Pain after mastectomy/stage one reconstruction

Hi there
i am now in my third week of 5 weeks of radiotherapy and the left breast which had the mastectomy/ tissue expanders had settled down a bit before I started but now it is hot and inflamed a couple of hours after each session ( skin still holding out well as I am using Strata X ointment).
Anyone else experienced this?
My radiation oncologist said “ this sometimes happens” and prescribed me some more Endone.
which I am taking as required.

Hi @Ecup2020 I too had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders fitted in July.  I am also finding the expanders very uncomfortable and painful.  I have been getting through it by taking strong painkillers, mainly tramadol so I understand when you say the pain is awful and you need endone. Its about 13 weeks since my op now and the pain has eased up to the point where I don't need painkillers unless I have had the expanders filled, which gives me quite a lot of pain for about 3 days afterwards and then sometimes I have to take something stronger than a paracetamol or ibuprofen. I have heard that it is much more comfortable when the expanders are swopped for the actual implant so looking forward to that!  Wishing you all the best with your healing and rest up as much as you can <3 x

Thanks for those comments  , they were most helpful.
I spoke to my breast care nurse today and she said it could be up to 6 weeks before the pain goes.
I am seeing the plastic surgeon tomorrow for my first post op injection in the expander so will definitely make sure I have taken the painkillers beforehand.

@Ecup2020
Hope you are feeling a little better - expanders are damned uncomfortable.  To me it felt like a brick was on my chest, so heavy and uncomfortable.
Tip - when you are due for a fill of the expander make sure you have panadol prior to the appointment

As to exercises, not sure if your medical team has given you a routine however there's an excellent resource on the BCNA website, if you haven't seen it already, here's the link.  

https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/strengthen-your-recovery/

Take care and best wishes with your recovery and keep posting as there's always someone on here that understands

P.S. the post op exercises given by the physio definitely helped a lot!

Hello @Ecup2020, I also had bilateral mastectomy in April with immediate tissue expanders inserted. As @Mazbeth said, it felt like having a really tight bra on that you just desperately wanted to whip off, but couldn’t. Then panic and desperation after realising that it was the expanders and there was absolutely nothing that could be done in that moment to ease the pressure. Not a fun time. I was mostly taking just Panadol 1st week post op. I had the Endone at home but didn’t use it. The area was painful, but not enough to need strong painkillers, and not all the time. If I sat still it was pretty bearable. But ridiculously uncomfortable. After about 6 weeks it was fine, no pain and no pressure. I think it does depend on many things as we’re all so different, but if strong painkillers don’t help prob best to see your surgeon again, or a bc nurse. 

Hi @Ecup2020 I had a bilateral mastectomy in June with immediate insertion of tissue expanders - I was a DD/E cup too. I think you should definitely check in with your surgeon. I was on the strong pain relief for my 7 day stay in hospital, but wasn’t taking them when I got home, but as you know, we are all different. The doctor sent me home with pain meds if I needed them.
It’s really important for your recovery that you manage the pain so you can do the exercises etc and get that much needed sleep. I have 2 friends who had the same surgery around the same time as me and we were all using different levels of pain medication. The best description I found to describe the tissue expander is that feeling of having a really tight bra on and looking forward to getting it off, but we aren’t actually wearing a bra, it’s just how restricted our chest area is feeling. I found the stretching exercises were really helpful. I also had ILC in my left breast (nodes were clear) but decided on the bilateral - that was followed by chemo. I am now taking letrozole. I should be having my last fill this week. I hope you start to feel better and I am wishing you all the very best and I am happy to offer any support I can.

Hi @Ecup2020

i had bilateral mastectomies but no reconstruction so my experience is different to yours.  I didn’t have much pain but certainly every one has a different experience, however please contact the nurse or surgeon to check with them.

Have you been given a after hours contact number to call, I feel it is best to contact them.

Good luck and wishing you the best with the rest of your treatment