Hi, I just wanted to share my experience of a right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) which occurred almost two weeks ago. I was expecting it to be worse than it actually was, because of the published information I was reading about it.
I suspect that’s the case because there are big differences in mastectomy experience according to our individual shapes and sizes and the degree of axillary surgery. I’m slim built and 34c and had two nodes removed, so it may be that my experience may only be relevant to others of similar shape, but if it helps to allay anxiety for some, that makes me happy.
Pain: i managed with regular paracetamol post op and was discharged from hospital after the drain was removed (only about 10 or 20ml in it) and after one night. After a couple of days at home I didn’t even need much paracetamol. Over the scar & about 3cm either side, it’s numb. Discomfort rather than pain was my main sensation. Some tightness as well.
Seroma/haematoma: I had an egg shaped lump appear near the drain exit, on the 2nd and 3rd day post op but that dispersed. I’ve currently got very slight swelling on the side of my right chest just below the scar. It’s not uncomfortable though.
bruising: my right chest/upper abdo looked a bit yellow but that is fading now.
day to day stuff: I was able to shower the morning after the op with the drain. I could use my usual roll on deodorant as the scar was clear of my right arm pit. I could use my right hand and arm as normal throughout. I had full arm range of motion and I’ve done the BCC exercises with ease since. I’ve done most activities except heavy lifting. I was v tired in the first week post op, especially by the afternoon/evenings and needed early nights. I slept on my back with one pillow and slept well.
Underwear: I wore the softest vest top I have (an old m&s heat tech one that’s close fitting and has lower arm holes than my camisole tops) and my softie stayed in place in that. I then cut the wire out of the right cup of my old wonder-bra full effect plunge bra (a great tip from my BC nurse) and could wear that comfortably with my softie for several hours. I then bought some soft lace padded bralettes from sainsburies/Tu - which are great post mastectomy. And very pretty.
SLNB blue dye: I didn’t look blue or grey post op (my surgeon warned I might) nor was my chest area. My wee turned greenish on day 2 or 3 post op and quickly went back to normal.
Learning to love my scar: my dressing was minimal - so I got used to the scar shape and length quickly. Removing the dressing myself was easy as none of it was stuck to the wound. The gauze over my drain wound did stick a little but I loosened it with by dabbing some cooled boiled water using sterile gauze and then put a plaster over it until day 10 post op, when I removed it with the main dresssing. The skin has healed well. I’ve now bought some palmers oil to begin to massage my scar as my BC nurse suggested massage is a good way to help keep the scar flat. I’m also doing it as a self care measure and to help me learn to love my new smile-shaped scar :-)
So far I feel very lucky to be recovering this quickly and to feel this good about how it looks and how well I can function.
I get my SLNB results in a couple of weeks and I’m very much hoping all is clear, given much of 2017 was spent having chemo and radiotherapy for non Hodgkin lymphoma, so really hoping I can avoid that on this occasion.
Wishing all future mastectomy-facing ladies well with their surgery and speedy recoveries for all.
