Hi lovely ladies, me again! Another of my probably silly questions.
I removed my slnb and wle dressings today. Both of the cuts are healing well but way longer than I’d expected. I did have a cry…not at the scars but i think it just hit me that I had cancer. It was the first time I properly cried since my diagnosis back in December. Anyway, now the dressings are off, it seems so exposed. My clothes are rubbing, especially on the underarm one. My bra is protecting the lumpectomy cut quite well, but under my arm feels so sore. How are people protecting that area? What is comfy? My kids keep hugging me and it makes me wince. Thanks x
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Hi Bluesatsuma
I had my dressings on for two weeks before removal, and then found it was the sticky residue that was left was sticking to my clothes/bra, once I’d had a bath and removed all that it wasn’t to bad, I do have wide sided post op bras so the scar sits below the edge of the bra. Wonder if you could put another light dressing over to stop it rubbing for a little bit longer whilst it heals.
Take care
Jackie xx
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Thanks Jackie @chillout365. My post surgery bra covers one incision but not the one in armpit. I think I will try and cover that one up. I did wonder about a long sleeved compression top. Are you feeling brighter? X
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I put a sterile dressing pad over mine during the day for another week or so and removed it at night to allow air to get to the wound . It’s a very inconvenient uncomfortable place to have a wound isn’t it .
Yes thank you, not too bad, just waiting for the next phase off this journey. Have you got your next date for results?
Xx
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Hi @Jill1998. Good idea. Yes it is in a bad spot. My boob incision is easy but the one under the arm is also getting sweaty if i go out for a walk. I feel gross. I’m going to look on amazon for some dressings that are bigger than what the shops have. How are you getting on? X
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@chillout365 They’ve given me a follow up for march 4th! That will be 6 weeks since lumpectomy. Maybe they are just making sure they will have all the results ready by then? I assume I will get the results then for slnb and margins, plus oncotype dx. I guess then I will know my next stage of treatment which they reckon will be radio and tamoxifen. X
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I had a Proskins sleep bra - it’s really a crop top but gives more coverage and it’s anti bacterial so helped with odour . I was able to lay a gauze pad over the bit I wanted to cover and the bra kept it more or less in place .
Xx
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Hi i used bio oil on scars which helped alongside arnica to bring out the bruises
Were you given a heart shaped cushion for under the arm pit area, if not a soft bamboo flannel rolled up works?
If you have a soft bra slide the flannel inside and into your arm area and make sure you keep doing the post op exercises and stretches
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Hi @Curlywurly1. I wasn’t given anything. They were short staffed so didnt get a sick note, spare dressings or any advice, let alone a cushion! I feel a bit abandoned. I have put a vest on that covers the underarm incision. I have bio oil but i think its a bit raw yet to start massage. Maybe in a few days. Thanks x
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Thanks @JoanneN. I cant afford anymore bras lol. I have a sports compression vest that covers it though. This is helping. I’m just trying to grin and bear it. X
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Hi @bluesatsuma
As @Curlywurly1 says, Bio-Oil helped me too. I massaged it into my armpit and my chest when it was really sore (I had a mastectomy), and found the more I moved it all about, the less it hurt. This was weird as my urge was to keep as still as possible. The exercises are horrible, but they also help.
I found that after a couple of weeks, the delightful smelly armpit lessened in intensity. I’m still using bio-oil under my arm now, not deodorant, and it seems to have adapted and doesn’t smell. Others have confirmed this, the sort of people who wouldn’t lie to me!
You can get heart-shaped cushions from Cancer Research UK. There used to be a Facebook group you could order them from for free, but I just had a look and they’ve stopped doing them, sadly.
I hope things continue to improve 
Karen x
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Hi Karen
I’m using the natural bio oil, but also a natural deodrant with no perfumes and this seems to work, it’s called akt and it’s online
Hope your doing well
Jackie
Xx
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Hi Karen @casey4jc, thanks. Can I use deoderant? No one said I shouldn’t, though I obviously wouldn’t put it too near wound.
Thanks for all your advice. I looked up heart pillows but they are £15 so I will buy one if I need further surgery (fingers crossed I won’t). Otherwise I guess I will just use carefully chosen clothes and bio oil. I suspect the bruising is quite deep as it aches a lot but there isn’t much to see.
Hope you are doing well x
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I found hugging to be off the menu for several weeks unless done in a careful manner. Some friends always give me a hug on greeting and I definitely backed away!!
AS for the SNB scar - I could only wear crop tops for a while that went over the scar - bras were a no-no as the underarm edge matched the scar!!
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Hi @bluesatsuma
I think it is OK to use deodorant as long a it doesn’t irritate. I just don’t feel comfortable with it yet. I don’t have a wound under my arm as they took out all my lymph nodes at the same time as the Mx, through the same hole I assume.
As Jackie @chillout365 says, there are some good ones with no perfumes and so on available. I have bought Sanex Natur and am using that on the other side and will eventually use it on both pits, as it has no aluminum in it. Paranoia rules the day now - a bit like bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted you might say 
The ache is horrible for a few weeks after surgery, but it does eventually lessen, and then you realise when you tweak something by reaching your arm out further than you have for a while that you haven’t felt it for a bit. Onwards and upwards!
Take care 
Karen x
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Hi Bluesatsuma
I was told categorically no deodrant at all just plain wet wipes for a good few weeks after op, but like everything else it seems to be different wherever you live xx
Yes I am off the hugs too! My bras are all supporting my lumpectomy scar but rub on the slnb scar. I’ve put another dressing on. Im sure it just needs a few days. Take care @willowherb
Hi Karen. I did not know aluminium was a problem. I will look into a safer deoderant than my mitchum one. I have only been puttimg a tiny bit on well above my incision. Thanks
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@chillout365
Hi Jackie…I wasn’t really told anything. After the operation, no-one spoke to me about anything except having a wee and discharge. Hence why I am always on here asking for tips and advice! Thanks
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