Recovery Post Lymph Node Removal

I hadn't heard that (but would be interested to know) but I do know I can't drive with some of the anti-nausea medication.

Someone told me that if you have an accident whilst on chemotherapy, the insurance company won’t cover you. Has anyone else heard that? My husband now does all the driving. I am grateful that he is retired as there are some days when I am too ‘foggy’ to get behind the wheel. 

@kezmusc. I drove today for the first time today - feels like a major achievement 10 days post op.

Hi @"Kiwi Angel",

I had 24 nodes out just over a year ago.  Like @onemargie I drove myself 4 days later to get the drains out.  Not the best patient either.  I just do what I feel capable of at the time.  The exercises help so much, especially the wall walk. so about three weeks after surgery I decided that painting a tongue and groove timber ceiling (a job I had been going to get to for years) by hand sounded like a good idea!  My husband thought I was nuts, but it certainly sorted out the drainage, range of movement and strength. I just did as much as I could each day and had pretty much full strength and movement back within about 6-8 weeks.
The little electric shocks are the nerves starting to fire up I was told.  They disappeared within a few weeks.  It was pretty numb under there for quite a while (makes shaving under your arm interesting) then a combination of numb bits and super sensitive bits and now it's pretty normal mostly.  It still occasionally gets a little puffy and feels a bit weird but that's when I've been doing a lot of physical work and it goes down by the next day.  

All the best
XOXOXO

@"Kiwi Angel" I had 22 nodes removed and only real drama was that I got a dose of cellulitis which put me back in hospital on an iv drip for three days. No driving for me and not too much swelling at all. None in fingers. I had weekly physio with a lymphodema ‘expert’ who was recommended by my Breast Care Nurse. I still exercise/massage twice daily to keep it all draining. I think there is slightly more swelling after chemo due to steroids then it settles down again (until the next one!)   All in all though it was mostly uneventful!

I waited a long time to drive @"Kiwi Angel" I live in the hills and decided that unless I was fully confident that I could get out of any situation (particularly those caused by other road users), it was safer to stay in the passenger seat.  It clipped my wings, so to speak, but at least I wasn't the cause of any accidents.

Exactly what I would tell you as a health professional just not very good at taking my own advice lol. Take care of you. Margie xx

@onemargie. U did well - I still don’t know how I would go driving just with the range of movement required to turn corners. Might go for a little test drive later this week. Slowly getting better each day. I’m just very impatient and get frustrated that I’m not better yet. Have to keep reminding myself I did have major surgery and to stop being silly and let my body heal.  

Hi there @"Kiwi Angel" I had 8 nodes removed and had pretty good range of motion too. Keep up the physio it helps heaps. I was naughty and drove with my drains in and as needed but as a nurse I am a bloody shocking patient so don’t take any notice of me! I still have some nerve pain and numbness 17 months after finishing chemo but like the oncol says “ it’s only been 17 months Margie”.   All the best with your recovery and remember to be kind to yourself. Margie xx 

I had 11 out and got good mobility back pretty quickly but used to get a feeling like I was being tazered down my arm every so often. That only lasted a few weeks. Am nearly a year since op and have good feeling back in my tricep now so the weird numb feeling is nearly gone. Arm pit still feels a bit odd and have some tightness still from cording but all manageable xx