Anyone recently had a mastectomy and now recovering.

Hi Giuliella

I had my rgt. side mastectomy 4/7 so 9 weeks on weds . I used extra Panadol . If you can tolerate an anti inflammatory that could help .

I can't use anti inflammatory So know what you mean bout still getting pain. I can only talk bout how I was and a

everyone different . I told my Gp little man with sharp knife keeps turning the screw lol .

I was told a lot of the pain was nerve pain ( nerve blocker having worn off ) but also healing so pulling tog. 

They say 6weeks for recovery which seems about right and certainly from that point there was a marked difference in the swelling and discomfort . I now have my prosthesis  and wear it daily . I still do the exercises daily which does ease discomfort .

I am on day 14 of first cycle of EC

Hope this helps 

margaret x

Hello Margaret, I forgot to mention that I had a DIEP flap reconstruction at the same time as my mastectomy and so have five wound sites that are all painful.  I had my stomach fat removed, belly button repositioned, breast removed and replaced by the belly fat, with a small piece of rib removed to allow reattachment of a blood vessel supplying that fat.  I can't take any other pills other than paracetamol, so must put up with the pain.  How's your chemo going?  I dread the start of that.  Couldn't grow my hair long until I reached the menopause, then took seven years to grow it long, so if I lose it during treatment, I'm not sure it will ever grow as long again, but we will see.  I hope you aren't feeling too bad with the chemo?

Hi Giuliella

Ahh! That explains the 5 wounds .If you fill your profile in people will be able to read about your story .mines on my profile .

I opted for no reconstruction just decided not for me . Surgeon would like to do reduction on other side 

because I've lge cup, I don't know yet .

im sure someone will be along on here shortly to answer your questions about wound pain .As I said the answer for me was to do the exercises. But only the masectomy wound .

Dare I say chemo ok .. I'm on day 14 of first cycle of EC . And so far so good I've been lucky . You can use a cold cap which can help you keep your hair I have chosen not to . So because I expect to lose hair I chose to take control and have my bob cut into pixie cut Everyone says I should have done it years ago . I go for wig on Thursday  so I'll be  ready . Think I'm going fir short wig .

keep posting this is the best place to be to ask questions ( please dont google  mostly out of date ) This community is a very friendly informative place to be and I for one am so glad I found it when I was diagnosed 10 weeks ago 

margaret xx

If I had known what I would have to go through ahead of time, I think I'd have opted not to have a reconstruction, but having said that, I think I will be happier to have the new "breast" so I can keep wearing the kind of bras I'm accustomed to wearing, once I'm healed.  As it is, these sports bras with front fastening we have to wear for several months 24/7 are about the same as I normally wear, except my usual ones just slip on over your head.

good luck with the wig.  If I lose my hair, I think I'll get it cut and donated for children's wigs, as it's very long.  I don't think I want a wig at this stage, so will get a bamboo or silk hat/wrap to keep warm and be proud to show the world what I'm going through.  I always had a pixie haircut from age 12 to 52, it's so easy and no fuss when washing it.  I just grew it when I went to the arctic on an expedition in 2005.

I'm doing the exercises every day and walking, helps with stiffness and backache.  Took the pillow out from under my knees last night on advice from my nurse, but that stretched my tummy and gave me a bad back, so am putting the pillow back tonight.  I'll try filling in my profile, but am new to this chat forum thing on the iPad.  Cheers.

Giuliella.

Hi Giuliella

fFor the masectomy wound I used a pillow at that side so my arm/ elbow was level. Also found the macmillan heart cushion very useful . 

I'm getting the wig but have already got hats /wrap and think I'm more likely go with them . Got some from Amazon that just look like walking fleece beanies but they're cotton . More useful for me if we in the lakes at our holiday home.

