Hi I am a newbee to this forum, just had surgery on the 12th December, Lymph nodes removd and breast removed, just wondered how long these weird pains go on for.I have had quite bad shooting pains, not really in one place, and also a strange tingling numbness , I am doing my exercises, although some are difficult at the moment, Im keeping positive, and am a very active person, finding it difficult to take it easy, but feeling tired probably because sleeping is difficult,trying to find a comfy position. Just wondered roughly how long does this last for, thankyou.
Hi willowcat, all you have described are normal ie the tingling numbness shooting pains - tiredness and difficulty sleeping.nobody tells you about the weird feeling under your arm and scar. Not having this normalised can raise your anxiety. Can I assure you These are all so normal.
I am now week 6 post surgery mx with node clearence and recon. Week 4 was a better week for me. This is an individual thing and some people do well straight away and some people will start picking up on week 6. Just keep on with the exercises and try and walk as well. The sales have given me the excuse to walk walk walk. I didnt buy as it was all tat.
Hi Willowcat, I had lumoectomy and axillary node removal on 12th Dec. And my underarm is very tight and numb too. It feels like someone has got the cheese grater to my under arm, as very tender to touch. I think a lot of the pains are the nerves all knitting back together again, hence why we get pains in random places rather than the surgery area. I’m doing the physio and also massaging my arm which helps. I’m also really really tired too, which is definately anxiety related so I am taking the odd diazepam which is helping with my sleep. I’ve been told the pains wear off but there will always be a degree of numbness. All the best.
Hi Willowcat - as tittlemouse says, I think there will always be a degree of numbness. I’m over a year from surgery but the skin on my upper arm is still quite numb, although there is a lot more feeling that there was. I get this annoying itch in my arm which is not possible to relieve by scratching! A friend of mine is 2 years from surgery and she still has some numbness.
I couldn’t bear anything to touch the underside of my upper arm, it felt like it was raw flesh. Try to get something to rest your elbow on at night just so you’re not putting pressure on your upper arm. Doing the arm exercises is a great help and reduces the pain. I did them 3 times a day. I have it all recorded on my living room wall how far I was progressing over the days and weeks. Make sure you do whatever is advised, such as washing your arm and moisturising it each day.
Yes, sleep is very difficult with the pain, discomfort and all the thoughts going round in your head. Keep up the good work with the exercises. Best of luck.
X
I had my mastectomy on the 12th Dec as well, but lumpectomy and axillary node dissection on the 23rd Nov.
That raw feeling is weird but I guess I am starting to feel a little better day by day. I can’t seem to tolerate wearing a bra, or anything that feels tight under my arm, but I am going to try on Saturday cos it is my sons wedding day! I have a dress that I bought just before my life went Pete Tong, and I am determined to wear it, even if only for an hour or so!!! But I will have to wear a bra and my softie prosthesis 
Hi all many thanks for all your comments they were all very helpful, thankyou!!!My scar is healing nicely, and the skin is quite dry so i will take your advice and moisturise the area.Thanks.I did try the bra thing but i couldnt bear it , i lasted a day, my other boobie will probably end up near my knee, oh dear not a good look!!haha!!Went out today braved the shops!!was having kittens if anybody brushed past me, my daughter suggested a big sign, come near me and i shall smack you!!!Hope you have a lovely day at the wedding Morwena!!Thankyou once again. lots of luv xxx
Morwenna and Willowcat - regarding comfort post mx, I still find I’m in a lot of discomfort wearing a bra. The mx ones are designed to come quite high up under your armpit but after having an axillary clearance that’s the last thing I needed as it make it much more uncomfortable - I’d rather the prosthesis showed (because I have clothes over the top of my bra, as I would have thought most women would) than have the discomfort. I have an Amoena T-shirt which is designed for mx patients and I find that the most comfortable thing to wear. Also, many ladies on the Forum use a Belvia bra - don’t do like I did and order over the Internet without making sure it’s the actual Belvia. The real thing apparently has pockets, not for meant for prostheses but if you don’t need large ones then I believe they keep them in place! I must invest in the real thing but even without the pocket I find them so much more comfortable.
