Hi Alex, sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment. I remember having more soreness/stiffness days 7-10ish because I worried it was related to the drain being removed at day 7. But actually I think it was connected to an increase in sensation around that time. So things felt worse because they were improving if that makes sense. But I wouldn’t say they were as bad as you are describing. Is there any sign of a seroma that could be causing the extra pain?xx
Have been in bed all day, just up to watch football lol. Feel slightly better, but only slightly and think that is the painkillers now building up.
There seems to be a hard lump at front of my chest and just going in under my armpit. Making it sore for me to hold my arm tight to my body. Would that be a seroma?
It could be. A seroma is just a build up of fluid which would feel like a hard lump. You might need that draining if it’s causing problems. If it’s more of a line than a lump it could be cording?xx
Taran, when I feel my underarm scar, there is a real hard lump along it, in a straight line. Only have 1 scar, as surgeon must have reopened scar from SNB. Only realised that today. So this could possibly be cording? Sd I just gently massage this until my appointment onMonday? I can’t believe that 7 weeks ago I was fit and healthy. ?
Bless you Alex its crappy , i was shocked when i found my big lump didnt have much fluid in it my cons said he thought it was inflamed tissue which feels so weird i think people vary in recovery times cos i thought i would feel better 17 days post op hope you feel better soon rest up have a chocolate or 2 xx
It certainly isn’t an easy op to recover from. I’m booked for 1st chemo on 10 days! Doesn’t feel like I will be ready for it.
Yes, think I deserve a chocolate or 2. No wine for me for a while unfortunately. Feeling really sorry for myself here lol x
I was frustrated with how long it took to feel more normal too. But once it starts it seemed to happen really quickly. And I think you feel like you go backwards before you go forward too. So my while scar feels quite hard from the scar tissue around it. But cording is a hard length of lymph vessels that can run under your arm and down the length of it. It feels tight like there’s something stopping you moving your arm fully. I don’t think I’m describing it very well!! I’m sure they will be able to tell you Monday what it is. Until then keep on top of the pain killers and I would do plenty of cream rubbing to try and keep the lymph fluid moving and try to soften any harder areas if you can. It won’t do any harm at least xx
Thanks for advice girls. Don’t think it is cording then. I’ll keep on top of painkillers, keep rubbing my arm and have a few chocolates lol. I’ll let you know how I get on on Monday. Thanks again. X
My arm feels a bit better today the exercises kill but do help but i am a little concerned about the apparent tissue lump that looks like a new boob but it feels just awful … can anyone advise if they had the same and how long was it before it started to go down . i thought the caved in chest look after surgery was bad but this is worse lol xx
I have a ‘mini-boob’ too. I think it is a lump of scar tissue (on top of the thick band I have across my chest and into my armpit) plus swollen tissue and a collection of seroma fluid. It decreases in size when I lie down but is always there. The tightness, tingling and stiffness across my chest and down arm bother me much more at the moment. I am 3 1/2 weeks post-op and thought I would feel much better by now. Trying not to let it get me down. Am going to start driving today and hope that will help. Start chemo on 8/7 so want to make the most of the days before then.
Hi Arnie, I can’t say I’ve had tenderness in the breast particularly but I think that was probably due to it being very numb for a long time. Having said that, I wasn’t able to sleep on that side for quite a few weeks because of discomfort in the breast, and I have tenderness over my rib cage just below my breast. I did find the sports bras aggravated tender areas and it’s been a relief to get back into normal bras the last couple of weeks!xx
Hi Arnie
i haven’t had any tenderness in remaining breast either - thank goodness as there has been enough due to the ANC - like you TraceyFizz the ANC has been much more difficult than the MX. Still, everyday it is getting better. Hate SpongeBoob as it keeps migrating north and I have to keep checking I am not massively lop sided. Hoping when I get the prosthesis it will stay put and move in a vaguely natural way. Can we ever wear underwired bras again?