My favourite saying at the moment is listen to your body and if it says rest then do so .

margaret x

Hi Giuliella 

I had the same op as you on 6th June. It does take time to recover. Even now I would say I can be uncomfortable (not in pain though). I used a pillow under my knees for a long time but found once I could sleep on my side it was much better. I used small cushion under my tummy and my breast to make it more comfortable to sleep. Do you know what chemo regime you will have? I am on weekly Paclitaxel x 12 and have had my first three. I was very scared at the thought of it but have found it much better than expected. Also nurse persuaded me to try the cold cap as it works well with this one and so far so good. Have you spoken to your BCN about your pain? Hope you start feeling better soon but be patient- our bodies have been through a lot xxx

Yes, I also like to listen to my body, but sometimes you can't understand what it's trying to tell you!  I've had an upset tummy ever since coming home from hospital and although I'm on a healthy diet, as I was a slimming world target member for several years and keeping my weight stable before I went in for the operation, my IBS doesn't want to settle at the moment, despite trying to stick to a normal diet that I know shouldn't upset the IBS.  I'm trying different things like cornflakes instead of porridge, as everything tastes different at the moment, but maybe I should just go back to the usual routine, I will try this next.

Not keen to try the cold cap, as I've heard it gives you bad headaches and I get migraines anyway, but I did look online at EBay and Amazon, picked out some bamboo and some cotton beanies like you, but will not buy any until I find out what treatment I'm about to undergo first.  Your holiday home sounds good, a nice retreat.  I presume you can get there easily?  I'm stuck at home at the moment, as I'm not allowed to drive just yet and my husband can't drive since he had a bad motorbike accident a few years ago which he was lucky to survive.  However, he is good at shopping on the bus.  That is one blessing and he is so patient with me, doing everything so slowly at the moment, instead of my usual whirlwind activities.  I am still taking an hour each afternoon to rest, which annoys me, but as you say, needs must.  Cheers for the encouragement.  Hope your chemo continues to be a lot better for you than expected.

Hi Giuliella

our Hidsy home is only 1hour 15 away so fairly easy to reach time wise . The A66 over the Pennines can be unpredictable with closures . 

So haven’t been this month in SE flared up . 

Considering it this weekend .. watch this space . Will post on walking back to happiness site .

With regards your IBS I have Diverticular. 

They have removed my meds whilst on chemo ,

Also was planned originally to have Doxetaxel  but they wouldn’t give me it because of SE effecting bowel . Just make sure you don’t forget to mention it . We get that used to pre existing problems and lose them in the fog of all the other info. Like you my diet was healthy so really only minor changes .

also trying not to let steroids win the battle for carbs lol

have a good day 

Margaret x

Giuliella

Holiday not Hidsey although that does sound rather cute !

Yes, it seems to be taking a lot longer than I expected, to recover.  However, I'm feeling better today after yesterday, which was a bad day.  I shall try to be more patient with my body and will continue using the pillow under my knees for now.  Not been to see the Oncologist yet, so don't know what treatment I'm to have so far and as for my breast nurse, I can't seem to get in touch, so have only briefly spoken via email to the plastic surgeons nurse since the op.  I did speak to my doctor, who said paracetamols were the only painkillers that I can tolerate, so there's no other option, I just have to ride out the pain, same as always.

Don't fancy the cold cap, as I've heard it can be uncomfortable and give you headaches.  I get migraines as it is, so will just try the headscarves that I've sourced online in Amazon, though won't buy any just yet, in case my treatment says I won't lose my hair, though that scenario is doubtful, knowing my luck, but hey ho, we will see.  I've picked out a couple of nice, pretty ones and will be proud to let the world know what I'm going through.

I'm pleased to hear that you seem to be coping well with your chemo regime, may that continue for you and that you feel well all the way through.  It's just a bummer to have to spend precious time recovering when you would prefer just to get on with your life the way you want.  That's what I find frustrating, but we will get there eventually.  Think of a holiday away that you'd like to do and look forward to that some time when we are better.  I had one booked for this week, booked back in January before I knew I was ill and I'd paid a big deposit for three of us, then found the insurance only repaid half of it when I had to cancel this trip, so that was a big disappointment.  However, next time, I shall go to a travel agent on the high street and book with them to avoid big deposits and maybe, get a late availability, perhaps late next year or the following spring, when I feel better and able to go.  Thanks for your support, it's appreciated.