Anxiety Plus

Great that you are home now & not in pain @CeeCee - I'd heard that with mastectomies! 

Just keep your meds handy, in case you need them!  And don't overdo the exercises either ... make haste slowly, as your body is still coping with the surgery and healing xx. 

I didn't have a mastectomy - but found that supporting the arm on the Op Side (with a small cushion at night) really helped ....  others will jump on soon & tell you their tips xx

take care 

An update, I had the Mastectomy 3 days ago and came home yesterday. I am feeling no pain which is good, apparently this is quite normal but surprises me. I am doing the exercises that the physio gave me. Just wondering on anyone else’s experiences post Mastectomy as to what may happen ie swelling, how long after can that happen?, pain, does that get bad? I haven’t worn a bra and no body has said anything about it, I don’t really want to until the rib issue settles down more. Have you found sleeping on your back better, I have. Getting the dressing off in a week, then further treatment plan a few days after.

@MrsMorrisey, @arpie, I totally agree with you. The bone scan nurse asked me lots of questions about it and filed an incident report. You are right it wouldn’t have been that bad but because of the rib issue it felt like hot knives stabbing me for 30 minutes. The power of the mind came into play. Not in the same ball park as diagnosis though 😫. 

I was wondering about that comment myself!  Totally unprofessional!   Pretty sure I've had an MRI & it wasn't that horrible.

If you are claustrophobic, it could be a problem - and they are noisy things ....... but it is hardly the worst 30 mins of your life!!  THAT was when we got our diagnosis!

Your nurse said this is going to be the worst 30 mins of your life? 

@AllyJay oh wow, good to know I’m not alone here but sorry you’ve gone through it. You must’ve had some very worrying waiting times as well. I did have a bone density scan a couple of weeks ago which came back perfect so it is odd. I guess anxiety does different things to you, better get used to the new norm.Hope you are going well and pain free now xo

Hi there @CeeCee...so sorry about your broken ribs and I hope they heal soon. I had exactly the same happen to me back in 2016 during my boobs in the bucket breast mri scan. That same day, I had a bone scan (booked already) and the rib (only one thankfully) glowed like a neon light. There was some discussion about it by the multidisciplinary team who were initially unsure if it was a break due to bone mets, or just a straightforward break. Another regular chest x ray clarified things and the show got started. A bone density scan which I had after chemo and surgery and before starting letrozole, showed I was very much affected by osteoporosis. I've subsequently broken another rib which was spontaneous...without a fall or injury. I hope your ongoing treatment goes well for you.

@arpie I think I was extremely tense as the nurse had just told me this was going to be the worst 30 mins of my life and twisted the wrong way or something, felt it straight away and screamed. The next 30 mins was not pleasant. The hospital filed an incident report yesterday. Pain relief is definitely helping. I can’t wear a bra as the rubbing on my ribs is so painful. Let’s look on the bright side, won’t be needing to wear a bra soon 🤪

Yep - deep breaths (but not too deep or it will hurt your ribs! :( )

How on earth did the MRI cause the fractures?

Fractured ribs are incredibly painful @CeeCee - and there is not a lot they can do other than painkillers xx I hope they gave you some 'good ones' to deal with the pain.   

As it is often painful to breath - you have to be careful not to get congestion in the lungs (as they are probably not being fully inflated due to the pain) .... if the chest pain increases, see your GP asap xx

I had the bone scan yesterday and was told I had 3 fractured ribs which was caused at the breast MRI 4 weeks ago. There has been constant pain and difficulty breathing which has all added to the high stress. When I was told about the fractures I was so happy as I was thinking a spread as we do. This is good news. Mastectomy next week, one thing at a time, breathe…..