Choose Your Destiny! Flawless Victory. FIGHT!

Life is not always happy, happy, happy. We all have bad days that get the best of us. I had a day like that yesterday.

First. Let me begin by saying that my PT was also my sensei in karate and she is also my trainer. She and I have known each other many years. She is a dynamo and I always forget the power that this woman holds in her body! She is a ferocious but loving warrior woman who is really a peacemaker and healer…but she knows me sooo well that she can kick my butt..no holds barred. I respect her for that ability. When I need to get rid of “Miss Weepy” I ask her for advice. Then I buckle my seat belt! She tells it like it is and reminds me of who I am and how I am.

She has rehabbed my knee that was kicked back in karate and then has helped me to rehab the shoulder from the actual car accident. Now she is helping rehab the surgery that resulted from the very same car accident. She knows my body and me very well.

Yesterday, I was in agony when I walked into her door and said, “I don’t know why I am here because I am already in pain.” She said, “Because you are a masochist and love pain…and you also want to get better faster.” I said, Well, let’s set the record straight…. if I am a masochist, then you are a sadist.” She said “I can accept that role. Shall we begin?”

And so we did. She read the post –op report from the surgeon on what had actually been done…. Needless to say as the tears welled up in my eyes and I sweated profusely and she pushed me to literally purge the anesthesia, she kept telling me that my recovery so far was amazing! My range of motion was great, she felt no glitches when she rotated my shoulder every which way…and I cried from pain….she was very pleased. When I got dizzy she gave me a cold towel around my neck…let me sit down for 20 seconds…then up for another circuit. URGH.

Anyway, I lived. I have exercises to do at least 2x a day for now….also she wants cardio (even though I cannot wear a bra) on the light side and to drink lots of water. We had a quick and useless chat about her bra size and mine and the difference the bouncing would make…to no avail of the sympathy I was trying to get…..and off I went into cardio land…mild …to purge the anesthesia…but still bouncy!

I bought some dark chocolate with orange to soothe myself after this work out..and it helped…..then I slept for 4 hours….that really helped….then I did some of the PT exercises from today’s work out…..and realized that that phrase no pain no gain…is a good one.

We all have difficulties in life that we have to work through…and sometimes those difficulties recur…and we have to continue to work through them and hope to learn from them. I had to muster up the willingness to rehab an injury post surgery that I had spent the last year rehabbing pre-surgery. That was more an emotional willingness than a physical.

But today...today was another story....I was empowered by yesterday...already felt stronger....and I began to do my first workout on my own as part of my rehab for the shoulder surgery. I heard these words in my ears as I plugged in my IPOD:

Choose Your Destiny!


Flawless Victory!



FIGHT!

I Betcha Superman Didn't Wear a Bra !

If you recall, the one thing that weakened Superman was kryptonite. If it came near him, he would become very weak and non-functional.

Well, yesterday, I discovered that putting on a bra, post-surgery had the same effect on me as kryptonite does on superman.

Sometimes, I think I am superman.

I can do anything. Nothing can stop me. A friend told me this morning that I am an eternal optimist.

But the bra....it conquered me!

I had shoulder surgery on January 7th. That was Thursday. By Friday, I had done so well, the surgeon took me out of the sling. I was supposed to be in the sling a week.

I was pretty non-functional for the next few days....resting and in not too much pain. By the way, I had a pain block and could not feel any pain....and started taking aleve right away...so I was in good shape.....happy... and looking to the future and doing my PT exercises. Signed up for the Moab Century Tour in September.... the surgeon told me I could do cardio the next week and by the 16th could be back on my bike indoors on the trainer. so, that was my plan.

When the next week came....that was Monday, I woke up and determined that I could go to the gym and do a VERY Light cardio...perhaps 10 minutes on the elliptical.

Well, let me tell you how short lived this thought was! I undid the surgery tee that was given to me. It had velcro on the neck and side seam. I carefully moved my arm and felt good that it was so functional. I chose a wide strapped sports bra and carefully hooked the back in the front and then turned it to the back where it belonged. Then I carefully put the surgery arm into the left strap and the right arm into the right strap and pulled the bra on up and over and onto the shoulders.

OMG! The pain from the strap on one of the surgery sites was unbearable! Somehow I got it off and went to get some ice. ... Iced my shoulder and put myself to bed. Horrible, horrible, horrible. BRA= kryptonite for Cece.

Well, today is Tuesday, and I remembered I have a strapless bra! That is perfect!

So, in a little while, a friend is coming to take me out for a walk...not some cardio. I am determined to be a bit more moderate in my approach to rehab.

Wednesday? I will see my PT and trainer and begin my rehab in earnest...in my strapless bra!

Amendment to above post: I lasted about a 1/2 hour in the strapless bra...and then went into agony. Now in a cami and we will see how that goes. What's next?