Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Doing some treadmill work today. Doing 10 min walks a couple of times an hour until I reach my 10000. If the weather improves outside, will go outside instead but the 10 mins lets me go faster. No incline and I have to hang on due to poor balance. Have tried to train myself to use my arms but always tip the wrong way.
Edited to add, I got tired out at 6200 steps because I was going much faster than I normally walk outside. I was a big sweatball but feel like being done.
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HI Everyone,
Sorry I haven't been around for awhile. I've been active, just trying to stay off the computer a little more in the evening. I've been pretty active, but the last week not quite so much. I had my breast implant removed due to a rupture and I'm still in the healing process so having to take it a little easy. I can't remember exactly how long it takes for these incisions to heal. Does anybody remember? It's been 14 years since I got the implant, so I can't recall.
I will say I am VERY happy I got the implant out. For the first time in years my chest feels sort of normal. I'm a pretty small A cup so its not like there is huge imbalance now that one side is flat. With most padded bras, you'd never know the difference.0 -
I remember my mastectomy sutures taking a couple of weeks to heal. They were absorbing sutures so never had to get them taken out or go through incessant itching during this period. Glad to hear that there is not a major difference without the breast but still sorry that happened for you.
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Thanks, Mara! Yeah, I'm guessing it will be a few weeks. I'm so ready to be done with wearing the compression bra already, but I guess I have to tough it out a bit longer. I am not really able to do much yoga at the moment, but trying to gently stretch. I'm walking daily and getting in a good 45 to 50 minutes each day, but I'm eager to get back to doing full yoga practices. I can't do any weight bearing on my arms and chest for at least another week though, so no sun salutations for me.
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I hear you, I was so impatient to lift things with my arms after my own mastectomy so was quite limited. I did start reaching my right arm above my head to get stuff from the cupboard and remember feeling like I would rip apart but my reach above my head stayed good. Not sure I was supposed to be doing that but I did it. When it comes to my arm behind my back, that has never returned but I believe it is simply the missing muscles preventing that.
I am going to walk today, gray and cloudy but don't really care, feeling rather blah and tired otherwise. Hoping for 3 separate half hour walk as that is my favourite distance to walk.
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Mara, I started walking twice every other day instead of one long, I am happy with the outcome so far, advantages: less tired, less bored, less leg numbness, more total steps, more motivated! I guess I can increase steps in each course gradually, we’ll see in a couple of months. 2 thumbs up for your smart walking plan 👍👍.
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Thanks Snowdrop, the great thing is walking is so flexible. I did get 6000 steps today between one walk around the block and grocery shopping at a couple of places with my older brother and wife. That is enough for today. The treadmill brisk walk was tough and sometimes will just grab my phone and march on the spot since the app to count the steps is on the phone.
I also totally agree with a rest day if you need one because your legs don't decondition in one day so good plan and glad you could do it.
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Well today's workout is a bit different. I have an apartment without laundry hookups and my portable washer I use in the tub no longer runs, is the second one that did that to me. I was stumped on how to get blankets clean due to this. Realized I could steam the blankets to kill any dust mites first and then put the blanket in with detergent and hot water and use a plunger to agitate the laundry a little bit. The plunger is disinfected any time used so not worried about germs or dirt. I spin the blankets twice and they come almost dry so is not an issue for my tumble dryer. A lot of work but may be a good arm workout. I could use the laundry in my building but want to see if this could work by agitating with the plunger, disinfect with the steam and throw in the dryer.
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If you'd like to add some yoga into your routine, check out my video of yoga for people with metastatic breast cancer https://youtu.be/BPOANpfxN_s
For those who remember Zarovka-she also was into Iyengar yoga. I wish she was still here to give me her feedback but we're here so let's do some yoga!
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No sun basking turtles today but I did see this guy or gal on my walk around the retention pond this morning
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Mae, that is so cool. Most I see at times if I walk along the path by the river are geese and ducks. Not as many really exotic things.
Been on two walks this morning, 6000 steps thus far, waiting for a delivery so I may do my third walk soon so I will be here to receive it.
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Mara - your laundry workout could be a new trend! Plunger your way to fitness!
Chicagoan - I looked at your video and it looks like an excellent video for people new to yoga. I may take a few of your tips to share with the people I lead practices for through Gilda's Club.
Mae - what a nice sight to see on a walk. I live by a lake so we sometimes see some interesting birds wander through, but haven't seen anything too interesting yet since the ice just melted a few weeks ago.We just got home this weekend from a camping/hiking/canoeing trip to the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas. The Buffalo National River is a really cool national park and we were able to do a four hour float past towering bluffs and nary a house or road to be seen from the river. So pretty! I definitely got my steps in as we hiked nearly every day. A few days I had over 20,000 steps, so we stayed super active.
