Hi wonderful people!
I had a double mastectomy 12 days ago. Had my dressing and both drains removed 3 days ago (ugh, those drains!! Emptying them, worrying about them!! So glad they are gone!!)
But wanted to check with others about what they experienced….I have had some fluid build up on my back and to the side of my chest, which I think it going…..what I thought was a scar going up into my armpit, turned out to be a fold of skin!….The stickiness left after they removed my dressing nearly drove me potty, as I was sticking to myself…
I wondered what sensations others have had where their breasts once were? It often feels a bit like lots of ants are biting me. Plus I have the tightness, chest and armpits, which I’m dutifully doing exercises to try and improve.
Prior to the surgery I have never managed to sleep on my back. I have been the last 11 nights, but I can tell my body is wanting to turn onto my side. Anyone else changed sleeping position since surgery?
Planning to have a shower today as I am allowed to let water run over my chest and pat it dry. Excited and bit worried at same time. What am I saying, since diagnosis I’m permanently “a bit worried”!!
Anyway, I know lots of you are flat and fabulous, and I wondered what your experiences recovering from surgery have been?? Id love to hear Xxx
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I only had a single mastectomy, full lymph nodes and an implant but I think I had what you’re describing as ants like a burning pain in the skin of my upper arm after both the biopsy and the surgery - both times it calmed down in a couple of weeks. After the surgery it didn’t start straight away either and it wore off by the area decreasing in size rather than the whole area becoming less sensitive. I got a pregnancy pillow and a v pillow to help me sleep on my back as I have a back problem. I’m nearly 10 weeks out now and sleep more on my side but having the extra pillows to crest an armchair shape helped me be upright and keep me from turning over onto my side. The good thing about going flat is you should recover quickly and there’s less likely to be anything to need to be careful with after so hopefully you’ll be feeling loads better soon. I’m also on the November 2025 chemo starters group and nearly everyone there went for if you want to try asking there too. Best wishes for your recovery xx
Ps alcohol wipes like the pre injection swabs remove sticky
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Hey,
thanks Zebramoon! It’s SO helpful to communicate with someone who has experience of this!!! Reassuring to know what’s going on is normal.
I’ll have a look at the other area of the site you suggested also.
Wishing you all the very best for the future!! And sending lots of love!! Xxx
Hi @cherryblossom1
I am 6 weeks post double mastectomy with lymph nodes removed on left side. I stayed flat. I was dreading the recovery but it went so much easier than I expected. I am sleeping on my side since around week 4, altho the left side is a little uncomfortable by morning still. I found the areas where i had my drains quite sore when lying on my side.
I have had some swelling on my left side upper arm and under arm since week 1. I learned that around the back area what I thought was swelling is extra tissue left behind and its called “dogs ears” cute but not cute 
. Its kind of numb and soft. Maybe google that.
The lymph node area and upper arm gave me a stingy feeling for a few weeks. Like a million pins sticking in me or scratching me. Sometimes I get a sensation that I have nipples still. Maybe nerves regenerating or something.
Once my drains came out I had some small seromas but they went away themselves thankfully.
I had about 6 internal stitches start to show through the wound after around 3 weeks but they have all broken off in the last week once I started massaging.
When I wake up in the morning it feels like Im wearing a bra that the band is too tight but it goes once Im up and about. I have some cording since the first week and finally saw a physio yesterday and she massaged it a bit and said its not too bad just to give it a massage 5-10 mins in morning and evening and it will go. This is the first week I can lift my arm almost straight up over my head. And I def felt alot more strength in my arm this week.
I dont bother wearing a bra or softees etc. I tried one day and found the band was so itchy. I will get fitted properly after my chemo and radiation, in case I put on alot of weight.
Sorry if my message is all over the place! I just wrote as I remembered. Feels like so long ago already.
All the best with your recovery 
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Hi want2be me
Your message didn’t seem rambling to me! And it was exactly what I needed. I just had hoped to hear about someone else’s (Hopefully similar) experience, and yours absolutely had been helpful to read, and similar!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I had thought “dog ears” were only at the front, so didn’t link that with my back area that is numb and soft. I also thought it was swelling. So really helpful to know!!
I haven’t been wearing a bra either. Just after they removed my dressing/drains the nurse was looking for my bra to put on for me, and when I explained I haven’t been wearing one, said that was fine, but some women find them helpful. So at home I put on the bra the BCN had given me, but found it cut in horribly under one arm in particular, so that was pretty short lived!
Great that you can now lift your arm over your head!! I really wish you all the best with your recovery, and MANY thanks again!! xxx
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Hi want2beme,
I just wanted to ask if the physio you saw was through the hospital or something you arranged privately? I know some hospitals recommend massing mastectomy scars and a physio can help with this, but I wondered how u found the physio that you saw.
Best wishes and hoping you aren’t melting in this heat, like I am!!!
Catherine xx
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Hi @cherryblossom1 i hope that you are well. The physio I saw was referred by the breast care team and had experience. I saw her around 6 weeks post op and went back about 10 days later. There was good improvent in between even tho I wasnt consistantly massaging the cord, but i did do a good few stretches myself went to 1 pilates class, along with general housework, in between. Ive started chemo now so im avoiding all extra contacts as much as possible. Cord still there but will go the more i do with it. The physio said i can go back to her if i need. She didnt do any scar massage, i didnt ask, not sure if that would have been an option actually. She just asked me if I was massaging it and explained what to do. I showed her the scar and she said it looked neat so i was happy with that. Suppose it important for radiotherapy. Are u having any issues with your scar or cording now?
Hi want2beme,
Thanks ever so much for getting back to me so fast.
I’m 4 weeks post double mastectomy surgery today. I still have pretty sizeable seroma under one arm. BUT I think it’s starting to slowly go down
But I do have a lot of tightness across my chest, hence thinking massaging the scars will reduce some of the adhesions behind it? I think my scar is fully healed, but would love a professional to look at it before I start massaging it!!
I send you lots of love, best wishes and healing thoughts as you go through chemotherapy! And a big hug along with it! Xxxx
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