Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log
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I know this isn't much but I walked for 15 minutes around the perimeter of my home.. 8 laps... breast started hurting - I quit... I tried
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Rats Rats Rats - I don't know why but one hour after my walk I get severe pain in my breast - was hoping that if I took it easy this wouldn't happen...
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Dawne, you kick major LE butt!!! What a wonderful accomplishment. I have not confided this, but running a 6K is one of my goals for next year. I know I haven't even started running yet, still walking. However, I used to run in my pre-BC life, not super long distances, but enough to do 6K. So my goal is to try and get back to my abilities of 5 yrs ago. You are such an inspiration and give me hope that I can and will do it! Thank you for sharing with us!! And give yourself a big pat on your back!
I am behind in reading and reporting, but I have been walking every day. Yesterday was 4 mi and over 11,000 steps for the day.0 -
Managed to drag myself out of bed early enough to get to the swiming pool for 30 minutes. Then did my 1/2 hour of PT. So with a couple more walks with the dog, I should be in my zone.
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Raining hard here. I did 3 miles on treadmill in 30 minutes this am. Quite a bit of interval since that was all of the time I had.
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I did nothing for exercise but admire those of you who did.
Gma, are you wearing chest compression when you walk?
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Becky, you were really moving on that treadmill! I did 35 minutes on a treadmill, not that fast though! I did run one mile, well jog is more like it, at 4.6 mph. The rest of the time at 4.0. I just don't enjoy running, as it bothers my ankles and shins. Nordy once gave me some resources, including some videos to watch about Chi running, and they were very helpful, but I still do not enjoy being in a full run. So I admire you, and Dawne and everyone else who is light-footed enough to be a runner.
And gmafoley, I admire you, too, for hanging around in here and letting us know how you are, even though you're not getting the exercise you want. It would be so easy to just fade away from the thread if you start to feel defeated in your exercise efforts, but here you are--good for you! I am so sorry that it seems like activity pushes back at you with pain. Exercise while healing is not so easy, so do keep to baby steps if you need to.
Today after my jog and walk on the t-mill, I did the twice-weekly weight lifting and flexibility work, 75 minutes in total. It's hard work, but I always leave the gym feeling worn out and totally relaxed. I have not yet reached the full 10,000 steps today, so I have a little bit of walking yet to do before MLD and bed.
Carol
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Cool! Good going on the race Dawne!
Well, my yoga and weights are doing good. I realized that I don't flare when I lift weights. I only have so much weight I can work with, heaviest dumbbell is 10 pounds, heaviest kettlebell is 20 lbs. EZ curl bar can only go up to 30 lbs and I never load it up that much. More like 15-20. I guess because I can't go overboard because my weight limit is capped and I do it consistently?
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Home.
I thought a lot on the way home how to share what this race means to me without writing a complete book and/or you all thinking that I'm a complete nut case. I am going to succeed in not writing a book but you all may well think I'm crazy but that's ok.
Here goes: I'm a huge St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. If you follow baseball at all you know the fairytale ending to last season. They were completely out of it in August and then they come back and win it all in true Hollywood fashion. It was unbelievable! Their winning the World Series was a huge turning point for me. I had been in such a deep, dark hole... felt completely hopeless regarding all things LE...like this beast was going to conquer, control, take away every vestitide of joy...I was destined for a life of misery. Their winning ... was a turning point...if they could come back and win ... I was not going to let LE beat me. I don't know how else to say it ... Just a huge turning point.
I found out this Spring that they were having a Cardinals Care 6k Race to benefit needy kids in STL and I just knew that I was supposed to do it.
One of the unexpected consequences of working out with my LiveStrong trainer has been that we've had to focus a lot on lower body, especially in the beginning since I could do nearly nothing with my upper body. We've done lunges, squats, moved up to pylometrics (sp? Dynamic, jumping, power moves). I was a runner during high school and college but had to quit with some significant knee issues. I thought I'd never run again. But I was doing all these dynamic leg exercises, do I dare try? The Cardinals 6k gave me the incentive to try. It's been a frustrating summer because it's been so blazing hot, then I had that flare in June and didn't do much for several weeks...but I did it, ladies! I did it!
