Hello all, Im new to the site and just wondered how long discomfort lasts around the arm and mastectomy site. I can’t sleep at all and its starting to get me down.
Hi Malan,
welcome to the site. I think that discomfort around the arm and mastectomy site is prob a very individual thing. I was just wondering if you did your exercises regularly post-op and if you are still able to do them now? How long is it since you had your op?
I found that any discomfort I had was largely around the drain site rather than the actual wound site or arm. I know it can take a long time for things to settle down though and its not unusual to have a certain amount of discomfort for sometime afterwards. I religiously did the exercises in the ‘exercises after breast surgey’ booklet I got from this site, at least 3 times a day. Obviously you don’t want to over exert yourself though!
Have you mentioned the discomfort to your bc nurse at all? She may be able to suggest something to help or at least could have a look to check everything is healing as it should do.
Take care and let us know how you get on,
Kelly
-x-
I have reposted this on behalf of new user Ann
Kind regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care
Hello, and welcome.
Yours is a question I asked myself for weeks. I had right mastectomy and 18 nodes cleared on 13th Dec 06. At first the pain and discomfort was ‘bearable’, but then seemed to get worse, the most pain from my underarm. I remember crying in pain New Years Eve, wondering when this pain would subside, and I suppose it was towards the end of Jan, just before my chemo. I did find that each chemo session used to aggrevate both areas and made them very sore again for a week at a time. A tip I learnt for drying under my arm after showering, was to blot with tissues, rather than wipe with a towel.
And now, after finishing RT last week, the pain in both areas is worse than ever - seems like I’m back to square one again !
Hope I haven’t scared you…just my experience!
Take care,
Ann
Hi Ann and Kelly,
thanks for your posts. I had my surgery nearly 3 weeks ago and have done exercises religiously and still do them. Its ok coping during the day but I have certainly found night time discomfort the worst, sitting up until 5am in tears. But last night, hurray!! I had a full nights sleep with Nytol recommended by my GP.
Arm sensation is like a burning and seems to be related to the drain site. Under arm is tight so Im trying to stretch the area as recommended by physio. Hope it works but if not I suppose its the least of problems!
I just want to add its wonderfull to be able to share experiences with other women with the same concerns and fears.
Thankyou, Malan x