After being diagnosed with breast cancer in July, 2015. It was a lobular carcinoma, so I had to have my right breast removed. Directly after the op, I had an expander. There were complications with seeping after the op, and it was only able to be inflated 6 weeks after the op. The skin began to tear, and eventually in March 2016, the expander was replaced with an implant, only for it to be rejected less than a month afterwards, as I got an infection, and it was seeping badly. 96 antibiotic tablets later, the implant was removed. The wound continued to seep for almost 11 months after the implant was removed.
This year in March, I had my 4th operation in 18 months. The doctor did a TRAM flap, and core muscle was removed from the right side of my tummy to form a bottom half of the right breast. The wound has had fat necrosis seeping since my op. However, I am becoming increasing frustrated because the right side of my tummy is bulging and after almost 6 months of discomfort, I am really beginning to feel very down. I have been very positive throughout this whole process, and have been keeping a journal of my measurements, the food I am eating, and a rating of the discomfort out of 10 each day. I am really trying hard not to complain, or if I do, only to say as little as possible about it, because nobody really understands what it feels like, and I don’t want to put negative energy out. But the discomfort just doesn’t seem to abate. There can be 4 days at a stretch that I rate the discomfort at only 4 out of 10, but ridiculous as it sounds, on the weekends, the discomfort seems to increase, sometimes to 8 or even 9 out of 10. The measurement around my waist, and over this bulge, can show a difference of 5cm. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m less active on the weekend than during the week, so activity seems to help. Also, maybe I’m not eating as carefully as I do during the week.
Has anyone experienced the same discomfort and this horrible bulge on the right side? 6 months down the line have shown small improvements, and for that I am very grateful, but there are nights that I am SO uncomfortable, I feel like I’m going to give birth to the rock I am lugging around my waist. It’s making me feel so miserable. Honestly, it feels like I’m 10 months pregnant some days! My doctor doesn’t seem to be worried about my tummy, just the boob. I’m supposed to have revision surgery to nip and tuck the boob, but don’t want to do anything until my tummy feels back to normal. I had an ultrasound that was inconclusive. I seriously don’t want any more surgery. I’d really appreciate the support from others who may have gone through the same op.
Thank you so much.