Just as I thought things were starting to settle into place, even though I’m still waiting for an appointment for the oncologist, the wound under my arm has got an infection and is weeping.
I’ve been told the infection is from the bacteria off my own skin, my body does not like having the stitch in it. I started with a build up of pus and when that started to come out, the wound then begane to look a little bit inflamed, only at the top where the stitch has come through. It’s only a tiny hole according to my nurse, but this morning it started to bleed, which I suppose is good, as there is no more pus comeing out.
I’m on a course of antibiotics, but it is so annoying as the wound looked like it was healing really well and of course it will set me back possibly as I can’t have chemo until it is totally healed.
It’s like taking two steps forward and one step back, the pain has reduced in my arm, but the wound is now quite sore and I’ve been told to keep it as dry as possible, bit difficult when it’s the most sweaty place on your body.
I’m feeling frustrated and fedup, so I’ve treated myself to some nice new hats and headscarfs for the winter and when my hair drops out.
As I said to my friend, I can’t cry about it, I just feel so angry about my own body being a pain.
Apart from batwing blouses, has anyone got any ideas on what the best way is to keep the arm pits dry, with a wound? :smileyfrustrated:
This is very common Pinkllily; it happens to many of us.
I had this problem for five weeks and then had to go back in for surgery to revise the wound, clean it out, pack it full of antibiotics and stitch it up again. That sorted it, but it was then a four week wait before radiotherapy could start. (I didn’t have chemo.)
It’s clear you’ve had treatment for this. Were you supplied with waterproof dressings that allow the wound to breathe? The large ones keep the area dry.
I provided myself with easy-to-put-on, easy-to-wash, tops that are very loose and allow air to circulate well, and which enabled me to get my arm out easily to check what the wound was doing.
Don’t expect miracles. It’s now 19 weeks since my original WLE and axillary node clearance. Both wounds have healed well now, but the axillary wound is very tight and, when I lower my arm, it feels as though there is a sizeable obstruction below my armpit. That’s permanent and is a feature of the wound. My armpit and upper arm are still fairly numb to the touch, and I get some pain in my upper arm. My GP tells me this is due to nerve damage, is long term and will only correct itself very slowly as nerves take a very long time to re-grow. It’s yet another thing to get used to.
Hi Pinklily
Sorry to hear your op site is infected, I completely understand your frustration, it does feel that our own bodies are sabotaging us sometimes. I’m just staring in the road to recovery as I had my op on Monday. I’ve got everything crossed for good healing as I really want to crack on with chemo and rads. I’m so impatient and any setback will be a huge blow. Sorry I have no hints for you but I’m sure I’ve read some on the surgery threads. Maybe have a look there for ideas. Sending you all bests wishes for a speedy recovery @appletree
I hope you don’t mind me asking but are you planning to have balancing surgery in the future? I had the same op as you on Monday and I am recovering well but struggling with the fact that I now have one and a half boobs! I’d like my girls to be twins again and not Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. I’m interested in what others in our boat have chosen to do.
Hello Appletree
Thanks for the reply. I completely understand why you would not want more surgery if the difference is not too noticeable. Unfortunately my WLE has left me with half a boob, the surgeon wanted good margins and has taken a lot away. The difference is noticeable in clothes and I have a thing about symmetry so I probably will want to have surgery on my other side. My health authority in its wisdom has decided not to fund balancing surgery under any circumstances so I will be in the position of having to pay the same surgeon to match me up. He was very apologetic when he explained it to me but his hands are tied. I understand that Somerset is the only authority to not fund further surgery so it’s just a postcode lottery and I feel I’ve lost! On the plus side, as I will be paying, I’m going to ask him to do exactly the same to the good boob so that they match. We will see what he says about that! But that is a conversation for the future, for now it’s more chemo and rads and then a bloody good holiday.
All best wishes
Jacq
Hi Pinklily
It must be so frustrating for you as you cannot progress to chemo while the wound is stilll weeping. Are your looking into alternative treatments like Arnica or manuka honey to boost your bacteria fighting abilities. I too have problems with dressIngs, my skin just hates them and gets very itchy and inflamed. I’ve found Sudocrem to be very good and E45 hydrocortisone cream is also very good. if moisture is a big problem in your armpit then I have heard of putting a sanitary towel against the skin to keep it dry. Personally my sweat glands there seem to have switched of at the moment but I am only one week post surgery.
How horrible to get information via letters to others, I’m sure some of the medics see the disease/treatment and forget the person. Have a little tantrum and demand to be kept in the loop. It’s sometimes good to unleash your inner toddler!
I really hope things improve for you soon. Chin-up and soldier on. Hoping for better things for you soon.
Jacq x
@pinklily I know what you mean about not wanting to discuss it all the time but I’m sure your friends don’t mind. As for getting back to normal, I think we will be dealing with a new normal given what we have gone through, but that’s ok. I’ve definitely changed my outlook. I used to spend a lot of time thinking I will do that when I’m thinner or I will go there when I’ve got more cash or I will save that for best. Not any more! Now I’m all about seizing the day and living in the moment. This forum is a godsend though. We can say things here that we’d never say to our nearest and dearest, it’s great.
Stay strong
Jacq x
I really do not know how they allowed you to get the wound so bad it it weeping. Is the wound following sentinel node removal? My wound was checked while the strips were being removed and I am sure they would have recommended something if the wound had looked suspicious The same was after my masectomy checked by nurse at my local GP surgery and by BC nurse.
After radiontherapy I had an itchy bit and was warned not to scratch it as it could break the skin and cause a weeping wound. I was given patch things which I just used at night in case I scratched in my sleep as I wanted to let the air get at it during the day. It took nearly 2 weeks but I managed not to get the skin broken.
I’m now feeling much happier as the wound looks like it’s healing well.
In the end, the practice nurse cut the top of the stitch were it had through and was causing the infection, what a relief. Within a couple of days, the wound had sealed itself.
The daft thing was, the bcn would not touch it and just said, it would be better to wait and see how it went, thank goodness the practice nurse had more commen sense. She had seen the results of this type of wound many times and knew from many years of experience what would happen if the knot and stitch were not removed, it would just keep getting infected.
I see the oncologist on the 9th October and hope to start chemo in November, it will be 13 weeks after surgery, feels like a lifetime.