Hey @mrswjt
All this sounds very familiar to me. I had a double mastectomy with imp!ant reconstruction in 2006 and .had a recurrence in my armpit in 2016.
I'd like to give you a positive story but, unfortunately, some of us just don't deal well with the assault of surgery. I've had enough cords to restring an orchestra, have had monster scarring episodes and leak like a cabinet room in federal Parliament.
After years of this stuff, where I have been told I heal too quickly, too slowly, I've not stretched enough, I've over done it, I should rest, I should exercise more...I've decided I'm just plain irritable. I don't suffer from allergies or any underlying condition, I just have a shitty response to having bits of my body removed. I would also like to see some research into the correlation between excessive fluid in wounds and conditions like cording.
Part of the problem is that there is very little information given about long term negative side effects of surgery. What you are told is all very generic.its a bit like information about post natal depression back in the 80s. ' We don't want to make anyone anxious, so we don't talk about it's. FFS
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So, what to do. You are only five weeks into this and it is a big operation. All that ferretting around under your arm causes more issues than losing a boob. In my opinion anyway. Exercise helps, but if you need pain meds, take them.
I take a tramadol in the morning. My deal with myself is that if I take the pill, I have to get up and go for a walk. 5 km. I have Panadol in the afternoon and Lyrica in the evening--which cuts the nerve pain and helps me sleep
I stretch and bend, some days that is no fun at all.
You need to get a lymphoedema/breast specialist physio onto that cording. Not a pleasant process, but productive.
If you are not seeing a counselor, get your GP to write you up a mental health plan and start shopping around for one who suits you. This is an aspect of our health we tend to forget. Get an expert on board because the whole process is very stressful and tests you to your limits. Marg xxx
