Mastectomy aftercare

So sorry to hear you are having this experience post surgery. I have similarly found that the post op support is really poor. Like you I have tried all the numbers given when a drain was full of blood (from a lumpectomy not mastectomy.) I eventually got sorted at the surgical assessment unit but only after my husband had made many calls. I hope the bleeding stems soon. Take care 

My goodness.  I had 4 days in with a drain after  my mastectomy. 

Thanks Elphaba. Yes it’s quite unbelievable. It’s still bleeding this morning so I hope my breast nurse can sort something, although that will mean a 2 hour round trip back to hospital.

Oh dear, I'm reading this 14hours after posting I hope you are a little better this morning, I cannot imagine how that must of felt.

Sending virtual higs (((x))) 

Thanks for the hugs. I’m feeling generally less tearful than last night but still bleeding so I’m hoping the two messages I left for my breast nurse will result in some improvement today. So I’m a little more optimistic…..it’s alway better in daylight isn’t it?

Best of luck..I had  an infection  in my axillary  clearance  wound a week ago but penicillin  seems to have cleared it.  Hoping they get it sorted. Xx

Gosh I just can’t get my head around that this is day surgery! I was in hospital there for 3 nights then discharged. I just think that is far too soon and just for reassurance that everything is ok! I’m just nearing second week of my op and have bit of fluid build up and wound looks just awful. For the first time in this process feeling very alone and down in my mood. I think reality is setting in! You do feel after you leave hospital that you are on your own. I do have great breast care nurses who I know I can call on but I also hate bothering them too much. I really hope someone gets back to you soon.  It’s just horrible not knowing who to turn too. Thinking of you and hope you feel better soon….xoxo 

Hi Bunty500Bunty500

Hi how are you feeling this afternoon, have you managed to get checked over?

Things always seem worse during the night definately, and slightly easier to deal with in the daylight.

A&E isn't somewhere you want to go after having the operation, seems impersonal for some reason.

Anyhow hope you're feeling better let us know how you've got on

My results Monday  so we may proceed straight to radiotherapy or its a mastectomy

Catch up soon x 

I finally spoke to my breast care nurse this afternoon and had to go back to the hospital to see her. She has put some large steri strips and the biggest ‘plaster’ you’ve ever seen over the whole wound. It was so sore it was hard to walk back to the car after, but now I’m home I just feel so relieved that someone has seen and dealt with it. She also going to follow up the fact that there is no emergency cover after discharge despite being given an emergency number to ring. I’d hate anyone else to go through this with perhaps something far more urgent.

Waiting for results is always nerve wracking. I hope it goes well for you. If it’s any consolation, and if you’ve got the right backup, the actual op for my mastectomy was nothing fearful, so if you have to go that way don’t fret…it might avoid radiotherapy altogether. I’m hoping it has for me…..guess I just have to wait till the 17th. Good luck Coffee. Xxx

Hi Jane

I managed day surgery for my lumpectomy in June but I didn’t have any issues. This time I really needed to see someone, but all I had was an answerphone for my breast nurse who isn’t available evenings weekend or bank holidays. Even during the day she has clinics so it always some hours before I hear from her. If the emergency number had been operational I could’ve at least discussed things to find out if what I was doing was ok and if I did need to see someone in a hurry. To have turning up at a&e as the only follow up care on day of discharge and during a pandemic is really so overwhelmingly stressful.

anyway, I’m feeling sooooo much better right now! Lol