LD Flap Pulling into armpit

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1

Hi

Had LD flap recon with small implant on 1 Dec 2007. Have quite a severe dent and a smaller dent in recon. When I do physio or even just when I am using my left arm at all the recon booby pulls nearer to the armpit and stays like that for ages. Feel very tight round my back, under arm and across the recon all the time. Also have nerve pain, jabby needles and also burning lower back to below back wound and down my side into my hip and across into the tummy area. Anyone else have these symptoms, any advice on if this is just normal or if I can do anything to ease it off. Still waking 4 to 5 times every night.

luvnhugsCarolexxx

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Dear Carole

Please feel free to call the helpline for a chat to one of our team who can offer you further support and ‘listening ear’, it may help to talk your worries through with someone in confidence. The line is open tomorrow from 9am-5pm on 0808 800 6000.

Best wishes
Katie

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Hi Carole,
I cant answer your question, but I want to say welcome back, myself Sue and Lisa have been looking out for you and wondering how you are. I had my mast and recon a day before you, a different procedure tho, TMG and IGAP with free flap.
Sorry to hear you are experiencing a few sensation problems with your recon, im sure one of the other ladies who had LD will write in. Dents I gather often happen, I have a dent, this can be filled later on quite easily. Your BC nurse will also be able to answer your concerns too , I hope you get some sleep its hard to not sleep properly, are you napping during the day, I do about every 2 days. I had a leg and boob wound on opposite sides so turning was impossible and getting comfy well forget it, now im starting to find some comfort with lots of pillows scrunched up in all sorts of places!
good luck with your recovery,
j xxxxxx

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Hi Carole - had my ld flap and implant in September and yes did have sone similar side effects to you. Felt very tight around my whole rib cage like I had an elastic band around my whole chest. I also felt like half my boob was under the armpit for a while but now all swelling has gone and boob is def in the front! The armpit is slightly thicker than the other one but so that I would notice unless I think about it. I didn’t have any pain though but should imagine that is nerve damage -if you are not sure perhaps give your BC nurse a ring to get it checked out. 4 months on I am now out of sports bras but still wear secret support tops to bed and feel really normal - I forget it is not my real breast. I do think it takes a few months though for everything to mend and heal and settle down.I found wearing really good sports bras helped and quite tight t-shirts rather than baggy clothes was more comfortable.

I have a small dent in my back now but when I go swimming it is covered by bikini strap so not really noticeable.

Keep up with the exercises they do help - I don’t think you are allowed to lift your arm above shoulder height for 5 weeks though.

Take care

Sarah x x x

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Hi again Carole … Sue here ( Lisa’s Mum). Lisa found that the surgical bra that she was given in hospital helped even though it felt really tight. When she went for her check up a few weeks later she asked how long she had to wear the surgical bra and was told by the surgeon and breast care nurse that the longer she wears it the better shape she will be. She bought another bra from the hospital ( about £35) … not sure if they are allowed but Lisa became friendly with a lovely theatre nurse!..and she does seem to be a much better shape each week. She did have a bit of a lump under arm to start with which continued onto side of breast but not there now and her new boob seems to be getting quite a pointy shape. The bras are tight but we are sure they are working. Still not sure how long she has to wear them. She does occasionally put on a soft sloggi top in the evening for comfort and she went out on New Years Eve and wore a normal bra for the evening. Did her self esteem the power of good to be able to wear a lowish cut top… but she is still sticking to the surgical bra most of the time … it comes almost to her waist and is very tight in the breast but she is desperate to be a good shape. Her only dent is in nipple area on the underneath part. If your dent is quite bad I would get in touch with surgeon or breast care nurse. She is currently chasing up her radiotherapy appts ( on the back lump that she had and maybe the collar bone) as she hasn’t heard anything and is getting worried that it needs to be done sooner rather than later. The Christmas break put everything on hold but unfortunately cancer doesn’t respect holidays!
Hope you get it sorted
Lots of love Sue & Lisa xx

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Hi Carol,
I had my mast and LD recon about 10 days before you have also got a tissue expander in. Mine has been feeling really tight everywhere. I have what they are calling FUSION in my back which sounds very much like how you describe yours , Like needles and burning in my back, the worst part is trying to sleep as its really uncomfortable when I lie down. Surgeon said it is the skin sticking to the flesh as all my fat has been used for the recon. He recommends swimming. I sleep better if I have loads of pillows so I am almost in a sitting position.
Let me know how you get on wont you.

