Post mx - pain....sensations....

[Debster2016]

Hello ladies! Well I was a bit optimistic with my previous post!

I am now 7 days post mastectomy and as the days have gone by the 'feelings' shall we say in my arm and chest have certainly returned & increased, both in intensity and in area covered.

I read it's normal to have numbness, tingling, sharp shooting pains and tightness. I realise this may seem silly but could I ask you to share you experiences please, so I can compare mine and accept these sensations? They are weird! It's not exactly pain - well the shooting sensations are - but these feelings un-nerving to me 😳.

I have religiously done my exercises - taking full responsibility for my recovery where I can - but do find it a struggle - which is alien to me as I've done stretching gexercose every morning for over 3 years for my job.

And I have minor seepage! At drain exit. This drain has been collecting 180ml most days - 7days now - so nurse said yesterday it needs to come out despite being high volume. As my arm continues to swell daily (ok cold be my overactive imagination, it's not apparently oversized yet) will it swell even more? Is this the onset of lumphodema?

I have a phrase: what will be will be and this helps. But I'd like to have a say in the matter with exercise and information. Your information will help me.

Thank you in advance, lovely people. 😌

[Lainey66]

My dains were not removed until they were draining 25ml and less. I still had to have needle draining every week for 4 weeks after their removal due to fluid build up. I had two further needle drainages over 6 months as the fluid built up. It appears to have settled now. Next mont I will be 1yr post mastectomy. I still have tightness which I think is a sensation I have to learn to live with, with the occassional dart of discomfort. As for lymphodeama I rais my arm and gently stroke it encouragi g fluid to run into my system and out of my arm. Touch wood it is doing ok. I wish you well and a full and speedy recovery xx

[Debster2016 in reply to Lainey66]

Hello and many thanks Lainey that's all really helpful to me and I am glad to hear you are doing okay and hopefully improve over time! Best wishes Deb xx

[Hidden]

Hi im now 12 weeks post surgery (drain taken out day after surgery so cant comment on that side of things) I can say the discomfort ie burning and nerve pain only lasted around a month. I am doing my exercises and getting used to the new shape of my body. I am however getting thickening under scar tissue so awaiting a referral to lymphodema physio to have it massaged out. Hope your op site settles soon x

[Debster2016 in reply to Hidden]

Great info, many thanks Gypsywhyte you sound good! I hope so and that it continues to improve thank you xx

[Lorraineam]

Hello Debster2016. I have mild lymphodema in my left arm. Another sympton, apart from swelling, is if you press your fingertip into the swollen area for a few seconds and it leaves an indentation which doesn't immediately disappear, there is usually fluid there. My arm is affected slightly from the wrist to the elbow and the pitting (where you press on the skin) is only evident on the inner aspect of the arm. If this is the case with yourself, your breast care nurses should be able to refer you to a lymphodema service. Hope this helps x

[Debster2016 in reply to Lorraineam]

It absolutely does thank you very much Lorraine x

[BernM59]

I had all of the above and more - my advice - go to a physio that specialises in oncology/ post mastectomy care and use as much as possible - I found that v helpful plus acupuncture....: but defo the physio Good luck love bern

[Debster2016 in reply to BernM59]

Great advice thank you Bern. There's so much to take in at every step of this! that I'm not exactly thinking 'outside the box' currently so this enormously helpful. Many thanks xx