Tightness in chest, 6 months on

Hi dollys

Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting to hear all the different outcomes and to try to work out what helps. I had my lymph nodes removed on one side but rather than pain and restricted movement, I can’t feel a thing! Still numb, which I should maybe be thankful for. Hope that your new tablets ease your discomfort, as ronstar has found I think. My tightness is only in my chest, and I had a very helpful email on Thursday from the Macmillan nurse, with different things I might try. Am hoping to be in touch with a Macmillan radiotherapist tomorrow too, so am gradually finding out more and more. It’s tricky when some professionals say to wait patiently, and that it’s early days, but some have ideas of things to try. I’ll keep posting, to share info. Thank you x

Hi ronstar

Thank you for your feedback. Your pain just across the chest sounds very similar - but I don’t have restricted arm movement like you. Chest is very tight and not comfortable, but it’s not painful. A nuisance for you still to have difficulty with range of movement after so long. Oncologist and BCN say to wait patiently for improvement, and it sounds like that is what you’ve found? But am interested in the info I’ve had from a Macmillan nurse, and that maybe there are things I can try - lpg massage etc. Going to ask my physio on Wednesday. I think she is a specialist breast physio - she’s the one I was referred to by the BCNs, although I know she does all sorts of remedial physio as well. 

Will keep you posted if I find out more. Thanks for writing. x

Good luck for Wednesday PicaPica! I always think it's worth trying anything. My physio has been great - I'm sure yours will be too!

R

Hi 

I was just wondering what advice you had from the radiotherapist ? I have been taking amitriptyline for a few weeks I feel really  groggy in the morning and I am not sure if it’s making much difference so I am stopping it for a few days to see how I feel without it. I am still struggling to wear any tight clothes it especially hurts near where the lymph nodes were removed anybody else out there feeling similar pain ?

Dollys

Hi Dollys 

Well I called my radiotherapist and she said she couldn’t explain the tightness at all. She suggested asking the BCNs again, which I did, and they said to ask my oncologist again. So I waited for an appointment letter, which didn’t arrive. And then had a call from BCN asking why I hadn’t gone to the oncologist appointment! So frustrating! So now I’m waiting for a second appointment letter, and hoping to see the oncologist eventually. Seems to be taking ages and ages to find anyone to even investigate. Tightness is still the same. It’s there in the night, when I’m walking, when I sit still. I think it must be some sort of tightening caused by the radiotherapy, but need someone who knows about these things to suggest what treatment might be possible. I’ll let you know when I find out more. Is the amitriptyline to help with tightness? I haven’t had that mentioned - only a drug that increases the width of the compacted blood vessels. Maybe amitriptyline is to do with nerve endings? Your symptoms do sound painful. Do you think the drugs are doing any good at all? x

I took amytriptylene for a while after my Mx and it does make you sleepy. I took it about 8pm and was ready for bed by 10, and slept well. However, I did find it made me groggy. If you get up and push through it, you can get used to it, but it is a struggle.

Do get in touch with your team and ask what the options are.

Thanks for your comments . I was prescribed amitriptyline for the nerve pain the GP has said to give at least 2 months and I need to increase it from 10mg to 20 , it takes the edge off the pain but by the end of the day it is painful so I am going to give it a trial. I hope you get some answers to your tightness.

Hi dollys 

Reporting back because at last I have made some progress! Saw my GP today, to ask about precautionary antibiotics to take abroad with me for hols. And while I was there I mentioned tightness in my chest and that I wasn’t finding anything to ease it in all my hospital appointments. He was surprised I haven’t had any X-rays, ct scans or bone scans, and sent me straight to hospital for a chest X-ray. And he has prescribed amitriptyline, like you! Said to try one per evening for a week, and increase to two if that’s not effective. Starting tomorrow cos I have a night out tonight! How long did yours take to kick in? And how does your chest feel now?

So pleased to have made some progress at long last! x

I’ve got exactly the same. How are you now - did you find a cure? I’ve tried everything and it’s driving me nuts!

I finished RT end sept 2022 and my arm and chest are getting tighter almost by the day. I stretch regularly, pulling my arms up/side/back and go through pain barrier. Massage, by a trained lymph masseuse has helped by only temporarily. I believe we have to ‘live with it’ but certainly stretching and pulling does help. Wishing you very best wishes xx