On October 11, I walked out of a physical therapy appointment with clear guidance on how I can safely get back to being active. Back in September, my radiologist helped connect me to a physical therapist when I could not reach my arms behind my head (related to my lumpectomy surgery), which is required to get a CT scan pre-radiation.
My physical therapist, Jynda, is also a cancer survivor. She has been such an incredible resource in this phase of beginning to be able to regain strength and prioritizing healing. I've been able to ask her about other oncology issues, and her perspectives have been grounding.
I have been taking Herceptin since March 22 and I will stop taking it on February 22, 2023 (I am counting). It's been the chemo drug I have most worried about. Herceptin's complications can include neuropathy and heart damage. I have avoided neuropathy and have gotten echocardiograms every three months. Each echocardiogram has come back without concerns.
That said, since my diagnosis, I have been less active since, likely, before I could walk. One of the hardest challenges of this experience has been not having the outlet of movement. I would get dizzy this summer so if I went for a walk, I stayed close to home and always in cell service. In summer 2021, I ran and ran all over the mountains. So, this summer was quite the opposite. In March 2022, my resting heart rate was 44. This summer, one pre-chemo set of vitals had my resting heart rate at 77--almost double my pre-diagnosis rate.
But on October 11, Jynda had me start on a treadmill. I had pulse oxidation and heart rate monitors on during the test. Gradually, the speed and grade increased. Jynda recorded my metrics at each "stage." I stopped when my heart rate got to 185. I was running moderately hard, but the pace was still conversational. Last summer, 185 would be an all-effort, lung exploding sprint.
After the test, Jynda gave me a piece of paper with the guidance to get out and move, safely. Now, I am not afraid that I will go too hard or somehow cause damage to my body. For now, it's quite simple. I warm up for five minutes, keeping my heart rate below 115. Then, I get 30 minutes where I can go up to 135 (but I round up), and then a five-minute cool down.
The next day, I ran at the YMCA park. It's got a great view of the foothills leading to the South Hill mountains. The evening colors were just starting. The warm up had to be a walk to keep my heart rate within range. Then, for 30 minutes, I moved. It is a bit mentally tricky, because to stay under 135, I can't sustain a jog---so I "wogged" (walk-jog-walk) about 1.5 laps. At the end, I did the cool down and got into the car. The wind was constant, but I didn't break a sweat so it wasn't cold.
The next morning, I ran ("ran") with Jamie. Jamie is my soccer sister and good friend. She is recovering from two knee surgeries and, for the first time since April, we went for a trail run. Not like we have in the past, but just like we can right now. It felt so good to be out on the trails we always used to run. I don't feel comfortable to go as fast ("fast") as I would like, but I didn't track my heart rate so studiously on this run. I just ran what felt comfortable and then if I did glance at my heart rate, we'd walk until I got below 110ish.
I did five consecutive days of 2.5-4 miles each day. I respected the guidelines pretty well. Last week I took the dogs for a hike. On one hill that always gave me a sustained challenge last summer, I took off and ran to the top on the final blip of the top. Just to get these moments of movement reaffirms that I am me. I'm okay with this slower, long game, because it is going to be such a good day when I can move forward without having to stop to drop my heart rate. That day is coming!
At the Oct. 11 appointment, I asked Jynda what she thought about me getting into Cross Fit. I've never done it before, but I want to get weight lifting in for my bone density. I also am attracted by the team environment, "supervised" coaching, and the gut check of each work out. I can feel and see how my muscular structure has changed, and I am not afraid of the discomfort that will come with jumping into Cross Fit. Even after my first "wog," my legs were sore the next day. It was beautiful to feel that pull and tug of my muscles.
Jynda said she'd get back to me--she wanted to ask some colleagues who are more familiar with Cross Fit. About a week later, I got a call from St. Peter's physical therapy office to schedule out twice a week appointments starting in December. At these appointments, I'll get to replicate a Cross Fit workout with PT supervision. This just makes me completely rejoice and get so excited. I cannot wait to be able to move exactly how I want. I can't wait to just hoof it up a hill because I want to feel my legs churn and pull me up. I love the way my body has always gotten me wherever I have asked. I cannot wait to start getting stoked and excited for all the places my lungs, core, quads, and ankles carry me.
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