Love Lynny xx

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Hi Everyone,

This is news to me about a surgical bra to give you a good shape.

I had a LD flap construction back in May and feel that half my boob is not where it should be but more near my armpit. No one has suggested to me to wear a surgical bra and now I feel after reading this that maybe the reason half my boob is near my armpit is because I didn’t. I am a 34AA and so don’t even wear a bra half the time as I don’t need much support, choosing to wear one of those vests with the chest compartment thingies.

I also have a dent in my breast and it twitches still sometimes. I’m pretty happy with it so far 8 months after surgery but realising now after chemo and rads are finished that I would like a better shape since I’m pretty young still (28). Luckily, I have no pins and needles and pain in that side and have excellent arm movement. My boob, some of my underarm and back are still a bit numb though but it’s not a problem.

Guess I should make an apt to see my surgeon about my underarm boob though, lol!

Love Teacup xx

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Hi teacup
Maybe you should get a good quality sports bra which would work better than the soft tops. Incidentally Lisa is a 36B normally.
When she was in hospital she was asking the breast care nurse about wearing the soft tops ( Sloggi) like you mention and she had one with her and while the breast care nurse was looking at it the surgeon walked in, took it off the nurse and said that wouldn’t do at all if she wanted to be a good shape. He said it would be Ok to wear it occasionally. He then suggested that she went somewhere and actually got measured for a sports bra to get a good fit. He added that most places like that with a professional fitter do understand recons. Here in Bournemouth we have the big store Beales and he said that they have a very good department with a fitter. Lisa so far hasn’t got round to going to Beales however as she managed to buy the surgical one from the hospital as I explained but she will be going soon as she doesn’t want to wear the surgical one all the time for too much longer and in any case it is very tight. He also added that it would only cost her the same as any good sports bra … around £30ish.
When Lisa came round from her op she had a surgical bra on which the hospital provided. Did you not have a bra on when you came round from op? We do swear that this bra is making her a good shape and has flattened the ‘lumpy area’ at the side towards her armpit.
Anyway its worth thinking about … hope this has helped. when Lisa goes to be measured I will let you know how she gets on.
Love sue xx

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Hi Julie, Sarah, Lynney, Sue and Lisa, Teacup

A quick note to each of you and wishing all of you well xxx

Julie, great to hear from you, me too with loads of pillows, V Pillow is a godsend.

Sarah, thanks for all your advice, am trying with the tight tshirts now also. I have been told to get the affected arm up since post op day 1 as per the physio at my hospital.

Lynney, sorry to hear of your pain, I hope it eases very soon. Confused about this Fusion tho, is this the tightness that you refer to as I just find the tightness uncomfy, not painful but I get a lot of muscle spasms front and back which are pretty painful. Also confused about skin sticking to flesh? Or is it the needles and burning when you try to put weight on your back lying down? If it is the needles and burning then I have been told that is nerve damage pain tho I have the pain all the time and even my clothes against my skin is painful, go about the house from late afternoon with no knickers on and a loose fitting skirt, ha, my man thought his luck was in. Hee, hee, hope that made you all laugh. Lynney, I like you have bad pain trying to lie down so I sleep almost sitting up 4 pillows, Vpillow and a pillow under my knees. What helps a lot is ice packs on my lower back and on my hip, you can get ice gel packs at chemists, been using for 2 nights now and only waking 2 to 3 instead of 4 to 5 times a night. Also if it is nerve pain I just got prescribed with Gabapentin so ask your BC or your doc for advice. Will let you know how it goes with the Gabapentin.