BC, LE left me figuratively beaten, bloodied and knocked out in the ring but with the help and encouragement of so many ... You all included, I've gotten up, and I'm back in the game.
Running that race was huge. And I am so, so happy! Two years ago I was in chronic physical pain with a recent LE diagnosis. Never would I have thought at that time I could ever run a 6k. My running days were over. So I thought.
TinaT - get those running shoes out, do your stretches and get ready to run!
All you ladies inspire me.
There is hope in the midst of all this crap. There is light in the darkness. So thankful.0 -
P.S. As I was waiting for the race to begin, I was standing over in the sidelines by the metro station. As I stood taking in the atmosphere I looked and looked again then I began to stare and then I smiled. Standing five feet away in a red track suit was Jackie Joyner Kersee. She lives in East St. Louis. People were quietly and politely coming up to her, shaking her hand, asking for pictures....prior to BC I would have been too shy, but one thing this whole journey has made me is more assertive...so when there was an ebb in the people coming over to talk to her, I boldly walked up, shook her hand and had a picture taken with her. She was a child hood hero of mine. Icing on the cake.
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Dawne, what a stunning and thrilling addendum to your story! Bet you haven't recovered from being depleted from the race. Sleep well tonight, if race fatigue can somehow trump all the electric energy from what you accomplished!
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I miss some friends here...Ohio4me and Hugz! Good reasons may well have your exercise in baby-step mode, but do let us know that you're hanging in there!
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Awesome story Dawne. One of my brothers lives in St. Louis and I always enjoy visiting him there. I hope to do a 5K soon. I do it alone but have not had the guts to do it in a large group. The most important person in that picture was not Jackie but you!
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Dawne: A dream come true - How wonderful is that after everything you have gone through!!! I wish all our dreams come true! I must admit, if you put your mind to your goal.... you CAN do it!!!
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Still going to walk today - I will let you know how far.... I've been wearing my compression sports bra but having trouble with my neck and they pull so much on my shoulders... today I will try my breast binder... My LE T suggested that I activate my neck and inguinals before I start and then after, to see if that helps the pain... I tried that yesterday and still hurt.. I'm thinking that it is just the nerve pain from the recent surgery and the radiation scar tissue... The LE T also reminded me I'm only 6.5 weeks out from the surgery - to give it time.
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Dawn-Hope, your story is so inspiring. I hope you are incredibly proud of yourself and realize what in inspiration you are for us.
Jackie Joyner Kersee got her photo taken with a true champion.
Kira
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Ok new pedometer on my ipod touch - it says for my walk: 1818 steps, 20.13 minutes and avg 1.9mph. Considering this is walking a hillside, I'm ok with that... Its a start.. My breast hurt to begin with..I will know in an hour if the sharp pains come back... day by day, step by step.
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Touche Kira. (Sorry, no accent on my keyboard.)
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Thank you, ladies!
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Congrats Dawne-Hope! That is marvelous. You give me inspiration. I am coming from no where, have never been an exerciser or a runner, but did 3 miles in 30 minutes on the treadmill again today. It took me 5 months to get up to this. I still can't do the treadmill. I guess it uses different muscles. I have a goal though, my 16 yo niece did a mini triathalon this summer (.25 mile swim, 20 mile bike ride, and 5 k run). I feel like I get some of the credit for it because I took her with me to the gym so she could get ready for it. I would like to do it next summer with her. My brother says he is going to as well. He just started running about a year ago, but did a 10 mile run this year. It's contagious. Thanks for the inspiration. Keep plugging along GMA, it will get better. Only six weeks out of surgery, I am surprised you can do what you're doing.
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Very inspiring story, Dawne!
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Hard rains and flooding here. I did 15 vigorous minutes on the elliptical then 1hr and a half of stretching, core exercises, and weights. Pooped!
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I'm still playing catch-up here and tomorrow is my day ...
Tina337 - I wish I could go to a coffee shop with you and talk over coffee or tea. You may have a long-lost sister.