Pat
Hi.Arnie yes my lump is quite tender but is improving daily , i think there are many symptoms with these ops gonna get in touch with breast nurse if i have no improvement just to put my mind at rest and as to the underwired bra Oncewild i hate having one on at the moment too can just about tolerate my stretchy one and havent even tried my softy x
Oncewild, I had lumpectomy not mx but started wearing underwired bras about a month post op. Not had any problems with them at all. Not sure if it’s different after mx though xx
Had a reply from the breast nurse about my lump who said its tissue thats built up because of all the messing around with it and that it… should go down omg i really hope it does on the upside my arm improving well x
Girls, just an update from my posts at the weekend. I ended up going up to ward on Sunday. I felt my pain was so bad and was worried that if something was wrong it might delay treatment and also had echocardiogram to be done on the Monday. When I phoned, they told me to come straight up.
They said they felt it was mismanagement of pain relief, as in not taking enough! So I added ibrufen into the mix along with the cocodamol. Dr said my body was going into shock with pain and that’s why I was struggling to breathe, as when questioned, it did appear to be occurring when I was due medication.
Saw Physio in Monday, who worked on the scar tissue and slight swelling. This along with more medication seemed to make a difference and my arm was starting to get more movement in it.
However, underarm lump really red this morning. Mentioned this when getting PICC line in and Nurse got me to see Dr. Now on antibiotics for 5 days. Fingers crossed it clears, otherwise chemo and Tuesday isn’t happening. Also saw Physio today. I thought she would not have worked on me, but she said the scar tissue needs stretched, so she went ahead ( cue more tears in my eyes. This time tears of pain!). Thanks for all your posts and advice as it does help you to judge what is normal and what is not. Hope everyone else in the Sore Arm Club doing ok. Lol x
Wow Alex - you have been through the mill! I really hope all is settling now.
I am interested in the physio working on your scar tissue. I have a thick tight ridge across my chest, a couple of cm wide, despite a neat healed scar. I am pretty sure if I stopped the exercising it would completely solidify. I have a physio appt on 11/7 for lymphedema education so hopefully will get some advice then. Were you given anything to do at home to help?
Once wild, Physio didn’t give me any extra advice to do at home other than the exercises and to try and use my arm as normally as possible. She said if you don’t break that scar tissue down, it knits together tightly and you never regain full movement. I couldn’t believe she was stretching and pulling while I also have that build up of fluid which is now infected and roaring red. But to be fair to her, after seeing her twice last week, movement is definitely improving.
Make sure you take adequate painkillers before your appointment though! It is very frustrating when you seem to go one step forward and two back. Personally I don’t feel I was given enough knowledge or guidance around this op. In fact I phoned my BN 10 days post op on advice of Physio and she just said oh I was about to phone you. I think not. Lol. I hadn’t heard from her since I got pathology results from WLE and SNB. But no point in dwelling on that. I actually got more advice from reading posts on this forum. I’m due first chemo on 5th, but underarm still roaring red and tender, so think I will need IV antibiotics. But you never know, maybe between today and tomorrow it will clear up. BN told me to massage scar tissue with E45 cream on hands to try and break down scar tissue also. Maybe try that, if you’re not already doing. It is very frustrating isn’t it?
All the best for next week, I see in your posts you start chemo on 8th. And how did the driving go?
Thanks for the advice Alex. I will massage a bit more vigorously and keep at it. I know what you mean when you say we aren’t told enough - I think I was quite well informed by the team and through reading but nothing prepares for the full implications and ongoing loss and the grief that comes with this. I remember reading that this disease is life changing and it sure is - nothing will ever be the same again.
Yes - bracing myself for starting chemo on Friday. Before then I have ECHO and rubber boob appointments tomorrow (hoping my mini-boob does not thwart this) then the consent on thurs. Fitting in a day in North Wales and afternoon tea in Portmerion Hotel on tues to lighten the week - cant wait.
Hope all goes well with you and the antibiotics work wonders.
Forgot to say that driving is BRILLIANT! I had a bit of an achy arm at the end of the first day - probably because I whizzed all over and hadn’t driven for a month. All been fine since and I am very pleased to have my freedom back!