Hello, I finished chemotherapy on the 3rd Sept. Last Thursday I had an MX, node clearance, and an expander implant put in. Early Friday morning I woke up with a huge boob and excruciating pain. I had developed a large blood clot which had to be removed in another operation and woke up with a pressure hole in my back and another drain making a total of three. I had the last drain removed yesterday so altogether a horrible and painful week.
I’m back at home now and i want to ask if there is anything I can do to help any swelling, internal drainage, or prevent a seranoma. Im so scared of having to go back for anything and I’m so sore I don’t think anyone would be able to get me to go anyway. Ive also read that some mx patients have been given exercises to do too. I was told just to rest and go back next Weds for a dressing change. Is there anything else I should be doing? Sandy.xxxx
Sounds like you’ve had a really rough week. Hope you are feeling a bit better today. In terms of preventing clots / build up of fluid etc. _ _I can only tell you what i was advised and have done. It appears we have had a similar treatment pattern, i.e. Chemo then Mastectomy with full node clearance, and that is to follow all the advice leaflets. Breast Cancer Care have a really good leaflet and DVD which are the exercises i did for 8 weeks following surgery. I then went for Radiotherapy and was given a completely different set of exercises by the Physiotherapy Dept linked to Radiotherapy. (At the time this didn’t make sense) I am 8 weeks further on now and continue to do all the exercises (along with lots of walking to keep my joints moving , they were very painful and stiff during Chemotherapy). I have a full range of movement in my arm / shoulder / chest etc even with the expander in. I think the advice to keep mobile following any surgery is good to prevent any clots and as you are going back next week to have your dressings changed you could ask them if you should be doing the exercises. (Maybe they just forgot or don’t want you to do them just yet. I was given the leaflet following Breast conserving surgery not Mastectomy and i don’t think i asked following the Mastectomy. You can also speak with trained professionals at Breast Cancer Care who would be able to clarify and send you a copy of the leaflet or a link to download it.
I can remember how i felt following surgery Sandy, it really was hard just to walk in the garden but it was helpful and i hope you are feeling better really soon. Take Care Gilly x
Thank you for your reply. I am going to get the DVD from the hospital when I go back on Wednesday and your right I can ask then about the excersises too.
I do feel a little calmer and the pain is getting better although I feel like ive been shot through the back to the front. All Ive got to do now is bring myself to look at it. Yikes…
Eight weeks then radiotherapy for you. I hope everything went ok. Im one of the April Angels on the chemotheraty thread and a few others on there have had red, sore and broken skin after. I shall only know when I get the results on Weds if I have to have rads.
Well it’s a clear day with no wind so I may take a little walk in the garden. Storms tomorrow I hear.
Thanks again Gilly and you take care too. Lv and Hugs. Sandy xxxxx
It’s already put my mind at rest having people I can talk to through this. Thank you again. xxxx
Why do things always seem to get worse over the weekend when you can’t get hold of anyone. Yesterday morning as I feared my surgery side started to expand and fill. I first noticed this because the flesh under my arm was now hanging over my bra. The back of my upper arm from the elbow is numb swollen and I have a lot of tingling sensation in both my back and arm on that side.
I phoned the ward that I was on in hospital and she wanted me to come straight to A & E. The doctor there daren’t touch it and I have to go back tomorrow morning when the breast unit is open. I don’t blame the hospital at all. It is what it is and I know their doing there best.
Aroha - I had three drains and the last one came out on Weds. I have been sitting up, out of bed and doing things round the house I can manage. Have you been doing any exercises. Maybe I am panicking for nothing and should give things time to heal. My fear is that if I don’t get any problems sorted out straight away I wil end up needing a third op and they take the expander out and having to start all over again. Lv and hugs to you both and take it easy. Sandy xxxxx
Hi Gilly and Sandy. Sorry to have been off-radar - I also ended up at A&E last week b/c of a potential DVT in my non-operated arm where a junior staff member performed a procedure that has resulted in extensive damage to my arm that will take weeks to resolve. Intense pain and sleepless nights, and back on antibiotics and pain killers. All that was avoidable, but it kind of makes the rest of my sore bits almost feel great! I had my seroma drained at the beginning of last week and it was totally painless - I love my BCN! Luckily for me the fluid has slowed down - I went back at the end of last week but she said she reckoned I could go longer if I wanted (fewer needles, less chance of infection; plus she reckons that the more it is drained the more it is stimulated to produce) - so I had it done today and there was only 100mls - after 6 whole days!
How are you doing now Sandy? Please update. Re exercises, yes I do have some to do 3 times a day, but they are specific to LD flaps. Have you been given anything yet? Have you seen your BCN? Having my seroma drained truly did not hurt a bit as mine is on my back and the tissue is still numb - just the tiniest little prick and even then I probably couldn’t call it that - I was fearful beforehand, but there was no need to be, and today I was positively looking forward to it to relieve the tight feeling on my back. I don’t think there is much to do about the swelling other than just let it resolve with time. I’m small breasted so I can get away without a bra, even if I am rather lopsided at the mo as my reconstruction is swollen and has a haematoma and the LD flap will take time to relax down as it stops being a back and being a front I hope you are feeling less sore now. xx
Hi I have just been reading comments about fluid build ups etc. I had mx in August 13 and feel very lucky to have caught it early. No chem or rad just leprozol for 5 years fingers crossed. However I am having problems with fluid build up. Had it drained several times then left it alone for about a month then fluid was taken off again but after 10 days im right back where I started. Hard lump where the breast was, numbness and tingling in my arm has returned and it feels very tight. Even hurts when I bend or go to sit, stand and breath deeply. I have been doing my exercises as instructed. Bringing elbows forward at head level seems to act like bellows pushing air fluid through into the breast area. Im being told its normal but surely it should be getting better after 3 months. Any one else with the this problem if solove to hear from you.
I hope you are feeling less sore now. xx