Forum Discussion

Swirley's avatar
Swirley
Member
11 years ago

Am I going mad?

Ok this is a bit of a rave. Had surgery last Thursday - lumpectomy and axilla excision. Still in gross pain at the site of the drain - on mega pain killers, ice packs and am beginning to feel like I am some sort of wimp - was prepared for and am coping with strange sensations, numbness and pain in arm and back - but this feels like a toothache at the side of my breast - fades with meds but still throbbing constantly. Complicated by my breast surgeon going away unexpectedly for a week post op, not being able to contact the breast care nurse until today and having a complete meltdown last night...my gp and community nurse have been great but no one seems to know why it is hurting and I am beginning to feel like a major dram queen. Seriously,  I usually have a very high pain threshold and I rarely take any sort of painkillers.... also found out post operatively that I am allergic to endone (massive red and itchy rash) and have scans tomorrow for bone and lungs etc. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER RIGHT NOW.  Ok, rave over but can anyone tell me if this kind of pain has happened to others?

 

pain

7 Replies

  • kazza4450's avatar
    kazza4450
    Member
    11 years ago

    No Swirley, I think not, lol. 

    I'm the same. I'm 20 days post surgery for axillary node etc. In day 4/5 post op, pain got worse and worse.Fi kept checking the drain site and the suture areas, no sign of infection. Eventually took my top of, stood in front if a mirror and found a massive red swollen patch at bottom if my breast would be size of a kiwi fruit, lol. 

    So on antibiotics, then started getting nerve pain itch around the drain site, then blisters started appearing, they think it's shingles. So I'm in pain, itching, burning, so much discomfort. I too couldn't understand why things are getting worse and my pain tolerance was dropping. 

    Definitely keep going back if you don't think something is right. I think in general this is way more painful even without the complications than I imagined. 

    And to top it off I still have aeronautics from the surgerytwo weeks prior. 

    I feel so crap. ??

    Hopefully we both come good soon. xxx

  • Beppie's avatar
    Beppie
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Swirly, 

    this happened to me after my mastectomy in 2013. It was nerve pain! It felt like an electric shock and sharp burning pain. I was prescribed a medication the surgeon didn't want to give me but as nothing else was really working , he did. I can't remember what it was though.  This helped plus the endone and alternating panadeine extra. Any thing to stop the pain- it was very bad. It took a few months to go but did go away gradually. Also heat or cold packs help and elevating your arm on the affected side. Hope you improve and the pain goes away - wishing you well . Beppie xx

  • LisaS's avatar
    LisaS
    Member
    11 years ago

    After my Axillary Dissection I found that the Endone didn't help but Panadol Extra did work. The physio exercises also helped - gentle stretches, plus lying with that arm up for 45 mins. I did get fluid build up with the Sentinal biopsy and got that aspirated. I have got nerve pain and cording, but nothing like what you are describing. You are not a drama queen. Pain is awful and is not something to be brave about. Best of luck. And please let us know if you get an answer.

  • Kazzi's avatar
    Kazzi
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Swirley,

    You're not being a wimp, I agree as well with previous comments.  The amount of pain sounds too much and hopefully you can see someone today about it, (underlying infection?).  After two excisions, before my mastectomy in May, I was seriously inflamed and with fluid build up which needed to be aspirated. The pain was intense.  

    All the best with scans today.

    Karen xx

  • rowdy's avatar
    rowdy
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi I agree with the girls if you are in so much pain contact your surgeons rooms as someone would be covering while your doc is away. Keep raving because this is what this site is about , we are all scared and don't know what to expect after surgery and we need to vent. Take care and call docxx

  • lrb_03's avatar
    lrb_03
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Swirley, just putting my nurse hat on, and this amount of pain doesn't sound right to me. Is there someone covering for your surgeon, while he/ she is away, there should be. Ring the rooms tomorrow to find out. Hope you can get some answers soon. Thinking of you, Lyn

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi swirley

    Can you contact the hospital where you had your surgery?  If you normally have a high pain threshold and you are still having problems, that to me indicates that there is something amiss. I can't speak for anyone else but I don't remember the pain being strong for so long after surgery (I had my surgery 14 months ago now) hope it eases off soon. Take care. Karen xox