Just diagnosed

Hi Annie

My diagnosis was five weeks ago and mastectomy four weeks ago tomorrow- my new body shape will be one month old tomorrow :) 

I know what you mean about a mismatch of expectations and realityin ewound healing. Over Easter I popped a stitch whilst stretching my arm above my head - a bit disconcerting being able to look inside the cavity where your breast once was! I was back in hospital overnight and have been on antibiotics for 10 days; the openning is dressed everyday witha thing called aquacell. I really had expected the hole to be closed by now and it still isn't. I am not normally this slow to heal. The surgeon is seeing me tomorrow and I think I may need to have an aspiration of the fluid as well- same as you. I haven't been sore or tender over the scar line at all but have been really sore up near where the muscle ridge is - so sore in fact that I have rubbed some voltaren cream on it which bought some relief - was really careful that I didnt get it near the scar line.

As for the tiredness I am stunned - I had a bilateral hip replacement about 10 years ago and even with a trip to ICU due to blood loss and a low Hb, I did not feel as tired as I do now. I am worried about returning to work next week as I am not sure how I will go. I will ask about flexible working hours but am not holding my breath... we will see. I most definitely run out of puff about 3pm and think 'ok for sure tonight I will have a good sleep' but seems not to be the case. I think the emotional processing that is required to get your head wrapped around everything to do with not only the diagnosis and treatments, but the roller coaster ride and politics of family etc, has a lot to do with the fatigue and is really a normal part of this journey.

Annie how long between your chemo consultation and starting  chemo was there - is it a matter of days or weeks?

Cheers for now and thank you for engaging in a chat; it really does help me sort some of this stuff out

MLE59