It's not chest pain, and I'm getting enough air, but it just feels like my chest constricts my lungs' ability to fully expand. Do any of you have this sensation? Any idea how long this lasts?....and would probably not ever go away.....
good news! it goes away.....well, it can go away, but you're going to have
to work on it a little. i'm guessing your cardio said that because in his
experience it didn't go away. did you ask him whether any of his other
patients were younger, athletic types?
anyways, i think i got this figured out. in the weeks/months following
OHS, you trained yourself to protect your chest. no twisting, no straining,
carefully opening/closing sliding doors, etc. it's become habit, and your
chest muscles have responded by becoming tighter.
at eight months out, i began some more serious running training, which
included a day or two at the gym for upper-body strength training.
from running marathons long, long ago, i remember a book i used, "weight
training for runners." there were a few exercises to stretch your chest
muscles and diaphragm, and increase lung capacity.
all you need is a flat weight bench and a couple of light dumbbells. start
with the lowest weight!!! use the little pink girlie plastic coated one-
pounders to start with. trust me! it'll hurt the first few times. later, you
can increase weight, but you'll never need that much.
lie on your back on the weight bench, hold your arms out perpendicular
to your body, slowly lower them until you can touch the floor, raise to
horizontal & lower again. repeat as many times as comfortable. once
you're good with this, you can start with the really light weights.
next, while lying flat, raise a single dumbbell directly over your head.
keep your arms as straight as possible, and slowly lower your arms to
behind your head, getting to horizontal if possible. again, you're using
really light weights (or maybe no weights to start).
this will hurt a little the first few times, and again when you increase the
weights, but you'll notice a difference very quickly.
next, while in the gym surrounded by huge ripped body builders, stand
facing the mirror, bring your hands to your sternum, and press your
palms together. now repetitively, press your palms like you're squeezing
a tennis ball. (you may, if you like, chant "we must, we must, we must
increase the bust.")
note, the first time you do this.....do not immediately head out to run
laps on the track....it'll feel like your chest is pulling apart.
