Total PE and possible tummy tuck at the same time

It’s so hard, isn’t it? I had to wear a heart monitor for 3 days at home after my stroke, and was delighted when the results showed no issues. When I’d had the pulmonary embolism from my chemo I was told it had damaged my heart so I’ve been a little concerned about it ever since then. 

I’ve not been diagnosed ever with arthritis, but I know from scans there is something on my hip, so it may be that causing my mobility issues and pain. When is your scan Jane or have you had it yet? I remember that you were going to have some investigations done.

Sarah xx

Oooh, I’m liking the sound of duvet Pilates! My physio has given me exercises which I can do on the bed but often pain makes it difficult so it’s a vicious circle which is very frustrating. 

I need to try harder and I’m hopeful I can improve, but I need to put more effort in! Chair Pilates might be the way to go for me. I spoke with the lady who runs the loval Pilates studio here, but it all seemed it would be too much for me at this point-maybe in the future though.

Sarah xx

I’m having the scans next week Sarah.The CT scan was not scheduled until March but I’m glad it’s been brought forward.The MRI is for the whole spine as the back pain has been severe until a couple of days ago.I understand about being in pain and trying to exercise it’s not easy.x

Pain is the pits! The only thing that might help is if you take painkillers try a bit once they've kicked in.

Plus I'm wary about local classes because for some time before and after my hip I went to small group  classes with a rehab pilates specialist who watched everyone like a hawk and made sure we were doing things right for our own abilities. She's in Devon, though and I can't get there now.

And also I intend to get myself a bit more active and then try a few one-to -ones with a physio who has completed the APPI course (the Australian something or other). That will be expensive and hard to get to but if I can raise my game a little more I will try a local pilates studio that does small reformer classes, which I enjoy and I know enough to make sure I don't overdo things. 

Maybe you could try something like that? Good luck x

I need to literally get myself off my bum and get moving! Some days I take a couple of painkillers just to try and help me do more but they aren’t a great help to be honest. I need to get moving my hips! 

When I spoke to Pilates studio lady she didn’t realise how bad my mobility is-I can only go out if I’m in my wheelchair-so I might save trying that for a time when hopefully my mobility might improve. I have to say I’m very tired of living with pain all the time-it just wears you down and it’s so frustrating. But new year, new start.

Sarah xx

I’m glad you’re getting the two scans Jane, and hopefully some answers. My hip issue was identified from an mri when I was first diagnosed, but I’ve been told in a later scan before my op that it looked the same. No idea what might be there now! 

Sarah xx

Do you usually have ct scans ? I have annual ct scans but when I was in hospital 3 years ago they did an mri of my spine and found the arthritis in my neck and lower back.

I hadn't realised either, I'm afraid.

In a way, I can empathise a bit because I had a lot of pain while overweight, and working - for long hours badly positioned at a computer writing long documents under stress - didn't help at all. My pain started years ago while pregnant and was mostly caused by back problems - eg slipped disc, sciatica, arthritis, spondylolisthesis (and later in my 60s degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis and slight scoliosis). But I was lucky that I've never had to use a wheel chair although it looked as if I was heading there.

In the end, in my 40s I pushed myself to try several things out of panic to try to help - one was swimming before work several times a week, another was Alexander Technique for my posture. They did help quite a lot but then I took early retirement, lost the weight and started Pilates and working on my core strength was the biggest help.

But the pain would come back if I overdid things and for the couple of weeks before my hip broke by itself, I just put it down to sciatica (rather than the 'mild' osteoporosis they had diagnosed a few years earlier) and it was terrible.

However, after that and once the hospital checked and realised it hadn't broken because of cancer (little did I know what was in store!) they took my weak bones seriously and I got strong medicine to build them up a bit. After that I began to walk everywhere and took the Pilates more seriously.  

Do you see an orthopaedic specialist? If there is any way you could get physio to support you with things like Pilates - excellent for hips and core - and swimming/hydrotherapy? I think it would really help you because I find a lot of pain can build up from tension in my body.

Latestart xx

I choose not to because of my ptsd-it’s just very difficult for me. But I had to have both MRI and CT scans last year after my stroke, and the year before I had MRI and CT scans because of my gallbladder so that’s enough for me!

Obviously I should have had scans after my surgery, and I did have a CT in hospital but my consultant agreed for me to just ask for a scan at any time since she understood I couldn’t go through them unless absolutely essential.

Sarah xx

That is understandable.I don’t have the contrast for CT as I’m allergic but they use something different for MRI and I think I am ok with that one.X