I am seeking advice regarding a double mastectomy, and right lymph dissection and the side effects! I have a 95% clearance, though I am beginning to have lymphodema in my right arm, I have recently been diagnosed with high blood presure and wonder if it has anything to do with the right lymph dissection, I also get a tightening feeling creep up my chest which eventually feels like I am being strangled! I also feel a lot of body pain which I believe is side effects of the mastectomy. I am looking to discuss the side effects with people in the same boat as me and am interested in how you manage these symtoms yourself and can you share them with me.

hi Lorraine... what a lot you have to deal with!!!..i had a few nodes removed from under my left arm along with the left mastectomy...I have not had a huge amount of problems but i do have regular (every week in the beginning-now every fortnight) lymphatic massage and i hear that the use of compression garments help too..Get in touch with the Lymphodema assoc in ur state and they can recommend a therapist for you...u can also get a reduction on your power bills for the summer (to help with home cooling costs) if ur a member of the association..i have the contact no. for each state..or u could google it..there is plenty of info and support out there, just need to access it :) I have full range of motion back now, but it did take a while and regular massage helped a lot to relieve the tightness and pain that came with it...the trick is to keep the fluid moving, so learn how to manually massage ur arms urself (or ur partner could do it for you)..it is very gentle and not painful to do but has been good for me...hopefully for you too.. Good luck Sam :)

Thanku Sam, Yes I am doing the lymphatic massage, myself, I have it down pat in the shower everyday now, and use apricot oil to stay moisturised everyday, just in the last month have had to go to physio to be compression bandaged from fingertips up which reduced by 2inches in a week, and have been fitted for compression sleeves and gloves, I had 20 out of 24 nodes removed from right. Thats a hell of a lot isnt it, I will google those sites, I found one in the UK which educated me a bit more about the effects of Lymphodema. I think we have a lot of consequential symptoms that not even Drs are aware of it or if they are, do not inform you, and I would like to see that changed! My body also contains the heat (5 mins in the midday sun) and I believe it casued this reaction I am going through, and I have begun menopause symptoms again, which they did warn me about! Have a Nice Day and Thanku

Hi Lorraine, I had full lymph node clearance,lumpectomy and radiation back in 2003.My arm used to ache alot but I'd elevate it when resting and did the massaging morning and night.I found that some drugs which caused fluid retention would make my arm ache.It seemed to improve after about 2yrs and I didn't notice it.Last year I got cancer back in the same breast and had a mastectomy.My arm has been ok this time(on off aches with Tamoxifen).But my scar feels like it has duck tape across it-alot of discomfort.My surgeon says it's adhesions and that maybe,in time,it MIGHT improve. So stay hopeful-your arm might settle down over time. It's a big price we pay when getting rid of a little lump! Tonya

Lymphodema | BCNA Online Network

11 Replies

Samantha_Cunnin
Member
15 years ago
hi Lorraine...

what a lot you have to deal with!!!..i had a few nodes removed from under my left arm along with the left mastectomy...I have not had a huge amount of problems but i do have regular (every week in the beginning-now every fortnight) lymphatic massage and i hear that the use of compression garments help too..Get in touch with the Lymphodema assoc in ur state and they can recommend a therapist for you...u can also get a reduction on your power bills for the summer (to help with home cooling costs) if ur a member of the association..i have the contact no. for each state..or u could google it..there is plenty of info and support out there, just need to access it :)

I have full range of motion back now, but it did take a while and regular massage helped a lot to relieve the tightness and pain that came with it...the trick is to keep the fluid moving, so learn how to manually massage ur arms urself (or ur partner could do it for you)..it is very gentle and not painful to do but has been good for me...hopefully for you too..

Good luck

Sam :)

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