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I'm still trying to figure out what's up with my body and milk products. I've done pretty good at cutting milk out of my diet. I drink a lot of protein shakes with whey protein ... as I've been trying to figure out if milk makes my swelling worse or not ... when I drink the protein shake WITH the whey ... my swelling is worse. So ... I've been looking for an alternative to whey protein, can't do soy protein ... I've discovered hemp protein. My first reaction was, "Am I going to fail a drug test if I take this stuff?" I've done a little research tonight and the answer is no ... and I've stumbled across this LiveStrong article re whey vs. hemp protein.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/221321-hemp-vs-whey-protein/
My question is this ... do any of you have any experience with taking hemp protein? Supposedly it is supposed to help inflammation ... I tried some for the first time tonight and let's just say it is going to be an acquired taste.
I only mixed it with coconut milk and almond milk. I'm going to need to blend in some fruit or something. Anyone heard anything good, bad .... indifferent re hemp protein? I'm just curious. 0 -
LoveToCook - You did 3 miles in 30 minutes?! Those are 10 minute miles! That's good. My high school cross country coach always told us that you were a jogger if it took you more than 10 minutes to run a mile; a runner if you could do it in 10 or less minutes. You're a runner!
Swimming any length hurts my arm ... so swimming is out for me ... but if you can do it without adverse effects ... go for it!
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OK Ladies - I am giving it my best shot but today I feel like crap - hurt all yesterday but need to move and exercise... anyone have an encouraging word this morning... I really am teary-eyed and feel like giving up.....
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Okay, I need to get back on the exercise wagon: I don't have a routine--I walk the dog, but the days of riding the exercise bike every day fell by the wayside.
Recently, I had skipped MLD for about a week, due to various reasons, and I noticed a difference. So, I'm doing my Norton exercises and MLD, with special attention to the core, every morning.
You guys intimidate me, because I'm a slacker, but you also motivate me.
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GmaFoley - sometimes the kindest thing to do to our body is rest. You recently had cellulitis, correct? You're only 6.5 weeks out from surgery too, correct? What type of surgery...did you have reconstructive surgery? Some pain when you exercise is acceptable other is not. I've learned over the years what is part of exercise and what is injury pain. With our bodies having gone through trauma, we need to be extra cautious now. I had tissue expanders and then exchanged for implants. My LE OT suspected that my TE had rested on my ulnar nerve. It hurt to walk for exercise for months after my exchange. That's when I started using as my main mode of exercise the bike where you sit down with your legs out in front of you...called an incumbent or recumbent bike. Maybe the kindest thing you can do for your body right now is REST. Let it heal. Let the irritation in your breast go down a bit. Even elite runners will take days off. Take a day off, maybe two or three or even a week. After a day, do some gentle stretching.
6.5 weeks out from my surgery...I could barely walk the block I was hurting so badly. Take some deep breaths...and I so agree with Binney...indulge in some chocolate.
Give yourself a break, dear one. xo0 -
Kira - come on, sister! There's room on this wagon!
I'm afraid I'm a constant slacker on the MLD.
Must.get.better.0 -
Dawne- Yes, I had a small case of cellulitis and I had a lumpectomy that was benign "garbage" from radiation.. The pain I have is the same pain that I have had since radiation over a year ago... It just came back with a vengence when I started walking and working at the fabric store again.. My LE T thinks when I walk my breast swells and puts pressure on the nerve. My Pain Management doc has me slowly raising the dose of my gabapentin and gave me some pain meds when it gets bad... I see my PCP to talk about the swelling in my good arm and trunk side... AND OK - I won't walk today... I decided that when I woke up in pain from my walk I took yesterday... I just feel so out of shape... I'm really tired of being FAT... Even though the fat is actual trunk swelling (LE T reminded me of that on monday)... You are right - I am too hard on myself - I only have mild LE - I can't imagine what you all are doing with bad LE..
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GmaFoley - Has your therapist given you any stretches? Ask her about that.
Do you have access to a gym? Maybe the jiggling motion of walking isn't good for you ... but if you could do some kind of cardio without irritating the breast ... like a bike ... that might be something. Does your area have a YMCA or a university where you could get linked up with LiveStrong? I know some LiveStrong programs aren't very aware about LE issues ... but we're used to being our own advocates so just be aware and stand up for yourself ... if you could get access to something like that ... it's free ... you don't have to pay to use a facility. Ask your therapist about that too. Patience.
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