ACTIVIITY AFTER RECONSTRUCTION

I have had a bliateral mastectomy with expanders in 3/04.  In 6/04, I had the expanders replaced with saline implants.  My concern is the level of strenuous activity (heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, etc) that is safe to resume.  I seem to be doing fine with normal everyday activity.  HOwever, when it comes to lifting anything heavy (ex. 5 ilbs) or even pushing myself up in bed,  although I am very careful, I feel a pulling across my chest and I am afraid that I am doing damage to the work that I have had dome.  I asked my plastic surgenon and all he said is that this has nothing to do with the implants and obviously I am not the same person as I was before. I have noticed a widening of the "cleavage" area sort of like the implants are spreading apart.  Surgeon said this could be the normal settling of the implants and scar tissue pulling them outward.  I also want to mention that I have been diagnosed with mild lyphedema in my right arm (22 nodes removed) for which I am getting treatment.  I am aware of all of the precautions for lymphedema including heaving lifting (I believe which is considered 10 lbs. or more).  I would love to have feedback from the surgeon regarding strenuous activity restrictions as well as anyone else who has also felt strain and/or pain across their chest months after this surgery and recovery from the initial post op.  I am very concerned because I will be returning to work which does involve a lot of heaving lifting, pushing, pulling, etc and I am afraid of hurting myself after all that I have accomplished.  Thank you for such a wonderful site.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear dammie:  The risk of doing damage to your surgery is very minimal at this point.  Normal any even some heavier activity should not damage the surgery.  Sometimes people have excessive scarring that can impact the feel and look of reconstruction.  In some cases, massage can be done to improve this.  In extreme cases, the implants must be removed but this does not sound like your case.  You may feel pulling or tightness for some months.  Ultimately, your plastic surgeon will have the best input as he/she knows exactly what was done.  The lymphedema may place more restriction than your plastic surgery.

[surgeon]

The best source, of course, is your surgeon, who knows exactly what was done. However in general it's safe to say there's nothing you could do in terms of routine activity or even exercise that would directly damage the surgery at this point. Soreness related to various movements may persist for many months, but there's no specific danger from it. The other question is whether there's excessive scar tissue reaction to the implants, and whether anything ought to be done about it, such as massage. If you haven't seen your plastic surgeon for awhile, it wouldn't hurt to have a followup for such an assesement. But as to worry about damaging yourself, there really is none, at this point.

[dammie]

Thank you both for your response.  This site has been a great source of infomation.  Your dedication is truly appreciated.

[pooheyore]

A related discussion, anyone gone thru this yet was started.