Sue and Lisa, hope all is planned now for rads, hope Lisa is ok. I agree with the sports bra advice. I had a rubberised dressing on, was taken off on day 3 then just pjs till day 5 tho I wore a comfy soft bra too. Day 5 BC nurse came in to fit me with a deep sports bra which I bought from the hospital at £21, was told to change into secret support tshirts at night which I did until recently, now I change into a non wired bra 36C early evening as I swell up a lot thru the day as the 34C sports bra is strangling me by then. My usual size is 34C by the way.

luvnhugs to all, Carolexxx

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Hi everybody

I had LD construction in June and am still very uncomfortable with tightness from my shoulder blade round to my boob. It feels very strange. My underarm and the top of my arm are very tight. I keep doing the exercises but going to ring the physio this week. I can’t turn round, especially on the loo if you get my meaning, so I need some different exercises.

Our hospital didn’t provide anything for us. I did as the BC nurse on a few occasions about bras and didn’t really get any proper information. I had a big bag of fluid on my back which I would have like drained but was told that the surgeon wouldn’t drain it unles it was red or went hard so I just had to put up with it for many weeks. I haven’t heard from my BC nurse since the end of July when I was passed over to the oncologist. I have had chemo and just started rads today. I am not one to bother people but feel that the nurse should at least phone and see how I am getting on. I know they are busy but I do feel let down by the follow-up.

Liz xx

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Hi Lizzie

Sounds like you are having a really low time right now, its pants isnt it!!! I hope that you find this site helpful Lizzie, I know I do, mind you sometimes I get pretty upset whilst on the site but that helps me to have a cry and let it all out too which we need to do sometimes.

Do you have a support group in your area and have you made friends with fellow BC’ers in hospital? I have one group I went to before my op but I find it upsetting as it is for all C sufferers and I get asked loads of questions by other visitors who always assume I am there as a carer as they are all much older than me. I am 47 but look nearer late 30’s so I don;t go there now and the other has been on a break so I will go to that early February to see what it is like, it is for younger women. I also had my op privately so met nobody in hospital and don’t know anybody who has had C never mind BC so this site is the only option right now for me to speak to women who have sadly had the same or similar experiences to myself. Please find a support group as I am sure that will help you, I am hoping it will be good for me and am sure that it will be.

My surgeon also would not drain fluid but mine was nothing compared to yours by the sounds of it. Sorry to hear that was so bad for you but on the positive side it has now gone, I am assuming it has? Regarding turning round, I am managing to turn quite well at the waist just the last week or so, stiff and tight feeling still there but it is easing. Am still however taking mild laxatives as I find that difficult, ha too much information maybe, sorry if it is. Not sure why turning round on the loo is causing a problem for you and you dont’ need to answer that if you dont want to.

I saw my BC nurse yesterday and she has said that I can now go swimming but to stay in the shallow end, have a friend with me and no more than 5 to 10 minutes and then slowly build up. The usual advice of it it hurts dont do it. I am now 5 and a half weeks post op. Still cant drive tho as lots of fluid still in the new boob and pain with the nerve pain.

Don’t be hurt by your BC nurse not calling you, mine never has either unless I have left a message for her to call me. When I phone I either have a chat with her or leave a message and she calls me back the same or the next day. They are busy for sure so I think that they dont generally call their patients up it does not mean they dont care you know. Mine tells me that I can call her anytime and discuss any issue that is worrying me or make an appointment to call in and see her. I am sure that yours will be delighted to hear from you and will genuinely want to know how you are getting on Lizzie. I hope that the chemo was not too taxing and that the radio goes well for you and does its job. Take good care Lizzie.

luvnhugsCarolexxx

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Hi Carloe,
So glad to hear that you are doing so well post op, sounds like you are on target for everything, enjoy your gentle swims.

LOL Julie XXXX

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Hi Julie

How are you doing? Good I hope xx. Swim was good yesterday I took it really gently but I overdid it I feel. Back was swollen up and boob has gone up a lot as well as the evening wore on and some increase in pain but not too bad… Still very swollen this morning so will leave it now till next week and see how I go then. It has done me the power of good mentally tho, another milestone ticked off the list. Had friends over on Sat night and cooked a lovely italian meal for them, really enjoyed being able to do that, pretty tired on Sunday morning but happy.

