surgery in one week!

[jpasanski]

I have been a Firm user for several years and have recently found Cathe. I am 34 years old, 135 pounds. I am in pretty good physical shape and have been cleared for a breast reduction surgery (to reduce my larger than DDs!!). I am very excited about this surgery, but I am afraid of the muscle loss that will likely occur. I will not be able to lift anything over 5 pounds (even a gallon of milk!) for several weeks. I won't be able to resume any exercising for about a month.

Has anyone been through this, or other type of surgery to offer some tips for how to be able to stay away from any exercise (I will miss it, but want to recover fully before injuring myself!), and how to slowly get back into it (jumping right to Boot Camp is probably not wise!)? I am exercising every day until the surgery in hope of banking up some exercise before the weeks of inactivity. Thanks for the info!

 

[clareMc]

You must be excited! It sounds like this surgery could make you so much more comfortable. And you know what, in writing your anxieties out here, you have already answered most of your own questions! I mean, you already display the wisdom you need to get you through the recuperation: you know you need to take it easy to give your body the healing time it needs, and you know that when you do come back to exercise you will have to take it slowly and easily to begin with to avoid injury and pain. You already said these things yourself, so I think you are going to do just fine!

What can you do to keep your mind off your desire to exercise?

Well, first off, have you cleared with your doctor when you will be able to resume exercise? For example, he or she may say no pec flies for 5 weeks, but does that rule out going for a walk after three weeks or maybe riding a bike?

What are your hobbies and passions? Those are the things you will turn to to keep your mind occupied. Are there things on your "wish to do someday" list that could be slotted in to this time? Maybe this could be a good time for socializing more, getting all your friends round for potlucks? Start some kind of club where all your girlfriends come round for dinner and to do some activity with you? It's an excellent time also for doing some planning. maybe you have always hated the wallpaper in your house and want to change it: now let yourself dream, then go brosing paper colours and styles, plan it all, figure out costs and when you might do the DIY. That's just an example, but you could plan almost anything and make this a creative, contemplative time.

Just some ideas. You already seem pretty clued up to me: so good luck with the operation and take care!

Clare

 

[PatriciaP]

Hi!

I had breast reduction surgery, going from DD to a B, about 12 years ago. Best decision I ever made! I absolutely love to be able to go bra-less when I want to, and to wear things like halter tops without worrying about bra straps, etc.

This was, of course, long before I discovered Cathe and at that time, I wasn't doing any cardio. But I was doing mostly upper body weight training long before the operation. I had previously heard from a friend of my sister who had breast reduction, that the toughest thing was getting out of the hospital bed in the days following the operation. She said that even prying herself up on the hospital bed handlebars using her arms was agony for her. "OK, lesson learned", I said to myself, "Let's hit my upper body muscles big time." The stronger you are in your arms, the better!

Recovery time took about 3 weeks. The first week, I was basically getting over the effects of the anaesthetic (kinda woozy, light-headed and a bit nauseous). By week 2, maybe even sooner, I was carrying a couple of heavy bags of groceries from the store across the street. I felt absolutely no strain on my incisions or pain in the chest area because my forearms and biceps were taking the load (I kept my arms bent at a 45 degree angle.)

By week 3 or 4 (sorry to be a bit vague but this was a long time ago!), I was gently doing upper body weights (dumbbells mostly) again, concentrating mostly on biceps, triceps and back (no chest). Any exercise that caused twinge in my chest I stopped immediately, i.e. the lat pull-down machine -- not a good idea.

I wouldn't recommend cardio for awhile -- just guessing, but all that jiggling and jumping can't be good.

Take it real easy for awhile and allow yourself to recover. This operation is a major trauma to your body. But the stronger you are physically going into the procedure, the quicker the recovery time.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Patricia

P.S. My recovery time was so fast while in the hospital that they didn't even give me a prescription for Tylenol 3's which they'd been giving me throughout my stay there . So I guess the Doc thought I was doing OK. (But darn it all, I really LOVED the BUZZ, I got off those Tylenol 3's! Maybe next time, I'll pretend to be sicker!!)

 

[Trevs_mom]

I had my reduction on May 24, so I am nearly one month in recovery.

The surgery part went smoothly, although I had some issues coming out of anthesthesia (sp). It took a good 24 hours for it to wear off completely and begin to get my appetite back. I was uncomfortable until the drains were removed, 4 days post-op, then I was able to get much more comfortable and sleep better at night.

It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. No sharp shooting pains and not the soreness of DOMS.

I highly recommend being a serious couch potato for at least a week. Give your body time to heal and recover. The second week, start to move around more, but also give yourself some good couch potato time, too.

I went back to work in my third week and started lifting my 25 lb baby again. I made sure to hold her close to my body and not lift her over my head.

This week, I lifted a box over my head that was too heavy, and I strained something below my right breast. Obviously did something too soon.

I haven't had the energy to workout yet consistenly -- I am a morning exerciser, but between my baby getting up, and the insomnia I have been experiencing, I just haven't forced myself back into it. But, I plan on getting back to 5 days a week starting July 1st for a challenge.

What I have learned is to really listen to your body and to not push it. You may feel strong and recovered, but inside is still tender.

 

[jpasanski]

Thank you for your replies! I am very excited about my surgery and it is good to hear from people who have had the same surgery and are still continuing to exercise. I will definitely take it easy the first few weeks. I have 2 small children, so that will be hard, but I am having my Mom come to stay for the first week, too, so that will help!

I love the advice about making sure that my upper body is strong enough to lift myself up in the hospital! I will definitely work on my arms between now and Tuesday. Cathe's workouts have been making me stronger than I have ever been, which I love!

Thanks again! Jenn

 

[Trevs_mom]

Jenn --

I was worried about how my almost one year old would do, and as long as I would get on the floor so she could crawl in my lap for some snuggle time, she was fine.

Plus, she and daddy bonded a bit more, since I usually would be the one caring more for her than my toddler. Daddy got to put her to sleep, feed her the night bottles, etc.

 

[jpasanski]

Kristen~

I feel the same way about my just turned 2 year old. He is very active and likes to jump on Mom, but also very affectionate with his hugs! I am trying to tell him now to be careful with Mom, but that is confusing to my 4 year old, who knows that nothing is wrong!

When you put up the box and hurt yourself, was it go back to the doctor bad? or just hey that hurt, bad? And was it a large box? or a box of Mac-n-cheese?!!

I am hoping for the same thing with my kids and more Daddy time. He will definitely be up to the challenge, but it will be hard for me to step back and do the couch thing. I am kind of looking forward to it in a way, too, though. Kind of like when I was breastfeeding, when I had an excuse to sit and do nothing (except nurture my babies!).

It has been a month for you, and you are feeling pretty good still? I really want to be at that point. I am nervous, excited... Thanks for your post. It is very interesting. Keep us all posted on your progress, and eventual perkiness!

Jenn

 

[Trevs_mom]

It was a super heavy box that I had to reach high over my head for. Bad decision. Nothing to run back to the doctor for, just a strained muscle or something over my right rib cage.