Different Kind of Post - Monday and Tuesday - breast cancer recovery
Monday
I pooped! Tony asked if he needed to bake me a cake for this
momentus occasion. No, just happy to finally poop! Off we go to Medical City.
Hoping that Tony can come into Dr. Beale’s office. No, unfortunately not. But,
they take out the drains! – First they filled my expanders with saline – guess
that they are starting the expanding process and that the expansion also helps
make it easier to take the drains out). I read that the drains would be really
painful to come out. But, they numb you and it’s really not that bad – just
didn’t realize how long that they were. They also were going to call in a few
more prescriptions for pain killers for me since I wasn’t taking them as much
as I should. And we schedule another appointment for February 18. Blake also
measured me so I could order some other bras (no wire, but I had no clue how to
figure out what size to order). Dr. Beale’s office gave me a page of good
options – I ordered two kinds – three packs.
Fruit of the Loom:
Fruit of the Loom Sports Bras
One with eye and hook and one with zippers.
ohlyah Women's Zipper Front
Closure Sports Bra Racerback Yoga Bras
Except for one bra, I have tossed the rest of mine. Bathing
suits next.
And then to Dr. Warren’s office. It was quick. She doesn’t
have pathology yet, but gives me some arm exercises and permission to start.
And an appointment in three weeks. Dr. Warren knows that I’m a workaholic, but
I didn’t tell her that I’d also be obsessed with the exercises. I do not want
to go to physical therapy if I can avoid it!
Come home and I’m getting good at napping these days.
Tuesday – recovery and prep for “Arctic Freeze” – through
February 18
Allison gets her Uber pick up at 7 am. Mom at 930 am. House
is down to me and Tony and Abby and Kat. I start doing the exercises provided.
Slow stretches. Rachel gave me a brochure that didn’t have a lot, so I did a
bit of “Pinterest-ing.” And, I have a wii fit – which was very helpful in
helping me come up with a routine when rehabbing from knee surgery (yes,
different, but…).
I also finally get on my laptop for a little bit of work –
mainly getting rid of emails, not responding necessarily. And when I did email
someone, basically got a “go away and recover, Liz” response. LOL.
My exercise “log” – Tony was good on the drains and the
meds. I’m obsessed with the exercising and have come up with a wii fit routine
that works. Some of the exercises (e.g. tri cep curls) don’t need the balance
board and don’t really grade you, so I use it to keep track of time, and do
various arm exercises (https://www.verywellhealth.com/arm-exercises-after-breast-surgery-430189?utm_campaign=mobilesharebutton2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest).
And then use the free step in the aerobics setting to get some walking in while
watching TV (lately, it’s all about the snow and freezing weather conditions –
thankfully, not so much about politics or COVID-19! And, when we get this kind
of stuff in Dallas, it’s a BIG DEAL and makes the national news!).
·
February 9 – 20 minutes (arm stretches) – didn’t
use the wii on the first one
·
February 10 – 30 minutes (arm stretches – arm
wall, back arm (can’t touch my fingers – about 6 inches away), shoulder shrugs;
30 minutes walk/step (could only do about 850 steps per 10 minutes –yuk) –
using the wii fit because it keeps track of time!
·
February 11 – 40 minutes (arm stretches – arm
wall, back arm, shoulder shrugs, side stretch, wall leans); 40 minutes
walk/step
·
February 12 – 20 minutes walk/step (back to 1000
– 1300 steps per 10 minutes now!); 50 minutes arm stretches (added wii fit
torso twists to the above – AND, MY FINGERS TOUCH ON THE BACK ARM STRETCH!); 40
minutes walk/step
·
February 13 – 20 minutes walk/step; 50 minutes
arm stretches; 40 minutes walk/step; 5 minutes deep breathing
·
February 14 – 20 minutes walk/step; 50 minutes
arm stretches; 20 minutes leg stretches (I tried to do my normal Wii fit
routine and it wasn’t really successful on my back so I had to modify); 5
minutes deep breathing
·
February 15 – 20 minutes walk/step; 50 minutes
arm stretches; 20 minutes walk step; 5 minutes deep breathing
·
February 16 (“bad day”) – 20 minutes walk/step;
20 minutes arm stretches
·
February 17 – 30 minutes walk/step; 60 minutes
arm stretch (added sun salutation from wii fit to the mix); 5 minutes deep
breathing; 30 minutes walk/step
·
February 18 – 20 minutes walk/step; 45 minutes
arm stretch; 5 minutes deep breathing; 20 minutes walk/step
Today, Thursday, February 18, we have an appointment with
Dr. Beale. Think more saline. First time I’ll have left the house since
Saturday when Tony and I made a quick run to Tom Thumb before the “big weather
event.” I wanted to make chili and cornbread – and figured we could be stuck
for a week in the house, depending on what happens. Bummed because I wanted to
go to Cindi’s Deli for lunch – but, because of the weather conditions, they
won’t be open on Thursday. They reopen on Friday. The roads are still pretty
bad, but Tony should be good at navigating today.
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