I am nearly a month post op bilateral mastectomy, and am starting to go a bit nuts. I want to go mountain biking and go back to the gym and stuff but even reaching up into cupbpards still hurts! How long as it before you started doing more intense exercise, and what did you do for exercise while you were healing?

About 5 or 6 months give or take. Don't remember exactly.

Ask your surgeon.  Different surgeons recommend different amounts of time, and it also depends on how they think you're healing.  I'm still freshly post op so I don't have experience, but my surgeon said after 3 months I can return to working out.  As for exercise, I walk a lot living in the city so I'm just gonna do that.  It might be best to just take it easy til you can work out again, or maybe run.  Anything where you don't use your arms should be ok

At least 4 months, but even then it was tight.

Listen to your body.  Do other things.  Seriously.  Too much too soon could be harmful!


Jay

I started way too early at around 3 months (maybe earlier), now I have a swollen side on  my chest. I would wait 5-6 months.  Starting too early has just set me back not I have to wait for the swelling to go down however long that takes.
Myles

ok wow! great advice, thanks!! I def dont want to screw it up. lots of walking for me then. 

Yikes.  Months?  I've had two top surgeries.  First one was Jan. 2009.  The surgeon botched it, big time, so I needed another complete surgery this past Sept.  (The first one was such a disaster that my revision qualified as medically necessary and was covered by insurance.)

But anyhow... after each surgery, my recovery was the same:  I was back to running 3 1/2 weeks after surgery, and back to light weight-lifting (nothing above the shoulders) after 6 weeks.  Returned to my full weight-lifting routine around 8 weeks after surgery.

No problems whatsoever.  I might have good genes:  My dad has had around 10 surgeries over the years, with very quick recovery times. 

Glad to hear you had your top surgery fixed and that it was covered. Might be the genes, my right "pec" is still a bit swollen. I still lift as I work in a warehouse so up to 75 -100 lb stuff fairly regularly, the swelling has not gotten worse just isn't getting better.
Myles

Bench press, hammer curls & stuff?  close to 5 months. for me that was ok but I know ppl that needed more time.

Quote from: myles on January 29, 2010, 09:47:52 PM
Glad to hear you had your top surgery fixed and that it was covered.

Thanks.  I'm relieved it's all behind me now.  2009 was one of the worst years in my lifetime.  2010 has been much brighter, so far!

Quote from: myles on January 29, 2010, 09:47:52 PM
Might be the genes, my right "pec" is still a bit swollen. I still lift as I work in a warehouse so up to 75 -100 lb stuff fairly regularly, the swelling has not gotten worse just isn't getting better.

Ugh.  Sorry to hear that.  Any advice from your surgeon?