@TopOfTheCliff thanks so much for your message and so sorry that you're having to go through this awful process for a second time. Unfortunately there is no Maggie's centre nearby, which is a shame because I've heard so much about them. I haven't been able to find any cancer classes and I had assumed that the NHS would give some guidance or help in building you back up at the end of treatment but that was a little naive of me. I do have an inclusive council run leisure centre nearby which runs classes for all abilities but the classes for the less able are all run during the day and I'm at work. Not full time yet but will be quite soon. Exhausted doesn't even come close to describing how I feel. I will have a look at gentle recover - thank you. Yes, it was a while ago now (surgery was in April) but I had all armpit nodes removed. I say all but then they told me it was only 6 and I totally freaked out about that. I was convinced that they had left all the cancerous ones inside me. I was told by the radiotherapy doctor that it's quite common to have fewer lymph nodes if you have chemo first and they don't know why, which somewhat eased my mind. I haven't noticed any swelling but I think I read that it can happen at any point. What is the difference between lymphoedema and post surgical swelling? I'd have thought post surgical swelling would be something which happened immediately after surgery. I don't have a favourite exercise. Never really exercised before. Always too hard to fit in around work/kids/life. I did start doing some yoga with Adrienne in the summer, which I found quite good for helping me stretch and feel less achy, but then another breast cancer patient told me that things like downward dog were a big no no if you are trying to avoid lymphoedema and it scared me.
@FairyWren7 hello! Aww, I love the photo of you holding the kitten. Absolutely adorable. I had my first haircut at the barbers last week (only £15, can't believe I've been paying so much at the hairdressers when this was an option all along) and I love it. I feel so much better now that my hair has an actual style rather than just growing out of my head wildly. I'll see if I can post a photo once I've figured out how to cover my face.
@Silkiebunny hello and thank you for your kind words. To be honest, I live on a steep hill so I have no choice but to walk up or down a hill if I want to leave the house on foot. It's been a good way to assess my progress. At first I couldn't do it at all and if I tried to walk, I'd be panting and stopping every few steps. Well, I say steps but I sort of shuffled. I can now overtake some people as I'm walking. I've had lots of problems with my toenails which has really held me back in terms of exercise and walking. But I had my third (and hopefully final) toenail surgery last week and my feet feel normal and I can walk without pain at last, which I am very pleased about. I can't swim, which is a bit embarrassing, and get a bit panicky in water, but lots of people have recommended it as an exercise. Tbh, I think the idea of the pool itself really puts me off. You know that scene in motherland where she gets a plaster stuck to her? That is how I view swimming pools 😂 I have found lessons for nervous adults in my local area so maybe I could bite the bullet and sign up. I have been so awful and lazy with doing the arm exercises. Are you still doing the ones recommended after surgery? I did them religiously at first and then just stopped. I am right handed and my cancer was on the right side, so I naturally want to use my right arm to reach something high but it won't stretch high enough. That's on me. I was given all of the information but I am so bad at sticking at things. I would love to able to say I have lots of muscle like you! I feel like a frail woman from the Victorian times at the moment - the type that could faint at any given moment and were seen as fragile and weak. I do not want to see myself that way. I contacted a PT at a gym yesterday and talked through my limitations and she thinks she will be able to help me, so I'll see how that goes. I've never been to a gym before and having someone walking me through it seems less intimidating than trying to figure it out alone. Do you find that you use the sauna/steam room/jacuzzi with the heat and lymphoedema risk? I did look at a club with those sorts of things but didn't think I'd be able to use them.
@dotty2 hello and sorry you have now developed lymphoedema. It seems so unfair to have these extra problems on top of having had cancer. I did have quite a bit of cording too, but I was under the impression that was fairly common in a node clearance. I understand how you feel about the compression sleeve and it being a constant cancer reminder and I really feel for you. It's something we want to put behind us. I feel similarly about my scar, although it is mainly on my back so I can't see it all the time. I had licap surgery, but I am fairly skinny across the ribs so they needed to take flesh all the way up my shoulder blade. It also curves upwards and has a dog ear on the end of it. I call it my back nipple. The scar and dog ear are visible if I west anything strappy. Not that I have done that so far - I am still only wearing wide strapped, stretchy bras. It feels like my breast will never stop being tender at this rate. I hope that you do see some improvement and can limit the amount of time you need to wear the sleeve.