Be good to hear how you are getting on Julie, take care.
luvnhugsCarolexxx

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Hi Carole,

Glad you had a lovely swim, easy does it eh… it all takes time, I dont know if you are like me, I want to be better now!!! like yesterday…
Chemo has started 1 week ago, felt tired ever since and nauseous for 3 days, the meds to stop feeling yuk were taken religiously and so far so good.
Ive gone back to work during my cycles, short days, and plan to start a n art course when i find one i like… boob coming along well, its much less round now and has softened nicely, im massaging it regularly, in a bra , you can barely tell, and dressed you cant tell. so im chuffed. Hows yours looking/feeling.

Pace yourself ok, promise…
love Julie xxxxxx

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Hi Julie

Yes we sound very alike. My biggest fault is my impatient streak, when I was born, my mum had a home birth and whilst the midwife was drawing up pethidine or the like for my mum, Mum gave one push and I shot out like a bullet and was caught just short of the bottom bedstead by the midwife. Apparently I tore my mum badly, midwife gave her the shot of painkiller anyway and later when Mum woke she did not remember giving birth at first. Mum and Dad often joke that I was in a helluva hurry when I was born and have not stopped since!!! That’s just the way I am, I like to be busy and always have to be doing something. So as you will understand this being unable to do normal things is really frustrating. Ah well, time is a great healer as the saying goes, just wish I had a time machine to fast forward the healing process.

I am still stiff after my swim, my back is absolutely solid again and swollen, boob also swelled up and a bit harder again but both less so this morning as I had a right lazy day yesterday. Good for you being back to work, watch you don’t do too much tho Julie. Chemo, I am sorry you have to go thru that, I am so lucky that I missed out on all that, my Dad suffers nausea a lot with his heart medication and he swears by M & S thin ginger biscuits, hope the meds help too. I am just about rattling with the pills, normally very reluctant to take even paracetamol but I am still on paracetamol, dihydrocodeine, gabapentin, roboxytine and dulcolax. Can’t wait to get off this lot but due to the nerve pain it will be some time yet. They make me tired for sure, especially since I started last week with the gaba for the nerve pain but at least the pain is manageable now.

My back scar looks good in the middle but still have big bumps at each end of it, the boob is still swollen and hard but is softening slowly with a very neat circular scar not much bigger than my nipple was, I am 34C and had a wee implant in as well, I have quite a dent to the right of the nipple so as it is my left boob if that remains then I won’t be flashing my cleavage ha ha!

Ah well best get on with finishing off my accounts for the taxman, will be glad to get that over and done with.
Take care Julie,
luvnhugsCarolexxx

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Hi carole,

just aquick one, keep massaging your boob, and scar on back the lumpiness will go, and the boob will soften and drop eventually. my nipple area is the same, nice round circle! and very soft!!!( it was made from my bum!) I went for the no implant option as I didnt like the idea, and didnt want any more faffing , ie 10 yrs down the line with implant change etc… Ive always been flat-ish 34a so ive stuck with same, although i briefly toyed with the idea of having a cleavage !!!

I do think- so does my partner that getting ill, is a message to s l o w down , and smell the roses !!!

take care, LOL
Julie xx

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Hello all,

Sue (Zotam) thank you so much for your advice. I only saw it this minute (I must remember to bookmark discussions!) In answer to your question, after surgery, I didn’t have a surgical bra on?!! Will definitely follow your advice of purchasing a sports bra. My BCN did give me a bra to wear but it was ill-fitting. She didn’t have my size - AA cup. She did advise me not to wear an under-wired bra though. Hope Lisa is doing well and thank you so much for your advice.

Take care,
Teacup

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Hi Julie

Thanks for the advice, will do the massage for sure, need to tell my OH to do my back as I can’t reach it properly at the spine end he has kinda got lazy with that and just puts the cream on there for me. You made me laugh there with your bum comments, good job we are not like blokes with hairy bums hahaha. It is amazing what these surgeons can do isnt it. I did not want the implant and my consultant tried to get away without it but had to have one in the end. They told me about 20 years till it might need changing out and I also dont want to go back for that but hey ho.

Hope you had a great weekend and smelt some roses!
luvnhugsCarolexxx

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Roses were gorgeous,
take care all,
Julie xxx