Hello,
Iam 38 with IDC HER2 after chemo I had single mastectomy with reconstruction and some node extraction for testing, I left hospital in same day with one big drain bottle.
I was in so much pain that they prescribe oralmorphe to take, I can’t move to the sides or move my left arm much, mostly tired wanted just to sleep or in sofa setting as my both sisters staying with me doing everything, I find it hard to do exercise number 5 on book as it’s hurt, can’t pull my pants when I go to the the loo.
I am not sure should I keep my arm down or up or just holding the heart pillow, and what the heart pillow for exactly and for how long should I use it, I get some swelling under my arm my sister isn’t concerned but I am, I sleep on 45-40 degree as advised but to scared to move or do anything as I am worried the stitches will open, being 5 days now never being out, any advice plz
Hi, no advice really, but hopefully a bit of reassurance!
I had my mastectomy a week ago. I didn’t have a drain though or a reconstruction,which might be making a difference to the pain you’re feeling.
You sound a bit like me, I’m also completely exhausted! You’re probably not sleeping very well propped up and your body is using an awful lot of energy trying to heal, so I think the tiredness is completely normal.
Do try to get outside if you can for a short walk. I need a nap afterwards but it does make me feel so much better.
My nurses told me to just be sensible about using my arm, so you don’t need to worry about keeping it up or down, just try to put it where it’s comfortable. I was told to avoid repetitive movements ( ironing, hoovering, knitting) and to avoid lifting things like shopping bags.
I use my pillow if I’m feeling a little sore. It keeps my underarm away from my chest and the slight pressure of the pillow on my wound seems to help me be more comfortable.
Your body is actually amazing and it’s healing while you rest. I think there is little chance of you hurting yourself too much by pottering around, although I completely understand why you’re worried about it!
Thank you for the advices, I had bad days as my drain stopped working and the district nurse cdnt manage to change the bottle and I had to go bag to day surgery unit at the hospital to change it and then it’s start draining again but hurt a lot like it’s first day of my surgery and I cried all afternoon from pain and even took morphine and does not help, saw my surgeon today and said that I will take the drain out Friday hope will help and advice me just to keep taking pain killers
I am so sorry you are having this post op pain, and the struglles with movement and sleeping position. I’ve had 2 mastectomies 15 years apart, one with drain, one without, one with lots of nodes removed and one with just SNBiopsy. My experience is that drains can be more painful and can restrict movement. Its fantastic that you had asked for help and been seen again. I hope that taking pain meds on schedule and letting yourself rest and recuperate will in the end help the pain to subside. ( I got told dont wait for the pain, get on top of it with regular meds if you can) . Exercise 5 is tricky , just do what is possible, it will come good, dont push it is my experience. It was harder when I had the drain.
I was worries about having the drain out but it was totally fine and a big relief.
I am.in week 5 of post op this time around and I am still resting a fair bit - our bodies and our minds and hearts need it. All the best
Hi, I am 7 weeks post op. Mastectomy with no reconstruction.
I have definitely found that rest is best. I slept a lot for the first 2 weeks, nearly every afternoon.
At night I had a bed cushion in the shape of a wedge of cheese that helped loads. I supported my arm night and day with cushions, in my arm pit and under my arm.
I did small walks to start with, I’m lucky I live on a farm so I don’t have to leave my property but try to go somewhere relaxing. A park where you can stop and sit down when you want to and look at the trees, people watch and relax.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to do anything, give this time. Your body is healing and mentally you need to heal too. You’ve been through a trauma.
Be kind to yourself, sleep, read, try and relax. There are some excellent relaxation techniques you can find on line and these will help with your recovery. I can’t stress enough how this will help your pain.
I have done all this while trying to stay calm which is difficult when we’ve been through such a big life event.
Ultimately, take care of you.
Thank you for all your replay, still feeling very sore and pain, can’t move properly, actually day after I post here I realised that my drain was not working and they change it and yesterday I had leaking from my stitches and my bra stuck to the liquid from top of my strips.
I will meet surgeon tomorrow and hopefully she will check it, I feel pain and sore and can’t move and now my body is become stiff that I even get cramps in my shoulder if I yawn, I wanted to pull the car door and it’s hurt soo bad.
What can I do to prevent any frozen shoylders or stiffness?
Oh I’m sorry you’re still in so much pain.
Has your hospital put you in touch with a physiotherapist? I had a call with them a couple of days after surgery and then I have a face to face appointment with them in a few weeks.
Could you ask your surgeon about physiotherapy when you see them?
How long after surgery you ask for physio ?
My surgeon just referred me when we were arranging the surgery. Your hospital might work differently.
Let them know how much you are struggling when you go in today.
Hi, just wondering how you got on yesterday?
I hope you’re feeling better x
I went there and they took the drain out and they put me with more antibiotics.
Less pain after taking the drain was soo relieved and had better sleep.
Will see my surgeon on the 5th of August and they tell me to keep an eye on my leaking and give them a ring.
Your experience sounds familiar. I had single mastectomy, out the following day from hospital with drain which was painful, uncomfortable and unpleasant. Loo issues the same, couldn’t move my arm enough to deal with business without help. Grim.
I tried to keep my arm down but away from the body as I had lymph clearance too which had quite a big angry wound under the armpit. The drain removal improves things a lot. You can lie down to sleep for a start and the healing starts properly for the sensitive area in the armpit.
I have found that the back of my arm has a lot of nerve damage and is hypersensitive (like bad sunburn). I have bought a compression sleeve so the constant close pressure takes away from clothing making it feel sore and irritated. Think it is helping and they are pretty cheap online.
As you said it’s better after drain removal but my incision keep leaking from different sites.
From where you bought this please ?
Well known online shop. Search for the following and you should find 4 pack for about six pounds. Not full compression sleeves as they might be too tight. This is just like a close feeling sleeve.
Search for:
Tyqour 4 Pairs Uv Sleeves for Men Women, White Sun Protection Arm Sleeve Cooling Compression Arm Sleeves for Driving, Golfing, Fishing, Cycling, Hiking
Thank you my dear, I just come back from GP appointment to change my surgery wound dressing as still discharging.
Still in pain and my breast is swollen, hopefully my surgeon will give me good update next Friday.
I am now three weeks post surgery and have an armpit wound that wasn’t healing. Skin macerated and then died. Alginate wound dressing help take away the nasty stuff and it’s finally looks like it’s healing this week. I have coped well with the mastectomy but these smaller things are the things that get you down. Unexpected I suppose. Hang in there and keep going to your excellent nurses, they will know what to do. 