.
10,000 steps per day is meant to be a good starting point. However, I got mine when I was doing 40 per day due to arthritis - and I increased it 50 steps/day from there.
Holly
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Welcome Holly. Great encouragement for us. Wow your really wearing out your fit bits, Lol! Yes Fitbit or even ten dollar pedometer is great for tracking. I have an older brand that’s quite big but refuse to replace until it dies. The white strap is now grey.....as long as it WORKS then I’ll WORKout to!
Lots of my friends have improvements with their arthritis but really exercise doesn’t help mine very much. Looking in crystal ball I see 2 knees,2hips, 2 ankle bones replacements coming down the pipe for me.( do they even do ankles?)
It’s ok, when It happens I’ll just rehabiltate and keep moving. It’s only a speed bump in life. Exercise keeps me alive although it’s hard to get me out the door!
Come on all! Even walk in your house today as a start. Just move, even wiggle toes if your in bed sick!
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Hugz, do you live where it snows? Do you know what making a snow angel looks like? Where you lay flat down in some nice fresh snow, spread your arms out to the sides and sweep them up and down, pushing away the snow, making angel wings? Basically, that's what I do on the living room floor. Flat on back, arms out to sides and feel that stretch. Change the position of your arms so they form a T or up higher so they form a Y. THey are laying flat on the floor. Your shoulder blades are touching the floor. Then if you want to slide your feet up so your knees are bent and drop both your knees over to one side, then the other, this increases the stretching effect on contracted tissue EXPONENTIALLY!
I have never posted a pic here. Not sure how to do it. But you're right, pics would help. I am not sure what muscles I feel the pull in (since I do not know the names of my muscles, shameful) but I feel it very much in the affected breast itself! OUCH! BUt it keeps things under control swelling wise. It really does.
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Yes, snow angels! My PT is having me do them for ROM. BTW, I have been cleared to go back in the pool next week! Aqua classes, here I come!
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runor. Yes familiar with snow angels have made thousands. I usually stretch that area pretty good a couple times a day but I’ve had maximum radiation and my area is so stiff and scarred like a piece of burned steak that I’m scared I’ll rip my muscles etc. I’ll try what you do but be more gentle.
To post pic. Ok this is from my crusty memory!
Bring up like your going to post something
Click on the little icon that has a mountain with a square around it ( which is 7 to right by the “B” for bold icon.)
A square will come up and say “take a photo or use photo library”. Pick a choice one.choose pic then Wait a while to load. It usually takes my iPhone about a minute to load.
Once it loads scroll to bottom where you posted and click submit. (Wait a bit to see if it posted)
Ok I need to know how to post a link so I can just link people to the stepup-speaking.org website our dedicated le sistas developed. Help anyone. I know it’s easy so just tell me.
Glennie. Awesome news. I can’t wait to hear about your first exercise day.
I killed the elliptical today. Then did five min on rower which I hate but did it anyway.
I’m food journaling again on MyFitnessPal after breaking away for a spell. My I do eat much! Must sew lips shut
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Rumor, thank you for the sharing on the stretch I need it because I can’t do my pump during radiation. If you find how how to reduce breast fluid please share.
I don’t know how to link people, I would like to learn also. I saw some people can do that.
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runor I do some of the same stretches. My PT also had me on my back holding a cane with both hands at center about shoulder width apart. Use the cane for stability and raise arms above head as far as I can. That one has been good for me. Then holding both ends of the cane and using it to help stretch arms out to the side. I don’t know how to explain that one. But it gives a different stretch than the snow angels.
Holly, thanks for the reminder. I have a Fitbit charge hr that I need to start wearing again. I stopped when I had surgery and have just been wearing my Apple Watch. But it’s too much to set up everything the Fitbit does by itself so I was wearing both. I need to grab it and start wearing it and tracking sleep again (or lack of sleep as the case may be
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Hugz, if you do lay down to do the snow angel position, you don't have to flap and wave your arms. Just letting them lay there, stretched out on the floor, that alone can be a stretch. Don't push it till you're in agony. You will know when enough is enough.
TaRenee, I think I do get what you're talking about. I do something similar in a standing position, had not tried it laying down. But I was shocked and amazed at how moves I do easily standing up were so much more difficult laying down! Obviously there was a whole other set of muscles (?) that weren't getting worked out. It's like it opened up drainage pathways for me that had been blocked off. Cooked shut with radiation.
Too bad I haven't found the secret to boob fluid yet. Working on it.... Boob fluid. Never thought I'd use that in a sentence.
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