restrictions with breast expander

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Winnie63
Winnie63 Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1

I had my bi lateral mastectomy with expanders 6 weeks ago.  Finally can sleep i my bed!  Has anyone taken a bath yet instead of a shower?  also wondering if the lifting  over 10 lbs. lasts the whole time the expanders are in?  have slowly been doing more around the house Doc said no vacuming yet wwondering abut laundry?  can finallyliftmy arms over myhead.  Have any of you been doing exercises for the mastectomy.  he said I could start them.

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  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #2
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    Only had

    Hi Winnie....I only had a Lumpectomy so can't talk about what you are going thru....but I send you hope for continued healing and a Hug for Courage.   I went to see about you on your Home page but you haven't filled it out yet.

    After my chemo and radiation I did have a Frozen Shoulder about a year later and had to really exercise and it took 5 months to be able to get my arm up over my head........so I can relate just a tiny bit with the ordeal of stretching and the pain involved.   It sounds like you are doing pretty good with it all and just take it a day at a time and keep on doing what you are doing.   Prayers for no problems.  Glo

  • jamiesurleplage
    jamiesurleplage Member Posts: 2
    #3
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    Winnie:

    My plastic surgeon's office gave me a piece of paper with guidelines for things related to me.  I had double mastetomy with tissue expanders in both sides at the end of September.  I not very good about doing the exercises they gave me, but I can lift my arms over my head now with no problems.  According to the guidelines I have, it's 3 months out before they let you take a bath and relent on the 10 lbs. push/pull/lift restriction.  I have sat down in the tub with a little bit of water in it (less than 2 inches) just to wash my feet and such.  I'm not sure what your laundry situation is (meaning, if you can do it in your home or if you have to take it to a laundry room), but if you can take it to the machine in small loads, you can probably do it, if you don't have help. 

    Jamie

  • taysho
    taysho Member Posts: 19
    #4
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    I was told I could put

    I was told I could put clothes in the washer and take out of dryer, but they didn't want me taking the wet tangled clothes out of the washer. I recovered very quickly with ability to move my arms, my issue is just strength, it's frustrating to not be able to open bags of cereal, I still have to cut the top off... :( Best of luck!

  • Lilly9
    Lilly9 Member Posts: 155
    #5
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    taysho said:

    I was told I could put

    I was told I could put clothes in the washer and take out of dryer, but they didn't want me taking the wet tangled clothes out of the washer. I recovered very quickly with ability to move my arms, my issue is just strength, it's frustrating to not be able to open bags of cereal, I still have to cut the top off... :( Best of luck!

    The exercises helped me a lot

    The exercises helped me a lot with regaining movement and strength.    My Dr had me on the lifting limit until I had my permanent implants put in which was a year after the expanders went in.  I still have times that I have to cut the tops off of things instead of opening them by pulling but I think that is mostly due to scar tissue from removal of the lymph nodes.   Laundry wasn't ever an issue for me - just had to take it slow and move things in small amounts until the soreness was gone

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #6
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    Lilly9 said:

    The exercises helped me a lot

    The exercises helped me a lot with regaining movement and strength.    My Dr had me on the lifting limit until I had my permanent implants put in which was a year after the expanders went in.  I still have times that I have to cut the tops off of things instead of opening them by pulling but I think that is mostly due to scar tissue from removal of the lymph nodes.   Laundry wasn't ever an issue for me - just had to take it slow and move things in small amounts until the soreness was gone

    My experience ...
    • If you can,  please see your PT before surgery, and see if exercise he/she recommends for you.  My surgeon provided me with exercises, however the exercises prescribed by PT were more intense.

     

    • make sure you understand how to milk your drains, and keep tubes clean

     

    • multiple sizes of pillows will be needed to keep you comfortable when sitting down, or laying down.

     

    • small sizes of tide, downey anything possible that you may have to lift a few weeks after surgery

     

    • Best thing I ever thought of ....  seriously,  adjustable flex hose shower head -   HELLO,  no shower for a few days --  nice to stand in shower, and clean your arm pits, lower region, and get water to drip off your back -- NO sponge bath for this Diva - I was able to shower, and not wet any stitches - 

     

    recliner to sleep -- if possible

     

    a great book, shows on dvr -- something fun to do while you sit and recuperate - you can start writing your memoris .. lol

    Please please please remember  --YOU are not Super Women, this will be the time for you to heal -- you will get Bored, Tired, and Emotional.  You may cry daily--, allow your mind, BODY, and soul to heal anyway that works for you personally.

     

    Vicki Sam

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