X
Hi ladies, I have found really good mastectomy bras in Debenhams at £17.50 for two black and aubergine. I treated myself and bought 6.
I am nearly 2 years post surgery and I still have numbness. I think it is par the course as nerves are severed. Overall though I am good, but it does take time to heal and yes, it is sore, especially when wearing clothes that rub against your armpit. Also sleeping on the side that was operated on is also uncomfortable. Take it easy though as you cannot do too much especially reaching up for things. X
Hmmmmm… Debenhams bras sound good! Shame we dont have them in Canada! 
I wonder if they ship overseas, or I could get someone there to go shopping for me! Only problem is not being able to try them on, but that price isnt bad at all!
Hi Morwenna
Just thought I’d let you know that Debenhams DO ship overseas £10 delivery charge to Canada and delivery times between 1-2 weeks. Website is debenhams.com/international-delivery
Hope this is helpful and that you are recovering well.
Lozza x
Thanks for that Lozza! I’ll bear it in mind, but I might see whats available here in Calgary, as that does bump up the cost when you add in postage…
Quite pleased with myself today: I managed to tolerate a stuffed bra for nearly all day so I could look presentable at my son’s wedding!
We all had a lovely happy day … got my feet up now though! 
Well done you!! Am sure the photographs will be lovely.
Such an amazing feeling when your son is getting married! I remember when our eldest did (it’ll be 5 years in April! Where did that time go!) and looking at him and Hannah, thinking they look SO young! Yet I was younger!!
Glad you had a lovely happy day - bet your son was so proud of you!
Big hugs
Lozza x
PS - spose I ought to go to bed… just gone 4am over here, but at least its not raining!
Hi girls this is my first visit on the site i had sugery on 21st dec lumpectomy and nodes so glad to hear its not just me feeling tired sore and all those feelings of numbness and pain in my arm that is un bearable, im feelin really fed up because its new years eve and my teenage daughters want to party!!! feel like a party poop!! i get my results this friday fingers crossed !! then the treatment programme , its a wierd feeling that its not just an op then get on with life its an ongoing thing and really difficult to come to terms with.
happy new year to all you wonderful ladies
Hi lizpan, Yes i am feeling exactly the same, it seems as if you get over one hurdle, then low and behold there is another one, then another, you think to yourself great thats it done!!now, as you say, i can get on with things, I am up and down at the moment, with good and bad days, You try and keep positive, it is hard sometimes, but we are gonna beat this !!!
Have a wonderfull new year,get those sparklies on girls!!!
Good luck willowcat. I have enjoyed my lovely bras!!!
PS Those Debenhams bras sound good, may brave town again, god help anyone, who brushes past my sore arm!!!I have my two girlies as body guards!!!
Hi all Im new to this site i had a lumpectomy on 28th Dec and nodes removed so am too waiting for results which is 9th January. I amstill really sort and struggle to move my arm at all but from reading on here it now sounds normal.
hi willowcat
I too had mx on 12th December. Only had three nodes removed, but in spite of reasonable movement in arm, the armpit feels really weird too. Can’t stretch as far as I could, the exercise where you have to pat the back of your head - can’t quite do that. And don’t talk to me about bras. As there is nothing on that side to hold bra in place, it keeps riding up and chafing armpit. Oh the joys of having cancer eh!!
Sue, for soreness have you tried E45 cream or something like that? I can’t get enough of the stuff.
Good luck everyone pg xxx
Hi poemsgalore and sue, I am now 5 weeks after my operation, been doing the exercises and find the one with the standing side on to the wall and walking your hand up the wall is getting a bit more difficult, but all the other exercises seem fine, regarding bras I got a nice soft one from george at asda,pity they didnt have prettier colours, just basics, black nude or white, it kept in place quite well, and has a light padding you can take out if you wish. its not a proper mastectomy bra, but it is fine, nice wide soft sides and wide soft straps.
I am going a bit stir crazy and was wondering what i am actually allowed to do regarding light gardening, maybe or lifting stuff, I start radiotherapy soon, no date as yet, but does that feel uncomfortable is ther more stuff to go through?
Will I ever be able to get back to the manual stuff, heavy work i used to do, i hope so.
willowcat xx