Forum Discussion

Jenny_Wren's avatar
Jenny_Wren
Member
15 years ago

Post surgical pain

Has anyone else out there taken more than a year to recover from post surgical pain? I had a mastectomy for DCIS immediately followed by a DIEP reconstruction & reduction of the other breast as it was too big. They have ended up different sizes, but my main problem is getting to sleep at night as my 53cm belly scar is still very painful. I wish the surgeon had told me that I had to do exercises to stretch the whole thing, even though it hurt like crazy, & that I wouldn't "pop". I'm 56, a teacher who had 2 give up 2 days a week of ongoing work as I simply couldn't work 5 days a week. I have a wonderfully understanding husband & 2 stepsons here full time who are great boys - but it is still really hard & I haven't read about ANYONE else who has had such great belly pain for so long.

6 Replies

  • Deeay's avatar
    Deeay
    Member
    15 years ago

    I'm weighing up whether to go public or private. Private patients pay a HUGE gap for this procedure!!

  • Jenny_Wren's avatar
    Jenny_Wren
    Member
    15 years ago

    Sorry I took so long to reply to your message, but of course I lost my username & password! I have a 53cm scar from side to side across my belly. The surgeon took my skin & fat - I had plenty! - including my belly button. I'm now going to a physio who "kneads" the area really hard once a week to try to break up the scar tissue that has formed,both under the long scar, and where they put in my 5 drains. As someone else said - we all heal differently & I think I am just a VERY SLOW HEALER. I have had to lose 2 days a week work as I still can't get to sleep easily at night & leaving for work at 6.30 am after being awake till 2am plus was just too much. I also have a small cut line under the reconstructed boob where he took off a tiny "dog ear" - but he took too much so I have a huge piece of scarring there but that doesn't hurt - just looks awful. Every medical person who sees my surgery says my plastic surgeon did a brilliant job, but I see two very uneven weird looking boobs with lots of scarring. I should be happy to have got the cancer out in full & NOT to have had chemo & radiation, but it is still hard. I'm lucky to be able to teach part time at 2 high schools teaching music - I couldn't cope with full, or part time class room teaching. So if you are surviving you are doing really well. Best wishes.

  • Deeay's avatar
    Deeay
    Member
    15 years ago

    Jenny-are you happy with the appearance of your reconstrcution? Where is the scarring? Below the bra line? I hope the pain has improved for you by now. I'm also a teacher and am just taking the time off work. I'll go broke slowly!!!

  • Cazz's avatar
    Cazz
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Jenny,

    I had a double mastectomy in 2009 and reconstruction though my reconstruction was different to yours. I still get pain on the right side which was done in November 09. It seems it can take quite a while to heal after this kind of surgery. I was told I would have scar tissue that could be causing some of the problem. We are all different and consequently our healing time is different. It might be worth discussing the pain you are getting with your surgeon. There may be something that can help.

    Hope things improve soon. Take care of yourself.

    Caren x

  • Cazz's avatar
    Cazz
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Jenny,

    I had a double mastectomy in 2009 and reconstruction though my reconstruction was different to yours. I still get pain on the right side which was done in November 09. It seems it can take quite a while to heal after this kind of surgery. I was told I would have scar tissue that could be causing some of the problem. We are all different and consequently our healing time is different. It might be worth discussing the pain you are getting with your surgeon. There may be something that can help.

    Hope things improve soon. Take care of yourself.

    Caren x