Forum Discussion

ilovewhenitrain's avatar
3 years ago

Post op

Well ladies, my surgery went well yesterday (unilateral mastectomy & axillary clearance). Came out of anaesthesia well and was fine last night. I had a nerve block in and when that wore off this morning, was in excruciating pain 😕 A rare complication where the drains rub against a nerve - if I move or breathe deeply I get a terrible sharp pain and burning sensation. 

Fortunately I’ve just seen a pain specialist whose put together a pain plan, so just waiting for that to start kicking in. Hopefully that helps settle it and I can go home tomorrow (was going to be today).

Other than that, I’m a bit surprised at how I’ve reacted to the surgery emotionally. Before surgery I was very sad about losing a breast, and anxious about waking up to see nothing there anymore. Once I’d woken up and gathered the courage to take a peek under my gown, I just felt this huge relief that the cancer wasn’t in me anymore and had an overwhelming feeling of happiness.

So I’m another step closer to overcoming this and feeling hopeful 😊

10 Replies

  • Best wishes with your recovery @ilovewhenitrains. Hopefully that pain gets under control. 
  • Thanks @Cath62, pain is under control now. Pain specialist was great and I had immediate relief once she started me on targeted pain killers. 

    I’m home now and resting :-)
  • That's good to hear @ilovewhenitrains . It's all such a big thing to go through. I so understand feeling relief when that cancer is cut out! Take it easy over the next few days. Best wishes 💐
  • @ilovewhenitrains

    Just catching up on posts!
    Pleased to read you're feeling relief knowing the cancer has been removed.

    Bugger about the drain and nerve - ouch!  Pain relief- Yay!

    Take care and rest up
    Best wishes 
  • Hello @ilovewhenitrains
    I had the same procedure on the 28th of April and I am really surprised at how I am feeling. When I asked the nurses in recovery where I was and they told me it was all done I cried tears of relief. I have felt so relieved that it is out off and I can move onto radio now and keep pressing on towards the finish line. If I am honest, I have handled the whole surgery part better than I thought I would as well. I almost feel more confident than the shell of a person I thought I was a few weeks ago leading up to surgery.  You are so right to say you are feeling hopeful, getting through this part of the journey does seem to make you feel more hopeful. 
    Take care and rest up well xx
  • @Christabel03 hope you are healing well too. 10 days post op now and had my second drain out today - feels much better but my armpit and upper arm still feel numb and weird. I’m a bit swollen there still which I think is normal?

    doing my exercises feels like I’m trying to move someone else’s arm!
  • The arm sounds similar to mine, back in 2020.
    Nerves are damaged and interfered with during the surgery.
    My  arm still feels weird, but better than before.
    I had a good range of motion very early on. But persevere with the exercises.
    Range of motion is important, particularly if having Radiotherapy.
    I have attended a Lymphodema Physio and Laser therapy centre.
    They have monitored my arm for Lymphodema, which I don't have as yet.
    I had some Laser treatment, to aid healing, and to treat some cording I had.
    All the best for the future.
  • Thanks @Abbydog - I’ve got most of my range of motion back, but cording is still an issue at the elbow. I think I’ll look into the laser treatment if it doesn’t resolve itself soon.

    I’m about 5 weeks post-op now and my upper arm feels swollen/tight in the evenings, so the physio is monitoring for lymphoedema. Fingers crossed
  • @ilovewhenitrains Hi, l'm 3 weeks post op and I still cannot get my elbow up over my shoulder level but I'm still doing the exercise. How long u took to get your elbow up over your shoulder level? Thanks.
  • @Siewli it took me about 3 - 4 weeks to get my elbow above shoulder level. I had a physio appointment 2 weeks after surgery and they started me on exercises and massage to loosen the cording in my armpit which helped with mobility. It got a little better every couple of days with the exercises and stretching