Lumpectomy recovery

I can't answer your seroma question but the limited mobility thing can last for a while so keep doing those exercises nd it will get easier! I was able to life arm above head in time for radiotherapy but that made it stiffer again and I continued to do the exercises I stopped them for a while but have found my arm got stiff again, so just do the overhead exercises once a day which keeps things a bit more mobile. Although it isn't stopping me do anything, I don't have full mobility back yet and I had my operation in Feb. I can do most things but sometimes struggle taking off a t-shirt of jumper for example, so it can be a bit limited at times when I am using the arm in extreme positions. Apparently the nerves can take a very long time to recover, depending on where your scar is.

I would stress again that this dos not stop me doing anything, I just wanted to let you know that full recovery can take many many months,

Hi, good luck with your recovery. I had a Seroma and it was really obvious, where they had taken out lymph nodes under the dressing all swelled up. They drain it in hospital which makes it go down. You can see it clearly and it is pretty normal to happen they said. After I had it, it came up a little bit again but then my body sorted it out on its own! Keep going with your exercises, I remember it being really sore and hard work just after but it very gradually gets easier and easier. It sounds like you are doing so well! Take care and look after yourself. 

Hi 

I'm 6 weeks post lumpectomy today. My arm movement is really good and I can do everything with my arm that I could do before. I did the excercises but often forget. My breast is very lumpy and hard and the area under my armpit and around the back is still very numb.

My breast feels very swollen. I'm still wearing my front fastening sports bras. I've tried to wear other bras but they just feel uncomfortable.

Lou x 

I had a small seroma which I didn't know about... the surgeon removed it at my surgery follow-up appointment and I felt much more comfortable after that. It wasn't painful at all. Given time it probably would have resolved on its own but I'm glad she withdrew it.

Two weeks is a short time after surgery - don't be worried if you have limited mobility still. You should see good improvement within - I'd guess - 2 months after surgery and keep improving from then on. Just keep stretching, keep moving - it does help even if though you might not see it day to day.

Following my lumpectomy I was very stiff (with some cording) after one week, but after 5 weeks it got suddenly much better - such a relief. Since then it's been a little up and down but certainly better and better each month.

Any worries - ring your breast care nurse without hesitation.

I can give you no information on seromas, but if you think you have one I would suggest you have a chat with your Breast Cancer Nurse. I complained quite a while about what turned out to be the largest haematoma the Radiologist had ever seen, felt really unwell by that time (and after several times fainting)  and yet the BCN's still insisted I was healing well. Had an emergency operation to wash it all away and implant completely redone.  I found it difficult to get one arm above my head - they said due to inflammed tissue. Did all the suggested exercises. When it got to Radiotherapy stage it was the Radiotherapist who said I needed physiotherapy. I assumed there was a waiting list but it was the NHS Community Physiotherapy Dept just sitting on several urgent referrals for me. Really annoying as this led to Radiotherapists and myself spending a lot of time and paracetamol getting me moderately comfortable at first. 2 weeks is too early to tell, but if lack of mobility continues for weeks and weeks ask for urgent referral. Physiotherapist really sorted out the stiff tissue, whereas nothing else did. Like Beatthebreast I could not get clothing other than front fastening over my head at all - a real struggle, but now I can. I think the problem is that some people have big muscles which can get too tight. Physios of course are trained to know what is wrong and what to do about it all. 

+1 for the physiotherapists - they are magicians.

Hi, thank you for replying   I thought this would be the case...when did you drive afterwards? 

Thank you  so far I can't see any swelling  the surgeon said its very common..x

Hi lou, thank you, yes I'm in front fastening bras. It's early days for me.i just want to be able to drive and go out  .I'm too impatient  x

Thank you so much..I'm just too impatient,  I'm sticking to exercises so hopefully be a bit more comfortable soon xx