Like a Vice

Public Archive
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Hi All

Am one week post bilateral mastectomies for TNBC. Was doing so well up until today. Swelling is much worse and feel like I have a metal vice around my chest. Is this normal for things to get worse before they get better

Anyone ?? Xxxx

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Hi Brewster

I’m getting this too.  I had my bi-lateral mastectomy on Monday afternoon and, apart from ruckles in my dressing catching on my stitched area and making me wince, I thought I was doing ok too.  Then this evening I started to feel a tightening, as though I was wearing a bra that was too sizes too small, right around what used to be the bottom of my bustline and constricting the bottom of my armpit. I’m a bit swollen up but I’m at a loss to explain it. I can at least let you know that you’re not alone, I hope you’re able to get some sleep, I’m sending a gentle hug.

Love from a very constricted L :smileyhappy: x

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Everyone is different. I swelled up and couldn’t tell if it was me, skin, bra or an alllergy to the reconstruction stuff. Told hosp, they did ultra sound scan and it was swollen skin. Took ages to go down, November through to February

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I had mx on 4th dec and suffering a bit I personally think it’s being constricted by the post surgery bra too soon etc but trying to tell Drs is impossible they just say post op notes say got to keep it on. Lol think I have been noted as a trouble maker when they do their daily rounds. X

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Thanks for the replies folks. It’s comforting to know others are on this journey. I thought I was doing so well. Today I have swollen even more and now have lemon sized hard swellings under my arm pits too and I have boobs again !, it’s very uncomfortable and am going to phone BCN tomorrow coz I don’t know whether I should be doing less movement or more. They did say last week it might get worse before it for better. No kidding ! I am so fed up and also terrified of the results a week tomorrow. I have TNBC and it was right at the very back of the breast next to chest wall so they have taken some of the tissue from chest wall to test. I am so terrified that if it has spread via chest wal, then my chips are up ? Am trying to be positive but finding it near impossible and I am usually such a positive and string person. Feeling blue

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V sorry to hear this Sam - pl see my good thought for today strand - just started. Hugs ! Annie

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Thanks Lolly. Yes I am day 10 now and it’s worse each day.mhate the feeling, it actually makes me feel sick

Trying to get hold of BCN as I think it might need draining xxx

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Hi Brewster,
Sorry to hear you are experiencing such swelling and discomfort. I feel bit of a fraud commenting in this strand since I had WLE and SNB…so I know it’s not in the same magnitude at all…and you are still in relatively early days post op. I experienced some swelling and found it did go down with gentle exercises, and would swell a little bit again if I missed exercises. Appreciate with mx and being so swollen timescales for exercise are different…just wanted to write something positive re swelling going down…
Seabreeze x

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Just to add my 2 cents worth.  When I went back to my surgeon 10 days after my mx he said the scar tissue is about to grow,and now is when you must do your stretches.  He said this is the worst bit.

Actually I have to agree, felt like a vice, twangs like fence wire,  but the stretches and arnica cream help.

Hope you’re feeling better.

Xx

Sandie