I had a single mastectomy with implant expander surgery just over a week ago, I’m finding the pain does not appear to be improving. I’ve currently been given paracetamol, ibuprofen and tamadol pain relief but only the tamadol appears to be doing anything and that just makes me sleepy. I was just wondering how long this pain is likely to last.
Any positive advice welcome, I seem to have made loads of big decisions over the last 4 weeks since being diagnosed with DCIS and some invasive cancer, I’m now awaiting the results and would welcome help and support from anyone who has either been there or is currently undergoing something similar.
Hi Anne - Your post struck a cord with me for so many reasons, let me tell you some history first. I was dx with invasive cancer three and half yrs ago, i had an MX and an expander implant just like you and again just like you recovery felt like it took for ever, felt like i was the longest person ever to recover from an MX, no seroma or anything like that just pain and discomfort that went on and on and on. I had the saline expander replaced with the permanent implant a yr to the day after MX and only then can i say it was so o o much better. I’m not being alarmist, i’m not saying i was in constant pain for a yr but i can say MX recovery took much longer in me than in others.
Wind the clock on 3and half yrs and i’ve been told last week i need to have another MX, this time for extensive widespread DCIS. Gutted doesn’t come close, worried about all the pain again but also worried about the chance of finding an invasive cancer that hasn’t shown itself yet. Its been a few days since you posted i do hope you feel a bit better. x Lynvee
Thanks for your reply, the pain isn’t quite as bad today I’m probably getting use to the painkillers. I’m anxiously awaiting results from the Mx on Thursday. I can only imagine what you are going through second time around, all that anxiety, waiting and taking one step at a time. I flit between feeling sorry for myself then think at least its curable nowadays.
Let me know how you get on so we can support each other through these challenging times. Anne xxx
Thanks, I was only in 1 night but it did sound like it depended on which surgeon did the op. Unfortunately it being August I saw 3 consultants and felt abit passed about which was due to their holidays. I came home with 2 drains but the district nurse called in every day for 5 days and then she removed them. Did you have radiotherapy and chemotherapy? And when do you have your MX? I think its the not knowing thats always the hardest thing to cope with. Fingers crossed for tomorrow Anne xxx
Good news - the cancer has all gone 7 lymph nodes all clear it was caught really really early and i just need hormone tabs for next 5 years and regular check ups. Start inflating implant next week. Hope you get some good news too and do they change the implant under general or local anaesthetic x
The news is starting to sink in now and had the best nights sleep for weeks! The IDC was 4mm, but the whole size of the scattered DCIS and IDC was 66mm. and it was oestrogen positive so I just need the hormone therapy. Seeing oncologist next week and also to start inflating the implant. I’ve to go back today to have some fluid drained so still loads of hospital visits. I’m now trying to guess how long I’m going to be off work for - any ideas? They must have caught yours early too I take you were having annual mamograms which means the earlier they catch it the less chance of it spreading. x
Hi, I had my mastectomy two weeks ago and I am still in a lot of pain. Under my arm and the site around the scar is terrible and the pain sometimes seems to be so deep. I also take Tramadol and Paracetamol and it takes the edge off but never completely gets rid of it. My specialist says that it will lessen but goodness knows when. I suppose all we can do is take it one day at a time and be good to ourselves. I thank god I ahve such a brilliant husband
Had another seroma drained today and taken every painkiller allowed and counting down the hours till I can have some more, sounds daft but I think the paracetamols help most as they actually dull the pain whereas the tramadol sends me to sleep - which also helps. Just as you think the pain is improving think again. Anyway taking one day at a time/one step at a time helps.
I’ve now been told I only need hormone therapy - tamoxifen but need to have my coil removed first - the pain from the last coil change was awful. So next big decision is whether to try tamoxifen? with its possible side effects or not to bother which for the sake of taking a tablet for the next 5 years may help to stop any cancer appearing anywhere else even though clear margins, clear lymph nodes etc it could reappear - seems like I’m being advised to take something that may or may not keep cancer at bay but could interfere with the rest of my health???
i had mx end July, and snb showed no spread, all cancer removed so no radio or chemo prescribed, just tamox. I went back to work 4 1/2 weeks after surgery - phased return, but I still make sure I do all the exercises. I thought I’d never be able to get my arm higher than my elbow, but six weeks on, I’m more or less where the video suggests I should be.
Hope the pain is getting better, I was luckly only needed paracetamol - tramadol makes me spacy!