Exercises after bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction

Options
Tammy_H
Tammy_H Member Posts: 5
in Breast Cancer #1
I know this has probably been asked before and I just did not find post...

I would like to know what exercises I should NOT be doing after bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction. It has been a year since I have finished my reconstruction. I have been walking and things like that, but not much upper body exercises. I have had about 15 pounds creep up on me. I just kept telling myself it's only a pound but over time it has added up to alot! I was going to try pushups, but think I remember my doctor telling me not to do them.

Any advice what excertise to do and not to do would be great.

Thanks so much!

Tammy

Comments

  • parris
    parris Member Posts: 23
    #2
    Options
    Check your local hospitals.
    Check your local hospitals. They have free 6-8 week classes for survivors. I just had my implants exchanged on Wed, once I'm fully healed I will be joining one in a few months.

    Good Luck!
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #3
    Options
    No restrictions
    My PS knows that I like to exercise and told me that I could do any lower body exercises I wanted to after my exchange surgery but to wait a month to do any repetitive upper body exercises. After a month he said that I have no restrictions at all.

    Good luck to you.

    Clementine
  • Tammy_H
    Tammy_H Member Posts: 5
    #4
    Options
    Thank you
    Thanks for the suggestions. I will check with our local hospital and with my plastic surgeon. For some strange reason I have it stuck in my head that I am not supposed to do things like push ups. Something about the pectoral muscles. I had muscles moved from back for reconstructive surgery.

    Thanks again!
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #5
    Options
    what kind of reconstruction?
    Dear Tammy,

    What kind of reconstruction did you have? I'm assuming you had TE's exchanged to implants, but if you had any of the flap procedures, exercise restrictions would be different.

    It also depends on how many lymph nodes, if any, you had removed. If you're at risk for developing lymphedema, that is going to influence what exercises you can do.

    For me, I had TE's exchanged to silicone implants, and I do have mild lymphedema. This is what I've been told: GO SLOWLY! Start with 1 or 2 lbs weights, preferably with a trainer, and don't increase your weight for 2-3 weeks. Also, I've been told to be careful with pec flies, bench presses and push-ups because those movements can dislodge the implants and then you'll need revision surgery.

    Bicep curls, tricep kick-backs, some shoulder work & lat. work is OK. Many gyms have free programs for cancer survivors. Google "Strong Survivor" and see if there are any programs in your area. Also, check out your local Y ... they have exercise programs free to cancer survivors as well. The key is to go slowly and you'll likely need to stay away from exercises that engage the pec. muscle.

    Take care,
    dh
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #6
    Options
    Tammy_H said:

    Thank you
    Thanks for the suggestions. I will check with our local hospital and with my plastic surgeon. For some strange reason I have it stuck in my head that I am not supposed to do things like push ups. Something about the pectoral muscles. I had muscles moved from back for reconstructive surgery.

    Thanks again!

    I posted below before I read
    I posted below before I read your response.

    You definitely need to talk to your PS and ask him. For me, push-ups are a no-no as well as any exercise that directly works the pecs.

    Blessings,
    dh
  • Tammy_H
    Tammy_H Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Options
    Dawne.Hope said:

    what kind of reconstruction?
    Dear Tammy,

    What kind of reconstruction did you have? I'm assuming you had TE's exchanged to implants, but if you had any of the flap procedures, exercise restrictions would be different.

    It also depends on how many lymph nodes, if any, you had removed. If you're at risk for developing lymphedema, that is going to influence what exercises you can do.

    For me, I had TE's exchanged to silicone implants, and I do have mild lymphedema. This is what I've been told: GO SLOWLY! Start with 1 or 2 lbs weights, preferably with a trainer, and don't increase your weight for 2-3 weeks. Also, I've been told to be careful with pec flies, bench presses and push-ups because those movements can dislodge the implants and then you'll need revision surgery.

    Bicep curls, tricep kick-backs, some shoulder work & lat. work is OK. Many gyms have free programs for cancer survivors. Google "Strong Survivor" and see if there are any programs in your area. Also, check out your local Y ... they have exercise programs free to cancer survivors as well. The key is to go slowly and you'll likely need to stay away from exercises that engage the pec. muscle.

    Take care,
    dh

    Thanks
    Thanks so much hd. I really appreciate the advice. I will check with my PS this week. I have some added weight that I have put on that needs to be gone! I am working with a dvd program and it has push ups and chest/pec flies. This is probably something that I need to bypass on the video.

    Thanks,
    Tammy
  • Tammy_H
    Tammy_H Member Posts: 5
    #8
    Options
    Dawne.Hope said:

    what kind of reconstruction?
    Dear Tammy,

    What kind of reconstruction did you have? I'm assuming you had TE's exchanged to implants, but if you had any of the flap procedures, exercise restrictions would be different.

    It also depends on how many lymph nodes, if any, you had removed. If you're at risk for developing lymphedema, that is going to influence what exercises you can do.

    For me, I had TE's exchanged to silicone implants, and I do have mild lymphedema. This is what I've been told: GO SLOWLY! Start with 1 or 2 lbs weights, preferably with a trainer, and don't increase your weight for 2-3 weeks. Also, I've been told to be careful with pec flies, bench presses and push-ups because those movements can dislodge the implants and then you'll need revision surgery.

    Bicep curls, tricep kick-backs, some shoulder work & lat. work is OK. Many gyms have free programs for cancer survivors. Google "Strong Survivor" and see if there are any programs in your area. Also, check out your local Y ... they have exercise programs free to cancer survivors as well. The key is to go slowly and you'll likely need to stay away from exercises that engage the pec. muscle.

    Take care,
    dh

    Thanks
    Thanks so much hd. I really appreciate the advice. I will check with my PS this week. I have some added weight that I have put on that needs to be gone! I am working with a dvd program and it has push ups and chest/pec flies. This is probably something that I need to bypass on the video.

    Thanks,
    Tammy

Discussion Boards