Forum Discussion

AllyJay's avatar
AllyJay
Member
8 years ago

Chest tightness after bilateral mastectomy.

Hi there fellow warriors. Had my bilateral mastectomy with axillary clearance on left and sentinal nodes on right one month ago. My chest is still really tight...feels like I still have the chest binder on (or three really tight bras, one on top of the other). I have a large haematoma on the left side, which is gradually resolving, but still has a rock hard centre, and is quite swollen. Also have a seroma on the same (left) side, which has been drained twice since The Big Chop. (My two new Zombie Tits). As I have scleroderma, with the consequent tight skin, I'm not too sure if this is normal post surgery, or if it is due to the autoimmune condition. Never mind the numbness...but that I expected. Can you other folks give me an idea of when your excessive tightness eased? Bonus is I've had a neck lift (well neck drop really), and I've lost one of my turkey wattles as the top and bottom were stitched together!!
  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    8 years ago
    Be aware the rest of your body, the shoulders, spine and neck have to also get used to the difference in weight and motility. You may be inadvertently favouring the scarring and not exercising to stretch it enough. Another aspect I noticed is it took a long time to grow any actual flesh over the ribs under the skin. I am talking a year before it was much better at all. I spend a lot of time massaging all around the area and also put a coat on in the breeze as the bones just get so cold on my chest. I had the left one off and it took a while to be able to sleep with the increased volume of my heart beat without the pillow of breast on top. 
  • positive3negati's avatar
    positive3negati
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi everyone. I had a bilateral mastectomy two and a half years ago and hear you! How ironic that having had size F breasts removed it felt just like wearing a massive bra that was way too tight! I found an oncology massage therapist and she did lots of work helping to release the fascia. This made a HUGE difference. I also practice yoga and that has helped with the tightness, my range of movement, my lymph drainage and building my upper body strength. As a side bonus, the chest muscles I've built with all those downward and upward dogs make me look naturally flat chested rather than surgically altered. 
    Please know that it does get much better with time. If you can't afford massage, then gently rubbing the area yourself can help, as can patting yourself downwards, as if you were patting a cat (this drains lymph). I no longer have any tightness across my back. I sometimes still feel tight across the front of my chest but it's almost not noticeable. 
    Someone on this site let me know just after my surgery that the tightness would improve, and my skin would eventually stop feeling 'stuck' to my muscle. They were right and it helped me so much to know this. I hope my comments have helped you too.
  • Michelle_R's avatar
    Michelle_R
    Member
    8 years ago
    The breast centre physiotherapist gave me an exercise sheet after my double mastectomy, to do at first every hour for the first few weeks, progressing to 3 x day later on, combined with a Vitamin E rub across the scar morning and night.  Five years later I still do both a few times a week or the tightness is noticeable. The exercises/rub immediately takes it away.
  • AineG's avatar
    AineG
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi AllyJay, I had double mastectomy last Aug with left aux clearance and radio (left side) back in Oct / Nov.  No Recon. The tightness is still there, worse on the radio side, but still noticeable on both.  That being said it is getting better and much more liveable.  I stretch twice a day, and can really tell the difference if I forget.  I found stretching before bed helped my sleep.  
    And I massage as required throughout the day (often slip out of the office for a quick one)!! :)
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    8 years ago
    I had tightness across my chest after a mastectomy on the left. It was worse after radiotherapy. I had laser treatment and massage along the scar a little while after surgery at a lymphoedema clinic. It's tight now after LD reconstruction. I think when it's healed massage and stretching are important. It takes a bit of getting used to the numbness and missing your boobs. I miss taking them for granted and not overthinking everything. 
  • Tanba's avatar
    Tanba
    Member
    8 years ago
    6 months out of bilateral mastectomy, my chest is tight. I feel like im cut in half. Im wondering if it could be muscle involuntarily contracting?
  • BoraBora's avatar
    BoraBora
    Member
    8 years ago
    I had bi lateral mastectomy in May last year (no recon) still very tight like wearing a straight jacket - it must ease up a bit during the day or I am getting use to it as I am no longer aware of it 24/7. I complained all the time to my surgeon as I could not believe it was normal - but  apparently it is. I did notice it seemed more worse each time my seroma was drained (I expected the opposite) x
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    8 years ago
    I had implant reconstructions, the tightness has persisted for ten years. It's not exactly painful, but it is noticeable, particularly when I'm running or deep breathing during yoga. I'd always assumed it was because the implants were stretching  reluctant muscles. If you haven't had a rebuild but have the same sensation there logically has to be another cause. Interesting. 
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi AllyJay, it's quite normal to feel tightness across your chest after a mastectomy.It improves over time. My surgery was 7 years ago and I still have the sensation like I have duck tape stuck across my chest. This could also be due to previous radiation.The weird thing is,the tightness improves when my prosthesis presses against it.