Forum Discussion
Lymph nodes arm care
Had mastectomy thurs 20th april for grade 3 idc. Was meant to have the mastectomy and sentinel node checked. When i saw surgeon next morning i asked about the incision as it went much further under my armpit. He said that he ended up taking several as they looked suspicious? Anyway thats not my real question. The physio gave me a booklet about arm care for the side that some auxillary nodes were taken and i was stunned. It referred to LONG TERM care of the arm eg no blood tests, no blood pressure cuffs, avoid mosquito bites!!, use a thimble when sewing. Avoid dry skin in case it cracks and creates an opening, dont wear tight bra straps and on and on. Surely this is overkill??? Is this for real???
43 Replies
- I had 3 sentinal nodes and after a couple of scary puffy days following BP checks and travel I really protect this arm. It's just not worth taking any risk.
- Hi, i will be having my lymp nodes removed also,not sure how many. When i asked my dr about the affects, he just said to use it as normal..didnt seem to focused on it.
I know the breast care nurses can provide more detailed info as mentioned by ladies above. This is a great website to share information experienced by all.
Take care...goodluck - I had lymphodema in my left arm and pica line in the right so all blood pressure tests etc where done on my legs....
- Bites or scratches to my lymphless arm do take a lot longer to heal.
- Thanks @socoda. That's the great thing about this forum, we are constantly learning! I figured there must have been a solution
- Getting ahead of myself should read 2016.
- I had surgery 22/12/17 where lymp nodes were removed and my upper arm is still totally numb to touch, suppose it can't get worse but feel it has...does not affect function. I'm waiting for it to go away.
- One of the things they tell you not to do is bite or cut your cuticles. Gosh I am tempted to bite or cut mine them some days. Apparently it's possible to get an infection when you do this.
- Hey Jane @"Hopes and Dreams" the next target area for blood pressure and taking blood if arms are no good can be ankles.
- Hi @bevvzy, I was told the same thing. I wonder what women do who have had lymph nodes removed from under both arms. How do they have blood pressure taken or give blood??
They have to tell us all the possibilities however unlikely.
I was a plasma donor until my breast cancer diagnosis and have a great vein in my left arm which theoretically I can no longer use for blood tests. But having no usable vein in my right arm I have no choice. For my last blood test the nurse used a very fine needle and a syringe to draw blood and it was fine. She said it was more about guarding against any infection at the needle site.
I just find myself being a bit more mindful of cuts and scrapes though as a knife wielding lefty I am more likely to cause danger to my right hand!
Hope you are doing OK. Jane xx
