surgery discomfort

HI Karen

I had my right  breast mastectomy last Wednesday & the drain removed yesterday, I was in pain where the drain came from Wednesday evening until it was taken out, I am feeling the odd sensation like the odd bubbling around  the area + a bit of scar pain but not too bad, I go for my results today & the nurse that removed the drain asked me to pop in & see her before I go to the result appointment just to check how things are in the drain area.

I think it is only natural to feel pain after what we have been through but if you are feeling really uncomfortable I would ask for stronger pain meds.

Wishing you well & sending hugs.

Eileen 

 

 

 

Hi Karen - the sensations and discomfort are what I call normal.  I used to feel like it was wet under my arm, but it was just the nerves.  Don't recall shooting pain though.  It's certainly a relief when the drain is removed.

Do you have a breast care nurse you can ring and ask, she will put you at ease and advise accordingly.

Wishing you well with your follow up appointment and treatments.

Take care

Christine

 

Hi Karen

Not sure if you had lymph clearance surgery on top of mastectomy but I had both mastectomy and lymphs cleared and with the lymph clearance I had a lot of nerve damage and pains associated with that.  My dr prescribed Lyrica for me while I was in hospital and it helped heaps. I was on Lyrica for roughly 10 to 11 months after my surgery to help with the nerve pain in my arm.  I am off it now and although I have areas in my arm where I have no sensation my nerves have recovered well enough.  Maybe ask your dr about Lyrica.  All the best with your recovery.

Hi Karen

My cheery surgeon told me I would have lost of twinges and funny sensations after my mastectomy and I was simply to ignore them. I did both. They vanished after a few weeks, although they were more of the funny sensations and twinges type than actual pains. I do still get an occasional twinge, from the scar tissue - not painful, just feels like an odd stretched muscle at times.

You can get some fluid, which may be what the trickling feeling is. It should dissipate, but keep an eye on it and ask for advice if it doesn't.

I lost a lot of feeling in my underarm - initially it felt like someone else's altogether which was a  bit alarming, but gradually feeling returned. It's still not perfect, so possibly never will be but the only real impact is that I can't feel cold deodorant on a really cold morning and probably should never use hot wax on my underarms!

Good luck.

I do remember a sharp jabbing pain out of nowhere that nearly dropped me to the floor. It only happened a couple of times and it was gone before I could even think of pain killers. It must just be a nerve sorting itself out I think as it didn't happen again.

It will be tender there for a few months. When you move your arm back from your chest you will notice a breast bone there. That was my discomfort until the skin stretched a little and it grew a bit thicker in the skin. Rubbing bio oil into the scar can help loosen that up and you don't need much.

By all means keep up the exercises but don't over do it. Just gentle movement my physio said to me, it takes its time healing.