Walking in Crowds during Mastectomy Recovery
This may seem like an obscure topic, but it is a key precaution during your mastectomy recovery. I was just reminded of it recently when I walked through a health care convention of nearly 3,000 attendees…a social gathering, public event or a store is a precarious setting. You always have to be protective of yourself in these types of situations.
Why? An innocent nudge with a stray elbow would be painful and damaging. I recently felt vulnerable to injury, even though it had been over a year since my mastectomy.
It will most likely be an intuitive response to protect your chest while walking through a crowd, but here is a tip that helped me during my recovery. Carry a clutch purse; it looks very natural to be holding this type of purse close to your chest. If you have a larger purse, place the strap on your shoulder and hold it to your chest.
If you are not carrying a purse as a crutch, then just keep your arms to your side and your hands/forearms purposely in front of you. It is hard to look graceful with this pose, but you get my point. You can never be too careful. The key thing to remember is to be mindful of your surroundings, which is a good safety precaution at all times.