Hello all...and ?? re: Yoga and lymphedema risks?

Val Pfeiffer · 02-20-2006, 07:39 PM

I just started a yoga class, and so this may be a very silly question, but how great do you guys think the risk is with this activity for lymphedema after mastectomy with nodes removed? The class went great, but I wondered about the pressure on my affected arm. It's been a few weeks short of one year since my surgery and I have had no other problems. I have been an avid biker and I stay fairly active. Anyone out there a yoga buff who has an opinion about this?

An unrelated question--did any of you receive a CD with meditation/relaxation music on it from Genentech recently? I received one on the mail, and I am assuming that I got it as a result of a visit I made to their website, probably via this board. Just curious.

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile--things have been so busy! I am still taking Herceptin triple dose every three weeks. I just had my second echocardiogram and all is clear. And I just postponed my reconstruction surgery until fall. I want to finish my Herceptin before I have the surgery.

take care everyone!
Val

Val Pfeiffer · 02-20-2006, 07:40 PM

I guess I HAVE been away too long--I just noticed that I am now a senior member :-) Is that because of my 44th birthday on Saturday or because I am wise beyond my years (ha!) or something else ????

sherri · 02-20-2006, 09:19 PM

Val,
I do yoga all the time and recommend it (it is great for boday and soul), if you can ride bike with no problem, you don't have to be worried about yoga. What kind of yoga?
Have you decided where to do the reconstruction? I did postpone mine also but I'm looking to find the best one, visit and preapre for fall. Please let me know.
Thanks,

Sheila · 02-21-2006, 05:17 AM

Val
I also got the CD...I thought they were sending a hint that I need to take up yoga.....the music is nice though!

sassy · 02-21-2006, 06:44 AM

I got the CD, and had just bought a book to try to motivate myself to start yoga. I'm sure the senior status is due to your great knowledge and has nothing to do with age. (actually I think it has to do with number of posts).

Sassy
________
accommodation in Pattaya

Maryanne · 02-21-2006, 07:49 AM

Hi Val,

Long time no see... you are missed.

I have been doing yoga for about 4 years, before during and after chemo, I think it was one of the things that kept me going.
As was mentioned it can depend on the yoga you are doing. Off the top of my head, there are alot of poses that do not require alot of arm "pressure", its more stretching than anything else. The more advanced poses balancing on one hand etc. you could modify. ( i have never gotten this far).
This past week I attended a class that they called a "Hot Yoga Class" not in the true sense...what they did was raise the heat to 85 degrees....It was a great work out!!!
I also got the CD. I was guessing it was from visiting the site as well.

Regards,
Maryanne

SandyBB · 02-21-2006, 08:14 AM

Val, I have had full blown lymphedema in my affected arm - had nodes removed and radiated and developed it after a bad cat scratch. I have been told by my specialist to always wear a compression sleeve when doing any type of exercising. I think this would be a good idea in your case.

saleboat · 02-21-2006, 08:42 AM

I've been doing yoga regularly, and like Maryanne, believe it is one of the things that kept me going thru treatment. I do find that the more yoga I do, the better I feel physically and mentally.

I do a regular class with a young woman who had a double-masectomy/reconstruction, along with an AND on one side. (If anyone is the NYC/Manhattan area-- there are a group of us bc survivors who do yoga together every week-- PM me and I'll send the details) The instructor turned to yoga through her treatment and does it everyday, in addition to teaching. She has not had any problems with lymphadema.

I went to a physical therapist to build up strength on my AND side (I had 37 nodes removed) because I was afraid of lymphadema. The PT actually suggested yoga-- it gets the lymph system moving with all the deep breathing and stretching.

I think the same advice that applies to other activities applies to yoga-- don't push it too fast, and if you start to feel you are, you can back-off (sit in child-pose) or ask the instructor for some modifications.

Good luck with it,
Jen

Sandy H · 02-21-2006, 08:47 AM

I have chest wall lymphdema so have to protect my arm. I was told to wear a compression sleeve when doing any walking, exercise, biking, or using my arm. We had a yoga class in our last bc support meeting and we were told not to put any pressure on the affected arm and to always wear a sleeve, by the instructor. She said light stretching is good but if one feels pain to stop ASAP. Hope this helps and I am sure you will hear from others. hugs, Sandy

Becky · 02-21-2006, 09:45 AM

Yoga in general is not a high risk activity EXCEPT for the poses that require all your weight on your arms for a minute or so at a time. I just went to another lymphedema class as I have an affected finger (caused by walking and running - my pointer finger - centrifical force). I said - walking???? They said - you swing your arms. Any repetitious movements or putting pressure on the affected quandrant (not just the arm - there are 4 quandrants so your whole affected quandrant can cause you trouble).

Wear a compression cuff (the one you should buy for flying) on when doing an activity that could be at risk - I used my cuff and glove when moving this week as my finger did flare up and I DON'T want my hand and arm to or get to a point where I have to use it all the time).

Yoga was on the moderate risk list as was walking (with arm pumping action) and jogging. Horseback riding was too (and intense riding is a high risk). I use my cuff and glove for all of these now.

Any other questions, let me know as I just took an intense course this past Thursday.

Best regards

Becky

Val Pfeiffer · 02-21-2006, 07:58 PM

The kind of yoga I took is Power Vinyasa Yoga. Tonight I took my first Pilates class. As often as my schedule allows I plan to take Yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays and Pilates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, all in the evenings. I already teach Spin (biking) classes in the very early morning, and I feel like I need these other classes in the evening to relax :-)

The answer to the other question about where I am having my reconstruction surgery...I am having it right in my own backyard--Neenah WI. Dr. Todd VanYe is the best guy around here, and that is advice from everyone I ask, including my friend who is a very talented surgeon. In addition to having a great reputation as a plastic surgeon, Todd does a lot of mission work around the world teaching drs. in 3rd world countries how to do basic procedures that will provide a huge increase in quality of life to the patients in those countries. In fact, I think he is Africa right now at this very moment. He is a great doc.

Because I have had radiation in additional to chemo, he advised me to consider opting for a latissimmus (sp?) flap--where a bit of skin from my back is tunneled through my armpit to be used as extra skin when he stretches my chest skin to make room for my implant. My skin is pretty tight and I am slender so there isn't much to work with. But I am opting to stretch the skin I have, since if it doesn't work as planned, that surgery will not preclude the flap surgery in the future. Plus I don't have far to stretch to match what I have on the other side :-)

For those of you who don't know my history, and you're curious (and you are bored and have extra time on your hands :-) my website is:

http://journals.aol.com/valleygirlvn...CancerUpdates/

thanks!
Val