Scans next week, and then I meet my new oncologist. Mine left her practice abruptly in January, and I don't know where she went, so I have to work with somebody else. I've had the same onc for 14 years, so this is a big change!
DeAnn
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Thanks DeAnn-I knew you taught yoga but didn't realize you were involved with Gilda's club.
Best wishes for your scans and meeting with your new oncologist. It must be a little unsettling to have to switch after so many years. I love my MO and hope she never leaves.
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DGHoff, that sounds like a lovely trip! I'm sorry your MO left and you're having to go to a new one. Good luck with your scans.
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DGHoff, wow your trip sounds lovely!
I've been plugging away at physical activity even though I'm currently dealing with radiation induced pneumonitis, plus steroid withdrawal, all overlaid by horrific seasonal allergies. I've sort of OK indoors (we keep our furnace fan running on cold through an electrostatic hepa filtration system so it cleans the air). BUt outside there have been days where my eyes run, my nose is snotting all the way to the ground and I can't breathe at all all. It's been making dog walks a drag which is a shame as it's really one of my favourite things to do. I've also been reluctant to set up agility equipment in the backyard as I just don't think I can spend time there for a few more weeks.
My MO is sending me to a respirologist to figure out what we need to do about the pneumonitis. For the allergy I might try a different antihistamine. I've been on desloratadine.
Still managing to do Zumba indoors 3x/week though there have been days where I was really low energy faking it lol
I've started counting my calories again on my fitness pal & it syncs with my fitbit & adjusts for activity. I didn't eat anywhere enough food yesterday. I noticed in the evening I was 1000 cals short. I ate a bit but I was full & went to bed 500 cals short. I really need to pay attn and fuel myself up.
I'm glad it's warming up here but I really need the pollen to go away now :P
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DG, that does sound like quite a fun trip. Glad you enjoyed yourself and good luck with the new MO.
I finished my 10000 steps of walking in 3 walks this morning. Yesterday's walks wore me out on the way home. Breathing was hard and had to rest. I was already at 6000 steps walking to and inside the hospital while waiting for my appointment for Herceptin infusion, I decided to walk another 7 km/4.5 ish miles round from the hospital to the burger joint to pick up the burger and back home. Was fine getting up to the restaurant but once I started home, it was very hard. Total steps yesterday were 17000. Decided that I need to make sure there is a rest break. Normally, I would have eaten the meal at the restaurant but places are closed as we are on another lockdown.
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Well, it is a damp rainy morning here. First walk, I could just feel the damp coolness in the air, that was around 7am. Second walk started out the same at around 8am then gently started raining. Though I got a little damp, still enjoyed the fresh air. Don't mind the sun not showing up as it makes walking far less sweaty. Only have one more walk to do to hit my minimum 10000 steps but am resting a bit and getting breakfast first, do the last one before 11am then just housework, surveys etc.
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Planning at least 3 walks, done the first one and only have some laundry to do. Nothing else I am allowed to do since there is a lockdown going on
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Mae - what is that handsome bird?
Chicagoan - thanks for the yoga. I like doing yoga, but I find it's hard to find simple enough videos.
Moth - that's impressive to keep plugging away with the pneumonitis and everything else.
Mara - 3 walks in day - wow!
My brother took the day off work yesterday so we could have some time together. We had a wonderful ski day with beautiful views and good conversation on the chair rides.
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lehrski, the skiing looks like a lot of fun, loved school ski trips to our local hill but sucked at staying on my feet, even on the bunny hill. Still a lot of fun.
I do 3 walks because it is easier for me to walk for about half an hour at a time. I aim for 9000 to 10000 steps most days, 3000 I consider a rest day.
Last week I made a mistake by overestimating how much energy I could spend after my infusion. I had already walked 6000 steps to the hospital and around the halls as the infusion drugs were way behind, waited about 3 hours. So you figure I walked off breakfast. I did eat a couple of granola bars and have a gingerale as well as lots of water. I thought no problem, I am going to pick up a burger from the burger joint and then walk home. That trip was at least 4.5 miles or around 7km almost. I was fine walking to the restaurant, picking up my food was fine. I would normally have eaten at the restaurant but we are in a lockdown so it is carryout only. When I came home I got super exhausted. Next time I want the burger joint, I will go to a different one on the bus and take a rest at home first. Make sure I eat a meal before going. I have done long walks of 7 miles or so but always rested and ate along the way. I may look into loading up on the protein along the way.
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lehrski, I’m not sure about the bird to be honest but I believe it’s either a type of crane of heron. It is a beautiful one though. I saw one there a few years ago nearly 4ft tall, I actually thought the tall one was a child at first glance, still amazed by how big it was and a real thrill to see.
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Hi all! DGHoff, great to hear from you. I'm still always wondering if I should get an implant after all these years, but never really had my heart in it. I am also a cup A so the effort did not seem worth it, unless I went bigger on both sides...nah
Mae, I think it's a heron or Graureiher in German. Lehrski, that's gorgeous scenery. I was fortunate to get some skiing done this season. I thought my knees would complain but they seemed to like being stretched somehow.
Mara, creative way to clean blankets.
Chicagoan, great video. I still think of myself as a beginner because of how stiff my body naturally is... so very useful for me. The other day I did too many position changes too fast so got a little dizzy.
Moth, I can't imagine being 1000 calories short, except if I'm sleeping, or sleep running, more like it. But even then there'd still be a surplus somewhere my body could avail of. Hope they can help fix the pneumonitis quick.
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HeidiHill, I bought a couple of proper plunger looking washers from amazon for 30. Funny thing is that I did try out our laundry today. Is in a creepy looking shed, almost looks like a horror movie, there are creaky stairs etc, however, the washer and dryer were actually clean. I did wash and dry my larger blankets so I may just do all blankets in there and use the plunger on clothes, who knows. I have many options.
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Had a cold and rainy few days here in Minneapolis and curfews earlier in the week with the recent police shooting. Ugh. Hard to get out and walk in those conditions. Yesterday, though, I got in four miles, and weather looks better this weekend.
Also I had scans this week and eveything is stable, and even better, my bone mets have nearly resolved. I still have liver and lung nodules, but they are unchanged from the last go round, and I'm thrilled that I'm seeing improvement in the two bone mets. I think my near daily exercise has a lot to do with my bones improving. Good motivation to keep moving!
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DGHoff, Glad to hear that your bone mets are improving and that you got out for a walk. That is great, colder and grey here as well.
My province is under a severe lockdown due to covid counts skyrocketing and no avaiable vaccines for us. Our stores will only be allowed 25 percent capacity, outdoor recreation like tennis courts, golf courses and parks are closed. Police will stop people and ask where they are headed. It is really bad here.
I am able to walk as exercise is an allowed activity and we are able to maintain the 6 ft distance when just walking up the street. I will go back to walking tomorrow I think. I can still see my brother since as someone who lives alone, I absorbed into their household.
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I am waiting for a delivery of a small washing machine for my apartment and washing sticks if I want to do it manually. For this reason, I will get at least my 10000 steps 500 at a time, just marching on my stepbench so I am not too noisy for downdstairs neighbour. Feels just as good as walking outside.
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My last chemo on April 8 really knocked me on my butt. So fatigued & so much bone & muscle pain. I took hydromorph several times on Sun & Mon on top of my other pain meds just to cope. Between that & my ongoing shortness of breath/pneumonitis plus horrific allergies outside it's been hard to get my steps in. I also noticed that even a couple days down & I become deconditioned so fast - it takes longer to bounce back. But anyway, by mid last week I was back to 2 walks daily. I'm going to try Zumba at home today - have not done it since April 7th. The lung issue is a total drag. I hope we sort it out fast & I get better.
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Good luck with the Zumba Moth. Hope your lungs get better soon so you can get some fresh air.
I got almost 9000 steps walking to the hospital, to the opposite end to get my CT of chest and then walked home. Was quite a pleasant walk on the way there as it was only 7am. Very quick appointment too, was home by 830.
I really hope Rogers fixes its towers, mobile service for me is down and I would like to be able to answer the phone if they call about an app't. I was able to register for AstraZeneca as they lowered the age to 40 plus at local pharmacies.
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Cross posted from another thread:
Well, my body woke me up at 430 am again, due to earlier bedtimes now. I don't mind. Since there was not much housework I could do without extra noise, decided to get my 10000 steps before 10. Doing it on my treadmill to keep it easy. Once that is done, I have a lot of garbage and amazon packaging to put away. Got cat litter, cat food and saved up survey money for a wee washer with a lid. Doing 10 mins or so at a time and I think most days will likely start this way since I go to bed so early. Other than that, not much to do other than housework. Maybe I will file taxes for this year, they are due by the end of the month.
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