Still sore

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience. I am overwhelmed with all the responses. I went to hospital ED today. Had few tests done. Going to see my GP this week. I was told I am probably developing lymphedema. Thank you for your love & support. 

NJM, you've had a rough few weeks and there are many here who will know that feeling of "Everything? Everything has to go wrong at once?" Being sore stressed and unable to sleep can be very debilitating, hang in there.
I started chemo (again) on Wednesday and feel like shit, but that will pass. A bit of retail therapy helped---lovely soft washable cotton blankets which have turned my bed into a haven that I can keep clean and dry. Bought on sale, of course.
Sometimes small things can tip the scales either way, I hope something happens today that brings a smile to your dial. Marg.

Thinking of you NJM and sending hugs. As others have said you have already been through so much. I and at least one other on this site start chemotherapy this week. I am trying like you to stay positive. Walking is helping me as is reading heaps of positive quotes such as that said by Christopher Robin to Pooh - you are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. 

Hello NJM the soreness will take a long time to settle. Muscles, tissues, nerves et cetera have all been affected. 
You do need to let the Drs know your concerns so they can allay any of concerns. As Kath has said the exercises are vital. Walking the fingers up the wall does help. 
Goodness when I read your post your body has been through a lot already.
Time for healing varies with us all. Listen to your body and be guided by your team. Ask f you can go have a lymphatic drainage massage with a specialist physio.  It works a treat. Take care 

Only really early after such a lot of surgery. I can remember felt just so miserable a few weeks after mine especially as nerves started to recover and it became really painful to touch. Regular pain relief is important. ..I took 8 hourly panadol osteo round the clock and in between I had slow release Tramadol...which lasted 12 hours each. I ended up needing lyrica for the nerve pain for a couple of weeks. Mine was a reconstruction also so I had added issues, but not as many nodes as you had removed.   You will be a lot better in 2 weeks, you will see.  As to chemo..everyone is worried about how they will cope. You will and they will give you medication to counter effect the side effects. You are stronger than you think.

Your exercises are really important to do...just do them slowly, even just walking your fingers slowly up the wall will assist to stretch that armpit and get movement back. Even though it hurts if you don't stretch the area scar tissue will eventually form and completely reduce your arm stretch..it still forms with the exercises but hopefully without restricting movement. Good luck. Kath x

Hi @NJM,
I am so sorry that you have been through so much already. I had a mastectomy and 8 nodes removed back in 2013. My drain did not work so I also had a huge build up of fluid which had to be drained every few days. My chemo started 3 weeks after my surgery. I still had a lot of soreness and fluid build up which continued to need draining by the surgeon even after chemo started.

I found a wonderful local lymphoedema physiotherapist who started massaging the area at about the 4 week post surgery point. This helped to reduce the fluid and ease my pain. This also helped me to be able to do the exercises more effectively. Maybe you could ask your surgeon or breast care nurse if you have one, if there is a physio or someone they could recommend to help you with your shoulder and arm. It is important to do the exercises to regain proper movement and also so you are in less pain but it sounds as though you might need assistance with this due to your shoulder issue.

In my experience you need to let your doctors know your concerns. Especially when you start chemo. Keep a record of any side effects and most of the time there is something they can do to reduce these. This network and the wonderful ladies on here will also be extremely helpful with practical advice about most things. I hope that your pain reduces soon, but I think a physio would be able to help with this. Take care and let us know how you go. Deanne xxx

Hi there NJM, I just wanted to jump in to say hello/welcome you to the Online Network and to let you know that we are here to support you, so if you need any help working your way around the network or connecting with information and support services, please just let me know.