Post mastectomy help

I had two surgeries - partial before Christmas and full mastectomy with axillary dissection just after New Year.  I found the surgeries fairly manageable and the drains came out before I came home.  Still have quite a large area of numbness under the arm and the nerve endings around it are scrambled.  The scar is good but tight even though I've been massaging it with BioOil.  I developed cording under the arm which I've got to get sorted.  Most movement is back but it pulls when I stretch in certain ways eg. I can't throw a ball anymore or deal with weight or pressure when extended.  I also get muscles straining along my side and along the underside of my upper arm - I suspect that's due to cording.  Bras drive me insane with rubbing (and pressure on the port) so only wear them when I have to.  I'm going to see the surgeon on Tuesday for a checkup so will find out the verdict on my healing, then.

Hi ladies, 
I had a right mastectomy late November,2017 one week in public hospital as my surgeon thought there was too much fluid draining. to be discharged , otherwise I was physically fine.I was allowed to go home on the 8th day , with one drain in and  hospital in the home came daily to check the drain. At a the check up at the public clinic 5 days later the drain taken out even though there was still quit a bit of fluid draining. by then having the drain in was most uncomfortable so i was pleased. Needed to go three times to ER, Frankston,  and have the seroma drained but it eventually settled.Didn't get a prosthesis for nearly 12 weeks and have felt better since though i did use the free berlei post surgery bra daily which my wonderful breast care nurse encouraged. It has been hard to get used to the tightness though it is improving, and mainly more comfortable with the prosthesis and nice mastectomy bras. Little electric shock sensations daily which i have been told our the nerve endings repairing so maybe the strange feeling in my chest will get better as the weeks , months go by. Interested to hear how it feels as the time goes by for other women .??  it is  great to hear others experiences.

So surgery was 16 October and radiation finished on 4 January and I’ve had three nights in hospital on iv antibiotics at end of January and I still have an infected seroma. I see the surgeon again tomorrow. It seems the cancer is ‘gone’ but the side effects from successful treatment goes on forever. 

Hi there @Moosie and @dbelle. I had my left boob off (may 2016) that had the tumor in it along with 8 lymph nodes then 6 months later took the right one off no lymph nodes  as a prophylaxis and that’s the side I got the seroma in which surprised me. I had the drain in for two weeks for the left side but funnily enough it fell out on the kitchen floor one morning all by it’s self and scared the shit out of me!  Went to see the surgeon that day and thankfully all was ok. The right side I had the drain in for 10 days when I was reviewed and the surgeons registrar said to take it out as it increases infection staying in even though it was stil draining significant fluid I argued with him to leave it in until the two week mark but he insisted to take it out. So a few days later I got a seroma and it was painful as fuck! Anyway long story short ended up having 250mls drained and overnight stay in hospital on IV antibiotics. And no bra for sure its just too uncomfortable for me anyway. I have the crocheted titties now and much prefer them to to prosthetics. I also just bought a new bra from Belei it’s called the Chrissy bra (after Chrissy amphlett from the divynls) it’s the most comfortable bra I still have some issues with nerve discomfort and pain sometimes too. And @AllyJay love the frankentitty name.... bloody hilarious!!!   Margie. Xxx 

Called my wonderful breast care nurse & she set me straight. The swelling was most likely to be stopping me from taking deep breaths & lying down all night would’ve made things worse. I got into see my breast surgeon late that afternoon & she drained loads of fluid from my chest & underarm. The relief was immediate & I’ve felt  so much better all day today. She’s going to see me twice a week from now on to keep on top of the swelling. Thanks for your responses xx

Hi @dbelle,
I will send you a private message.

Hi @dbelle, I think it depends on how bad your wheezing is and if you're in a lot of pain? I'm assuming your specialist's surgery would open anywhere from 8:00 to 9:00am. How long would you wait in the ed?? If your starting to fret about the wheezing you could always ring the ed give them your symptoms and see what they recommend?? At least that can give you a bit more of an answer. Let's us know how you get on. Big hug. Xx Cath

Hello ladies, I had right mastectomy almost 3 weeks ago and have been draining ever since! I had the last tube removed 2 weeks ago and then had a dish full of seroma drained at post op check up last week. My right chest area from the clavicle down to the bottom rib and my underarm has been swelling and getting tighter and shinier ever since. Last night, I developed asthma-like wheezing. I've woken up wheezing again this morning. My hubby is very worried but I'm guessing it just needs to be drained again. My question is do I wait till the specialists surgery opens or just turn up at the local ER? 

Thanks TonyaM. I have started wearing a post surgery bra hoping it might help with the fluid build up.  I was hoping the tightness was temporary though. I am seeing an OT/physio who specialises in mastectomy tomorrow so I hope she has some suggestions too.  So good to hear from women who have been there done that! Helps so much. Thanks. 

Hi ladies, I used the soft form with filling that came with the free Berlei post surgery bra that BCNA posted out(my care kit).Moosie,I had a seroma on the scar line of my mastectomy for about 5weeks. It needed draining twice a week,then once a week and it gradually went away.I wore a singlet while that was happening. At 6 weeks I got fitted for a prosthesis and felt much better and confident. To this day(7 yrs later)I still feel tight across my chest and numb under my arm. Trying to find clothes with higher necklines is always a challenge too.