Trying to toughen up again

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I have been away these past several months.
Last autumn I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, a large tumor ‘larging’ it in my rectum. I have had radio-chemotherapy for many weeks in order to shrink it prior to surgery which was successfull. The growth along with all of my rectum was removed by laparoscopy (my slimness and fitness at the time of diagnosis being a co-deciding factor) in March.
Whilst I tried as much as was possible to maintain a degree of fitness, I eventually felt to ill to do much. I was lucky enough to be able to stay in a hostel, run by the radiotherapy department of the hospital; it was on the thirteenth floor and to be reached by either elevator or steps, 187 in all. I made it my business to walk those every day a few times, even though the going got rather tough towards the end. I think this exercise at least stood me in good stead.
For about a month now I have been getting back to do some more vigourous asanas again. I was quite shocked to find how much I had seized up inspite of my efforts. It just goes to show that - at my age certainly - one has to keep doing ‘stuff’ on a regular basis. Less more often is definitely better than more less often. I find it quite hard going and have to tell myself to be patient. This patience is decidedly the greater task at the moment.
Naturally I have at the same time taken up my swimming regimen, and that is getting easier and stronger every time and feeding into my asana practise, as well as easing aches from it. (I always go swimming afterwards after an interval.)

Anyone have any advise on anything else that I should be doing, or any particular asanas that I might find helpful for regaining my muscle power?
Or anyone out there who has gone through a similar experience?
I welcome any advise!

In November the ‘Guardian’ ran an article on early warning signs of cancer; under bowel cancer it said the following:

[B]Bowel cancer can show its elf in a variety of ways…’[/B]

It made me burst out laughing, and from then on until the day of its removal I and all my family and friends only referred to the growth as my [B]Elf.[/B]

However, I recommend, if possible, to hold onto one’s rectum for as long as possible!Life is definitely different without it.

Good health to everone!

#2

You maintained humor! Excellent.

It sounds like you’re doing things the right way, taking it slow and continuing to pay attention to whether what you are doing is working for you or whether it’s too much to be useful on any particular day.

Can you describe your ‘siez[ing] up’? Are you just tight, or are your muscles contracting and refusing to release, or ??? Depending on what your muscles are doing, it could be a signal that you actually are doing too much, despite your caution and patience.

Feel free to completely ignore this question if it’s too personal – does a person without a rectum lose ability to assimilate nourishment?

#3

Hi Justintime,

Have been missing you actually, I am glad you have such a positive outlook on this whole situation and looking forward to your contributions again. I always liked your way of saying things and sharing your thoughts. I would like to share with you an affirmation my teacher gave me at a point in my life when I needed it as well:

I AM whole, I AM full of Light,
I AM perfect, I AM full of Light,
The Light surges into and through my blood,
making of it a fountain of living Light,
bringing purity, vitality, health and beauty
into my body and Being now.

My Father and I are One.
I AM surrounded by the pure white Light of The Christ.
Nothing but good will go from me.
Nothing but good will come to me.

I give thanks, I give thanks, I give thanks.

Repeat it as often as you like. :slight_smile:

Blessings to you and will be thinking of you in my meditations.

#4

[quote=Techne;19558]You maintained humor! Excellent.

It sounds like you’re doing things the right way, taking it slow and continuing to pay attention to whether what you are doing is working for you or whether it’s too much to be useful on any particular day.

Can you describe your ‘siez[ing] up’? Are you just tight, or are your muscles contracting and refusing to release, or ??? Depending on what your muscles are doing, it could be a signal that you actually are doing too much, despite your caution and patience.

Feel free to completely ignore this question if it’s too personal – does a person without a rectum lose ability to assimilate nourishment?[/quote]

Hello, Techne, thanks for encouraging words!

I think, at least I hope so, that I am just rather tight and must take my time with streetching. I had lost a lot of weight within a relatively short period of time, the bulk of the weight consisting of muscle. Sitting, even lying, tended to be quite painful. I am happy to say, things are very much on the up, even if I have a long way to go before I approach my former self again - if I ever do, after all that’s not a given.

I have no difficulty with your question about the rectum:
as far as I know the rectum acts more or less entirely as a kind of in-built chamber pot for our waste matter with greater holding capacity than the bowel above it; that explains why frequency of elimination is increased without that piece of equipment. But absorption of nutrients has already taken place before any waste gets that far. (Unless, of course, one suffers from diarrhoea when absorption doesn’t get its adequate chances, a state of affairs that I have to contend with on and off; but that, too, is rectifying itself gradually. Patience, patience…)
Hope, that answers your query?

#5

[quote=Pandara;19589]Hi Justintime,

Have been missing you actually, I am glad you have such a positive outlook on this whole situation and looking forward to your contributions again. I always liked your way of saying things and sharing your thoughts. I would like to share with you an affirmation my teacher gave me at a point in my life when I needed it as well:

I AM whole, I AM full of Light,
I AM perfect, I AM full of Light,
The Light surges into and through my blood,
making of it a fountain of living Light,
bringing purity, vitality, health and beauty
into my body and Being now.

My Father and I are One.
I AM surrounded by the pure white Light of The Christ.
Nothing but good will go from me.
Nothing but good will come to me.

I give thanks, I give thanks, I give thanks.

Repeat it as often as you like. :slight_smile:

Blessings to you and will be thinking of you in my meditations.[/quote]

Hello, Pandara,
thank you for sharing the above with me, it turned out to be a really lovely birthday present, even though you didn’t know !:D:cool:
I am also grateful that you will include me in your meditations because I feel strongly that somebody should, I keep losing track of myself in mine:(!
Hope you are well yourself!

#6

[quote=JustinTime;19555]
[B]Bowel cancer can show its elf in a variety of ways…’[/B]

It made me burst out laughing, and from then on until the day of its removal I and all my family and friends only referred to the growth as my [B]Elf.[/B][/quote]

Hahahahahahahaha.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
I laughed so hard at this.
That is great.
Thank you. Welcome back. :slight_smile: