exercises | Snorkeling the ABC Islands

I went and had physio at the rehab services yesterday. They made measurements on both arms again, to see if I am having any lymphedema. The measurements looked pretty good, though slightly increased at the top 3 measurements near upper arm/armpit. She said we will just keep an eye on them for now, it’s nothing to be alarmed about. I know the signs and symptoms of lymphedema and will vigilant watching for it.

We did more exercises and I used a band to do some bicept/tricept exercises. She was pleased with my strength and mobility of the arm/shoulder area. We talked about the “zingers” I get when my shoulder goes in a certain way. The “sunburn” type pain I was having has gradually been lessening so that’s something to cheer about. It was so bad initially I had to sit with my arm up over the recliner, with nothing touching it, or I would weep with pain. The pain then, and for many weeks was a constant 8-10/10 and it felt like 2 bad sunburns being rubbed against each other. Now the pain is about a 3/10.

I got a call to say I have to have a liver ultrasound on Sunday March 13th. (It’s amazing to me they are doing this stuff on a Sunday, but I confirmed it. I imagine they want this stuff done before the radiation starts, and I was injected by nuclear medicine on Tuesday for the bone scan, so I guess they need a few days to get the tracer out of my system. So next thing medically for me is the Liver US. Again, I think they are just checking to see if it has metastasized before the radiation starts. Wish me luck! Then, the next thing for me is Radiation that starts on Wednesday March 16th and will go on daily mon-fri x 5 weeks.. so I’m thinking that will be until April 19th or so… but that’s not confirmed yet. I’ve been warned by everyone and their dog that the radiation can affect how tired I am… (and I’m wiped and tired now, so I’m not seeing how it can be much worse, to be honest.)

Good or bad, I’ll let you all know how the radiation feels. Right now I’m just tired of being sick. I’ve been sick with this damned sore throat ( sore enough to feel like strep or a tonsilar abscess) anyways Dr can see me today and I’m soooo hoping I get some antibiotics. I was talking to mum on the phone today and I started to hack and wretch so bad because throat is so inflamed and swollen still, that I had to run to bathroom to throw up (sorry, TMI) so hopefully I’m not going to look like a friggin raccoon full of petechae around my eyes. SIGH! I just want to feel better and get some energy.

I know it sounds like I’m whining right now, but I’m just feeling a little wiped/fatigued/sick of hacking.

I know there are alot of people out there dealing with more than I am, and I want you to know I am feeling glad and grateful that the cancer was caught early, hopeful that it has not spread elsewhere, and thankful to my my husband Maurice who has been my rock, and to my friends and collegues to give me no end of warm fuzzies when least expected. 🙂 No matter how crappy I feel, I know I have a husband who loves me and helps me so much, family and friends who love me. When all is said and done, that’s what is really important. Having cancer really makes you re-evaluate the priorities in life. What is really important, what matters. It’s the people in your life, not the things in your life, that give your life meaning and worth. I’m blessed to have great people in mine. I hope you have the same in yours, and if you don’t… then get out there and work on it! Pick up the phone and make some first steps. 🙂

…Pam…

Hi everyone,

I just thought I’d write an update. I still have my drain in, and homecare called and said they will come out tomorrow to see me. The drainage is definately slowing so I think it will be less than 24 cc in 24 hrs as of today. The dressing is still on there and quite a thick one so I can’t really see the incision or anything, though I do think there is some bruising under it that i am seeing.

I’m doing alright pain wise. I’d say on the pain scale, just sitting here doing nothing that I am at about a 3/10 . When I try to move a certain way (like getting out of bed), it zings me and I get kind of like an electric zap, and the pain shoots up. I think the tube is irritating a nerve or something. So I am still needing help just to get out of bed, otherwise I am doing alright. 🙂

I’m taking tylenol # 3 x 1 tab about every 5 hrs or so, depending on how much I am moving around. I will be glad to get the drain out, as it is what is bothering me the most at this point. I am doing my exercises several times a day. Physio gave me several to do until the drain comes out, and once it’s out, I have to do new ones as well. All are geared to keep the area stretched and mobile so I don’t get a frozen shoulder, and that it facilitates drainage…

the exercises I do several times a day now are

1. shrug both of my shoulders up, then relax – do 10x

2. roll both of my shoulders around in circles – do 10x

3 Neck exercises – turn my head from side to side – do 10x

4. Bend my head to the side bringing my ear to my shoulder – repeat with the other side – I am not doing these because of the problem I have with my C 6-7 and this might aggravate it, so I spoke with physio and she agreed this one is not a good idea for me to do.

Hand and wrist extensions

5. Make a fist and then stretch out my fingers straight – do 10 x

6. Make circles with my wrist – ( I make a fist, and move my fist around in small circles to make wrist circles) – do 10x

Elbow and shoulder Exercises

7. Bend and straighten my elbow – so I sit in a chair and have my hand straight down at my side and then I pull up my arm and bend it until my fist is on my shoulder.. like I was lifting weights, but no weights… just moving my arm back down and up again. d0 10 x

8. Bend at the waist so I’m facing the floor, with my arm on my operated side hanging parallel to my legs and swing arms in a circle. If you were bent at the waist, and your arms hanging down almost touching the floor, swing arms in a small circle, like you were stirring a vat of soup. 🙂 do 10x

so this is the routine I do several x a day. They have ordered it every 4 hrs while awake on the sheet of paper, but physio said 3x a day.. so I do it at least 3x and more if I think of it. Once the drain is out, I will add some more and I’ll post what I’m doing once I start those.

Thanks everyone for the emails, blog posts, phone calls and for the cards, and gifts and visits. 🙂

…Pam…

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao