Yahoo to yoga!

I have been doing yoga for a while. Always been vrot (Afrikaans for awful/lousy) at it but enjoyed it. Then I got an inner ear infection and my balance went wonky and I couldn't do, then I got cancer and although the doctor said I could do it and gym was banned, there was no ways I had the stamina to endure a 90-minute class. In fact, I ended up going back to gym halfway through radiation, but still remember that first time I went back to yoga - they wanted me to stand, and move? Thought I was gonna fall over...
Anyway, now that I am highrisk/borderline lymphedema, have been informed that yoga is good for me so make an effort to be there every Tuesday night. It is only possible to go once a week with my teacher if you are a beginner, and being not brilliant at it and with such an erratic experience of it, that is what I am.
The lymphedema risk means I cannot put wait on my left arm. I can do dogpose as the weight is spread evenly over the arms and legs but not handstand etc (not that I could do it anyway!).
Well tonight had a breakthrough. Did a shoulder stand. Yes, I did it the "old person" way, using a chair as a prop, but I did it. And yes, after a while I asked how to come out of the pose, but I felt liberated - physically - and in fact still do, although it's about two hours since my class finished. Cannot wait to do another shoulder stand next week. And the upside is that inversions such as shoulder stand are excellent for the lymph. Must find out if can just do that at home, or what to combine it with in which order......

swellling is up

Was chirping along today, feeling really good, happy that I am dealing with things and can cut down the visits to the therapist when ... wam! Went to see the Lymph Lady and my swelling was up. My arm was more swollen in three places I think it was, most of all in the upper arm (1/2cm). And my left bra strap is digging into me, which it usually doesn't, so I am guessing my shoulder is puffy too. Dunno.
Plus she said I was kinda pink where I am sore. So phoned the radiation oncologist today and left a message. In retrospect, don't think I left a very clear message. But my underarm is burny tonight, post yoga - which was fab!!
The Lymph Lady said the increased swelling is likely to be due to the herceptin I had yesterday. She keeps referring to it as chemo and when I say: "but it isn't!" she insists it is, a chemical therapy.
Well just praying the swelling goes down - and that the pain goes. Not ideal although luckily found in yoga tonight that my mobility of my left arm is far better than i anticipated. Only once I could not put my arms somewhere (now cannot remember which pose it was). Think it was straightening arms and putting them back.
Gosh but remember the daily radiation..... sjoe but it can lead to complications!!!

a new look

Not sure how long I am going to keep this new template, or even if I like it, but have opted for a change.
Went to movies tonight, the new star trek movie and even though it was a compromise choice to suit a friend rather than me, really enjoyed it. Thought it was well directed and acted and enjoyed the script. Sharp movie.
Have not been to movies for ages, as in months, so a lovely change.
Otherwise well. Looking forward to going to Cape Town next weekend to see my dad. How great to be allowed to travel.
Then have an appointment at the gym on Tuesday where they will assess me re an exercise schedule. All I can see is that think I can do very little. Today did 30 minutes of exercise this morning. Amazing!! Cos just a bit of yoga and some stretches and my knee and legs are no longer stiff and sore.
Later today walked up many flights of friends to view a flat with a friend - and boy, the old lady agent on the top said : "Think you (referring to both of us) need to go to gym!"
I was not too embarrassed, hell, have just come out of chemo but really, that decides it: not going to go back to yoga this week. A 90 minute class is outta my reach at the moment. After 30 minutes this morning was a little out of breath... but it felt just the right amount of exercise for now.

Not everything is the cancer. Some things just are.

Well happy to report that muscular pain has gone so clearly the yoga exercise worked.

Plus did a back bend supported on a chair - apparently great to boost the immune system - plus did another one where bend knees and join soles of feet, which are supported on cushions and u lie back on yoga foams, or cushions or whatever for that matter. It pulls like hell on the inner thighs but seems to help the gluteus maximus too.

Did 50 minutes of my exercises this morning but admittedly 20 minutes of that was in the easy feet up against the wall, another immune booster and cure-all.


Having woken up rather shaky, feeling like I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything ever, and feeling that all this enforced stay at home time due to a compromised immune system had turned me into an introvert, after the exercises i bounced up and wondered if i could even make the yoga class tomorrow.

Don't know really. Tonight was pretty tired and chose to stay home this evening rather than pop in to see a friend. But also wanted to try on all the pajamas I had bought today and wrap a present and....

Went to work super late today so that could go shopping and do all those things i could not do during my immune compromised week last week. Only went to four shops, and all in Rosebank, but then also went for manicure and pedicure later, so maybe that tired me out a little. And then also popped into a clothing shop before the beautician and also stopped off at Fournos for rolls and tzatziki on my way home. And not wacked. Just happy to chill.

Oh it is amazing - and silly - how desperate I am to listen to anyone who can bring me good tidings re my symptoms. The two beauticians attending me today assured me that if my nails split it wouldn't be so bad, that nail polish would protect them, and my toenails were fine but my skin just a bit dry. And I believed them. Like I believed that stupid assistant in hyde park who said that eyebrow stuff would stop my eyebrows from falling out/thinning. Bullshit. But the beauticians I do like.

Plan to read tonight. Lol. Seldom too and it is hard to say why. It started even before the diagnosis so cannot even say it's cos of the cancer and my emotional state. It just is.


This is similar to the one pose I did, except I did it supported on cushions and foams and I lay back:
www.yogajournal.com/poses/486


This is another exercise which really helped. Here it is not classified as yoga but it is essentially the same movement:
www.spine-health.com/fig-20-buttocks-stretch-piriformis

physically 'pap'

Today is a month since I phoned the doctor for the results of my biopsy report and he told me there were abnormal cells.
Ok but am physically far weaker than usual.
Did a restorative yoga programme with my yoga guru friend yesterday for an hour which was great. This morning tried basic stretches which I used to do at the end of my 1 hr 25 min gym sessions four times a week (now banned from gym cos the chemo I am on can affect the heart), and was horrified how weak I felt, ending up a slight sweat and a little out of breath at what was unlikely to have been more than 15-20 minutes of simple stretches, some done perfunctoraly (such a word exist???) as they were too difficult to do properly. Not sure if that is 'cos of not excercising much in the last month or from the poison put into me. Probably a combination of both.
Seeing my biokineticist on Tuesday just to discuss things as she is leaving the country at the end of the month, and going to make an effort to do regular yoga/stretches.
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2793?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=b&utm_campaign=DI_2009-01-26