Post mastectomy blues

Hi H

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply.

How are you going after your chemo - hope you not being hit too hard.

I love your sense of humour - i find I have to look at the funny side where possible - helps a lot!!

I am still waiting for that weed-killer appt so will keep you posted once I know more.

Anyway will blog again once I have details am sure I will be in a spin by then - having this space in between is long enough for panic to set in !!

Look after yourself x

Oh and yes my mastectomy was on the right and I am right handed - yippeee !!!

haha I think maybe we have similar temperaments! I was (and still am) frustrated by how long everything seems to take. It was about 2 months between my diagnosis and surgery - I really felt like I had been placed at the back of the queue. But it turns out there was no need to rush.

I'm not sure when I turned the corner and started feeling better post-surgery, but it was definitely /after/ chemo started. Nothing like getting a regular dose of weedkiller to take your mind off things! If I'd had to go back to work, I don't think I could have done it before week 6. I'm not driving much in any case -- I don't have a car any more, I cycle most of the time. I got back on my bike around about week 6 or 7. I made a conscious decision not to push things -- I would keep 'testing' my movement/strength and do my own forms of exercise, but apart from trying to stretch the area very gently with yoga, I didn't do anything that forced me to focus on the discomfort. Is your surgery side the same as your handedness? I was lucky in that I'm right-handed and had a left mastectomy -- I think everything would be amplified if I were left-handed.

When athletes have big surgical procedures it usually takes them 12 weeks to recover. Not being an athlete myself, I'm thinking 6 months is probably how long it's going to take. The tightness is still there now, just not as painful. My range of movement is improving all the time, but I'm still finding it hard to take off a long-sleeved teeshirt.

Post another blog when you know what kind of chemo you're having - if you have AC (doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide) I'll tell you how the first few doses went for me. Actually I'll probably post something about that anyway, since most of the effects I've experienced don't seem to be listed on the info I got from hospital. My next session is friday so I'll probably go offline for a while then, so apologies in advance if you post and I don't reply.

go well!

H

Hi Heather

Thanks so much for your post.

I am experiencing everything you describe - it has been worse than I expected and was wondering if this is going to be something I am going to have to live with longterm!!!

Love the idea of boogieing to Tchaikovsky - might have to give that a go hehe x

Glad to hear that it has got better for you - that is encouraging I am 3 weeks post op and still experiencing all as you described!!

How long was it before you started driving?

Hope that all goe well with your Chemo Heather - or as well as can be expected at least!!

I am seeing chemo team on 31 may - thinks are a bit slower moving here in qld it seems x

Thank you again for taking the time to reply it has been great to hear from someone who can relate to my angst with this - Im just not a very good patient !!

Very frustrating!!

Take care and keep going.

Debsx

I know this is a slow reply, and I hope it's not too late... (I'm in the middle of chemo, so my attention is coming and going.) Seromas are a pain, I had them too. It felt like my boob was trying to grow itself back, just horrible. And the tightness! It felt like I had this huge elastic band sticking around my chest and arm. Lots of weird pain -- at times my arm felt really sunburnt, at other times shooting pains made me jump. And I found the exercises really depressing. The instructional drawings just irritated me, and the exercises themselves just reminded me of how much the whole business hurt. So I stopped doing them. I didn't stop moving my arm, though -- I just did what suited me: really *really* gentle yoga, breathing through the tightness, and stupid dancing. I'd put on Tchaikovsky when no-one was home and pretend to be a ballerina. Much more like playing than exercising!

Anyway I'm ten weeks out now (from the same procedure as you, a full mastectomy and axillary clearance) and my arm movement is nearly back to normal. The area still feels tight and numb, but not as bad as before. At 2 weeks I was exactly where you are, and like you felt that I wasn't recovering well. I still can't do a proper 'downward dog' yoga pose but I'm fine with sleeping and other normal stuff. You'll get there -- find your own way. Hope you're on the mend now.

Go well,

Heather

Hi deb thanks for your feedback!

The surgeon who did my op apparently doesnt leave a drain in for longer than 48 hrs - says it reduces risk of infection so I guess consequently thats why i have these large seromas!!

No Im not on any antibiotics at the moment - the wound is looking ptretty healthy so far so at least so I guess thats a positive.

I am going back to see the surgeon tomorrow for my path results, course of action and drainage of the seroma agin!!

Will see what he says!!

Thanks for your encouragement. I guess Im just a bit impatient - better work on that !!!

Hope you having a nice long weekend x

Deb,

Try to stay positive, I know it will be difficult at times, your two girls might be able to make you smile. Just wondering why did your drain come out so early? Did it become blocked? For my Ist op drain was in for 6 days, I developed wound infection readmitted for IV a/bs doctors attempted but couldn't drain seroma which they suspected was there so stayed in hospital till mastectomy. This drain stayed in for 2 weeks always high amount of fluid, I kept an eye on the drainage to make sure it was draining. Didn't want a blockage again. My 1st drain I had trouble with the bag coming off due to a blockage and pressure building up, I believe, and because the drainage was low it was removed. Always think it came out too early and maybe could have prevented the complication.Anyway with the 2nd drain because it was in for so long, I was so sick of it, but at least I didn't have to endure seromas like you are having. Are you on antibiotics?

Hope it all settles for you, Deb

Hi Tonya

You did make me laugh - thanks for that!

Perhaps that wasn,t the best story to have been told!! Good to hear others that are more similar to mine.

Thanks for replying!! Mine also feels incredibly stiff and tight - but will perservere with the exercises and hope it improves over time .

Have a great weekend x

Thanks Keryn - good to know I'm not alone.

I'm just not used to being able to get on with doing things - bit frustrating.

Glad to hear you are 2 years down the road - hope you are going well x

Think I will have to check whether I can increase the exercises in a bid to loosen things up!!

Have a lovely weekend xx

Hi Debs,

I think that friend's mum must be superwomen or maybe she didn't have an auxillary clearance.I took about 4 weeks off work.The first time (7yrs ago) I could barely lift my arm after 6wks post op.and had to have a further 6wks of physio.This time around it wasn't as bad apart from getting the fluid drained every week for 6 wks.Don't be too hard on yourself.It takes about 4wks for it to settle down.You've lost alot of blood so you'll be tired for awhile.Just do what you can around the house and rest up.

                               Tonya xx

Hi there, dont get too down on yourself, everyone finds recovery from such massive surgery different.  I was like you and struggled for weeks.  I had to go back to the surgeon twice a week to have it drained for 8 weeks all up.  It must be hard with littlies still to look after.  I only had myself and it took me a good 3 months to get anywhere back to normal.  Take it one step at a time and keep up with the exercises, as much as you can.  Im still doing mine coming up to 2 years post surgery.  I hope you have favorable results.  Take care. xxx.