Let me start off by saying that this experience was as much educational as it was relaxing and…read moretherapeutic. Yesterday, I had my first massage in over 5 years. As a Crohn's patient, I have experienced lengthy periods of time where I was not able to be as active as I would have liked, I have undergone multiple major surgeries, and much more. As a result, my body has been in need of some pampering and re-tuning and this massage provided exactly that.
Having undergone major surgery, and being an ostomy patient, I had some reservations about having a massage, with my main question being "was it going to be uncomfortable or painful lying on my stoma?" I informed Mandy of my concerns ahead of time, and when I arrived, she was prepared.
I had no idea that there was a pillow specifically designed for clients who are pregnant or unable to/uncomfortable with laying flat on their stomach for medical reasons. She had the pillow set up and talked me through what my session would look like. She asked me if I was comfortable and ready and if I had any questions or concerns. Because of her thoroughness and her true care and concern for my physical needs, I knew I was in great hands.
The massage itself was exactly the relaxation that I needed. The combination of lighting, temperature and music helped to create a place where you forget about anything other than the fact that you feel the tension in your muscles melt away like butter. Mandy was very much in tune with what I was experiencing, whether it was enjoyment or discomfort. She noticed when I crinkled my face and asked whether or not it was painful and let me know that she could adjust, if necessary.
As I mentioned earlier, the massage session was very informative. As she was preparing to work on my legs, I asked a question that I have been somewhat concerned about for a while. I said, "this might be a weird question, but do my ankles look okay to you?," to which she replied, "that's not a weird question." As a lymphedema therapist, too, she is familiar with fluid build up in the body. I noticed the puffiness in my ankles following my surgeries, but I have had it for a while now and couldn't pinpoint exactly when I first noticed it. I honestly thought it was a result of my regaining weight after a long battle with illness, but it was, in fact, a build up of fluid, which can happen following surgeries such as the ones I underwent, in addition to long periods of being sedentary.
Being the excellent therapist that she is, she focused for a bit on my legs and worked to help break up the fluid that had built up and was visible in my ankles. When I got up from the massage and looked at my feet, I could see definition in my ankles, which I have not seen in quite some time. My straps on my sandals were looser today. To think that that much of a difference was noticed in one visit makes me excited to think of the healing ahead!
