Hi there, I am 6 weeks post surgery, and
I guess I am in that strange place where the big physical stuff is passed, and I look great (apparently, I keep being told)! But my breasts feel swollen and tender, and I am needing to wear a larger bra than in the first weeks post surgery - which I guess I wasn’t expecting, I had large boobs before my surgery and was expecting them to be the same or more likely smaller… and as the day progresses I get more pain under my arm pit and down my arms, especially the right, which was were the lymph node biopsy was. I am trying to listen to my body and rest more, as early in the day I am up and about pottering, and I do have good support from friends and family, and lots of visitors, but I am finding I need to lie down, to ease the soreness under my arms. I am a bit discouraged to still need pain killers later in the day. I am getting mixed advice on the arm exercises. I feel I should keep them up, but it is hard to get a consistent answer from the consultants and breast care team. They are really great, they just give varying advice on some things, particularly the arm exercises.
I have good movement in my arms, and good mobility, but the pain and breast swelling and tenderness seemed to have increased over the last week or so, and I was afraid I was overdoing it with them…
I have no doubt anxiety and a bit of the emotional piece is starting to play a role in how I am feeling. I feel so very, very lucky to be in the position I am in, i.e. no further treatment needed, minimal cancer present initially and it is now removed, risk reducing double mastectomy surgery and immediate implant reconstruction all went really well, but after 6 weeks I am just starting to really miss my active, energetic life and body. And am I sick of being in pain and not knowing the right way to address it. I am still not driving as my new breasts are very tender, perhaps worse than a couple of weeks ago, and the seatbelt and bumps on the road when I am being driven, seem to hurt me worse now than they did a couple of weeks ago. I guess I am wondering if this is normal.
Any advice or similar experiences would be great.
Thanks so much,
xx
The BCN’s will be available to reply on Monday (they dont work weekends on here). I’d recommend contacting your breastcare team first thing Monday and getting them checked out, as you are not following the expected trajectory of improvement over time. Keep an eye on your temperature meatime and heartrate and look out for increased redness, pain and swelling. If it gets a lot worse over tomorrow and you start feeling flu-like, either ring 111 for an emergency care appointment (this can be quicker), or visit A&E. Its signs of infection you want to be picking up on so that you can get any necessary antibiotics and avoid becoming unwell.
Btw, don’t pannic, infection is a possibility but may not be that, and it can most likely wait till Monday to be assessed.
Hi - I’m nearly 9 weeks post prepectoral implant (single) and symmmetry surgery and still have some discomfort particularly as the day goes on. The implant side particularly gets tender and feels a little swollen particularly where the drain was. I do feel it’s getting better weekly though.
I’ve had some slow healing on the wise incisions each side and so attend weekly dressing clinics - meaning that the nurses see the implant even though they are not reconstruction experts. I think that the evening heaviness can be part of a normal healing pattern.
At 6 weeks, I think I felt largely as you do. Both breasts were initially very high but have now dropped considerably to a more natural position.
I’ve just started doing some light Pilates and light arm exercises without weights. I agree that it’s hard to get advice on what to do or not to do though!
Hi @poppyc1
Definitely get yourself reviewed by your consultant they can then advise whether it’s normal or something going on.
When I had my surgery double mastectomy with expander implants I was ordered by my bcn to go to bed every afternoon to help with recovery, this lasted quite a few weeks.
When you say arm exercises is it the physio exercises from the hospital or something else. Defo don’t do anything other than the hospital physio till your sorted out. Are you doing too much lifting, even kettles can be too heavy.
Sorry you’re having a shit time of it, it won’t be forever. hope you start feeling better soon xxxx