yoga and implants

Joycelouise
Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have been enjoying learning yoga lately. I find that I have limited mobility on my mas. side, but it is not too bad. Now I am looking forward to getting expanders and implants (I will also get a small implant on my non. mas. side). Those of you who have had implants...how much did it cut down on mobility? I know that with the mas. it took a little time to feel normal again. Are implants worse since they go under the muscle? In time does most of the range of movement come back? If any of you are both implant recipients and yogis, can I do things like down dog at all during the time of the expanders? Should I put off buying a one year pass at the yoga studio? Should I reconsider the implants in favor of yoga? Should I cry because this stupid BC infringes in my life (maybe, but it won't help much!) I know you guys will be a much better source of help.
Thanks for any insights. love, Joyce

Comments

  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #2
    Good for you
    Joyce, I'm so glad for you that you are enjoying yoga. I can't answer any of your questions on the expanders/implants but I know you will get lots of good info. from others who have experience. Btw, what are you holding in your picture? E
  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    #3
    expander issues
    Hi Joyce~
    My expander has not caused any issues with exercise. I have used bands (the stretchy ones the physical therapist gives), plus some light aerobics. The expander doesn't bounce (LOL) but the real one does! Since I am having the latissimus flap done on the 23 of this month I have been considering turning to yoga to help out that back area, as well as all of me. There is a yoga specialist thru my breast doctor who offers free classes for breast cancer survivors--so after the big recovery I will give her a try. I will check her out later this week to get the info. I will be happy to share her insights. I found physical therapy to be vital in my recovery.
    Love ya~
    Melanie
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #4
    Mobility questions
    Why don't you call your doctor's office and talk to the nurse about what limitations surgery and implants usually entail and for how long? Most doctors recommend stuff like yoga after stitches have healed because it keeps scar tissue from forming and limiting mobility, itenhances our immune system and it also keeps us well. Notice I said "after stitches have healed". His office should be able to tell how long that will take and it is a great question to ask beforehand. After surgery just make sure you get your doctor's okay before you do as much as a down dog and don't push limits if it hurts!
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #5
    Eil4186 said:

    Good for you
    Joyce, I'm so glad for you that you are enjoying yoga. I can't answer any of your questions on the expanders/implants but I know you will get lots of good info. from others who have experience. Btw, what are you holding in your picture? E

    Like you in your picture, I
    Like you in your picture, I am holding my pet. I got this lovely german shepherd puppy a few weeks before DX. We have definitely both grown during the last year. I want to get another pic. for my website in the same chair with my 85 lb. dog on my lap. Maybe if I keep up the yoga I will find a position that will make that possible! love, Joyce
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #6
    GreeneyedGirl said:

    expander issues
    Hi Joyce~
    My expander has not caused any issues with exercise. I have used bands (the stretchy ones the physical therapist gives), plus some light aerobics. The expander doesn't bounce (LOL) but the real one does! Since I am having the latissimus flap done on the 23 of this month I have been considering turning to yoga to help out that back area, as well as all of me. There is a yoga specialist thru my breast doctor who offers free classes for breast cancer survivors--so after the big recovery I will give her a try. I will check her out later this week to get the info. I will be happy to share her insights. I found physical therapy to be vital in my recovery.
    Love ya~
    Melanie

    That is good news that you
    That is good news that you can keep up with arm exercise. I hope you try the yoga and like it as much as I do. It helps me feel good about my body, like we have kissed and made up after a fight (BC). How nice that your doctor provides a yoga program. Thanks for the response, love, JOyce
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #7
    cabbott said:

    Mobility questions
    Why don't you call your doctor's office and talk to the nurse about what limitations surgery and implants usually entail and for how long? Most doctors recommend stuff like yoga after stitches have healed because it keeps scar tissue from forming and limiting mobility, itenhances our immune system and it also keeps us well. Notice I said "after stitches have healed". His office should be able to tell how long that will take and it is a great question to ask beforehand. After surgery just make sure you get your doctor's okay before you do as much as a down dog and don't push limits if it hurts!

    Thanks, Cabbot. Oh, my
    Thanks, Cabbot. Oh, my gosh...I had actually forgotten about the stitches, of course that will put a damper on things. I will talk to the surgeon/staff about healing, but I don't always believe what they tell me. I think they are obligated to give the safest advice and recommend the longest recoveries. When I got my mas. I thought I was going to be bedridden for weeks after listening to the literature and bought lots of books to read. The next day I walked to Starbucks with my puppy (drain tucked in), by the end of the week I was stuffing a balled up bobby sock (I am small breasted) in my bra and socializing and one week later was back at work. I have heard that implants take longer to spring back from because having something put IN your body is more trouble than having something cut off.
    But I will watch the down dog and make sure that I don't have to go whimpering back to the surgeon with messed up stitches. love, Joyce
  • kit45
    kit45 Member Posts: 89
    #8
    yoga and implants
    Hi Joyce,

    I have an expander as I had a mas in June - rt side. My surgery is scheduled for next Friday to take out expander and input implant. On my left side my plastic surgeon is completing a "lift and stitch" (no implant) to match my rt side. I'm excited and also having the port taken out the same day. I will post how it goes. I will have a few stitches but only for 4 days which will be taken out the following Tuesday. I'm soooo looking forward to this surgery as its another finished chapter in this battle. I have never taken yoga but have had physical therapy all during my reconstruction with the weekly expander fills. The PT has been wonderful. Hope this helps. Love, Kit
  • dbs1673
    dbs1673 Member Posts: 203
    #9
    Joycelouise said:

    That is good news that you
    That is good news that you can keep up with arm exercise. I hope you try the yoga and like it as much as I do. It helps me feel good about my body, like we have kissed and made up after a fight (BC). How nice that your doctor provides a yoga program. Thanks for the response, love, JOyce

    yoga
    Hi Joyce, I love my yoga class!! I had expanders put in when I had my mas in June so class was out for a while because of the incisions, drains, etc not the expanders. With the expanders I went for weekly fills to get the skin stretched and the desired size. I did find this to be uncomfortable because the muscles were being pulled and stretched. Taking tylenol before the fills helped. I did mild yoga at home to help return my range of motion and what great help it was. My original yoga class would be way to challenging for me as it was an Ashtunga class that had many downward dogs, etc. My class now is still mentally and physically challenging and I can't imagine not being able to go. I told my instructor of the surgery and she will always have a modified version of any movement. The one thing I absolutely love about yoga I learned even before my surgery and that is "Honor your body". Do what you can and you'll probably be surprised just how much that is. One of these days I'll get back to my original class but for now I feel great. Since I just finished radiation, I'll need to wait several weeks to get the implants. I do look forward to these expanders coming out as they are very hard and simply don't move. Here's to getting the "bounce" back in your routine! good luck

    dawn
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
    Don't judge me now....
    I have had implants for almost 20 years. They were done WAY before my cancer, during a time that, well, my marriage was on the rocks, my self image was in the toilet...anyway...

    I have had NO PROBLEM with them, even tho my treatment team had to be a bit more careful that they didn't burst one (they are above muscle, silicon, the way they were done 20 years ago). Actually, my breast guy said that the capsule of the one was my back 'margin' of my tumor, so it stopped it from invading my chest wall...YEA!

    I was a VERY active person...lifting computers and all...exercising, stretching, all...before my surgery.

    Now, well, I'm careful of my left arm...I do NOT want to start lymphodema. I lift stuff with my right arm, which wasn't affected. I ask for help with computers. That, I would think, would affect things more than the implants. But ask your surgeon...he/she will know best, and when...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #11
    dbs1673 said:

    yoga
    Hi Joyce, I love my yoga class!! I had expanders put in when I had my mas in June so class was out for a while because of the incisions, drains, etc not the expanders. With the expanders I went for weekly fills to get the skin stretched and the desired size. I did find this to be uncomfortable because the muscles were being pulled and stretched. Taking tylenol before the fills helped. I did mild yoga at home to help return my range of motion and what great help it was. My original yoga class would be way to challenging for me as it was an Ashtunga class that had many downward dogs, etc. My class now is still mentally and physically challenging and I can't imagine not being able to go. I told my instructor of the surgery and she will always have a modified version of any movement. The one thing I absolutely love about yoga I learned even before my surgery and that is "Honor your body". Do what you can and you'll probably be surprised just how much that is. One of these days I'll get back to my original class but for now I feel great. Since I just finished radiation, I'll need to wait several weeks to get the implants. I do look forward to these expanders coming out as they are very hard and simply don't move. Here's to getting the "bounce" back in your routine! good luck

    dawn

    Thanks, Dawn. I think we
    Thanks, Dawn. I think we are yogi sisters. I love it too. And what a good point you raise about honor your body! I learned that too, but now will try to understand it better. Good luck with your body, both exterior and interior. Love, Joyce
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #12
    kit45 said:

    yoga and implants
    Hi Joyce,

    I have an expander as I had a mas in June - rt side. My surgery is scheduled for next Friday to take out expander and input implant. On my left side my plastic surgeon is completing a "lift and stitch" (no implant) to match my rt side. I'm excited and also having the port taken out the same day. I will post how it goes. I will have a few stitches but only for 4 days which will be taken out the following Tuesday. I'm soooo looking forward to this surgery as its another finished chapter in this battle. I have never taken yoga but have had physical therapy all during my reconstruction with the weekly expander fills. The PT has been wonderful. Hope this helps. Love, Kit

    It does help, thanks Kit. I
    It does help, thanks Kit. I am so glad that you are finishing up. I think there is a lot of overlap between yoga and PT. Don't you find it makes you feel friendly towards yourself? Here's to looking really good in your exercise clothes! love, Joyce
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #13
    KathiM said:

    Don't judge me now....
    I have had implants for almost 20 years. They were done WAY before my cancer, during a time that, well, my marriage was on the rocks, my self image was in the toilet...anyway...

    I have had NO PROBLEM with them, even tho my treatment team had to be a bit more careful that they didn't burst one (they are above muscle, silicon, the way they were done 20 years ago). Actually, my breast guy said that the capsule of the one was my back 'margin' of my tumor, so it stopped it from invading my chest wall...YEA!

    I was a VERY active person...lifting computers and all...exercising, stretching, all...before my surgery.

    Now, well, I'm careful of my left arm...I do NOT want to start lymphodema. I lift stuff with my right arm, which wasn't affected. I ask for help with computers. That, I would think, would affect things more than the implants. But ask your surgeon...he/she will know best, and when...

    Hugs, Kathi

    You raise a good point about
    You raise a good point about lymphadema and yoga. Maybe I will do some research on line to see if any one has ever addressed this question statistically. I love that story about your implant helping block the bad guys. It is funny, maybe even spiritual, the way circumstances come together. Thanks for your response, love, Joyce

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