I have been absolutely paranoid about my right arm since surgery, thinking I would get Lymphoedema. Today I saw my physio at the hopsital for my post radiation arm measurements and I was so happy that my arm has actually got smaller!
So now I will try and relax about it and just get on with treating it "normally".
Just thought I'd share !
Sarah x
HI Lyn
Sorry we won't see you Weds. Have a good trip and see you next time.
Might look into the yoga thing too!
Love Sarah x
Sorry to hear you have to wait so long Lynne! Maybe consider just paying for it? But that's fine for me to say as I don't have to make that decision. It's a tough one. Take your time.
And Sarah, I'm with you - also pananoid about the arm. But I am doing yoga and it is helping to the point where I now have 95% the same stretch range as before last August now! Yippe.
Sorry I cant attend on Wednesday as I am going to visit my Mum down in NSW.
Lyn x
I now know Cat 3 is for unnecessary opertions (priority going to big holes that need to be filled in and facial surgery like new noses etc.) so i am at the bottom. "1 to 2 years but it will be 2 as all the slots are filled for this year. All referrals go to Linda Hopkins from Plastics who slots you in on a first come first served basis. There is a waiting list of 80" ....and click and the phone goes dead. Really interested and sympathetic to the cause.....not! This is in the public system, I'm not sure what the wait is for private. For the implant is is 2 operations and is a minimum of $10,000 as the hosp fees aren't on that. I would like the left one reduced at the same time but I don't know if that can be done.
HI Lynn
i think a Cat 3 is greater than 365 days according to the hospital classifications but will check on that. So how did you end up getting on the public list? I might try down that path first. My parents are coming here at the end of the year and will talk to them about financial assistance for the suregery and see what they say.
See you next week for sure. Start back at work on 5th April !!
Love Sarah x
Hi Manda
Thanks for your positive comments. I know just how you feel. I had a pretty rough time from my surgery and no-one could touch my arm it was so sore and sensitive, even had to wear a sling for it for a while.But slowly doing the exercises from the physio at the times she specified I got it back to nearly normal. My favourite one is still spiders up the wall! just creeping those fingers up the wall and feeling the stretch, it used to feel like it would snap (it never did!).
Am hoping to join our local dragon boat group to help with my arm movement too. It's a good way to exercise and meet some more amazing people!
You'll be cuddling your 4 year old in no time!
Good luck
Sarah x
Hi Amy
Good luck with the last radiation know how that feels - fantastic. Also good luck at the physio's on Monday. Hope all goes well. I laughed at you
Hi Manda, I had my op in late November last year. I started lymphatic drainage massage 2 weeks after to help get the circulation going again. Then 2 weeks later I went to a physio & she stretched out the muscles & tendons & this helped tremendously with my movement. It was very painful, but I felt so much better after each treatment. She was quite dissapointed in my last treatment that I wasn't cringing anymore, sadist! Then back to the lymphatic drainage massage for another 2 weeks. It took 6 weeks before I had full movement back in my left arm, but I was hanging out my washing & playing with my friends 1 year old long before that. I'm sorry you'll just have to be a bit more patient, but going to physio on Monday is a great start.
Take care,
Wendy
Hi Manda, I had my op back in late November & my arm's still not 100%, but it's getting there. I had lymphatic massage as well as physio on my arm from mid December through to mid January. The lymphatic massage helped to smooth out all the lumps & got the circulation going. The physio was quite painful, but helped stretch out the muscles & tendons that needed stretching to give me more movement. After that I felt great. I was just like you & getting cranky about the limited things that I could do with my left arm. So give it some more time & it will be back to normal. I'd say I had full movement by 6 weeks after surgery, but I was hanging out the washing long before that & playing with my friend's baby. You can't rush your recovery & it's great that you are off to physio, just what you need now.
Take care, Wendy
Hi Sarah
I am the same too. Had my operation on 21 December and am just finishing radiation (last session tomorrow - hurrah!). I keep feeling my arm and waking up after dreaming it has swollen to elephantine proportions! See the physio on Monday to get measured. Fingers crossed!
Amy x
