Post op

Firstly, lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node removal is major surgery, not a basic operation. You will likely have a lot of nerve damage, your lymph system has been disturbed and your breast tissue has been moved around and some taken away - breast tissue does not like to be disturbed and it takes a very long time for it to heal.

I suspect some of the low mood and frustration is coming from expecting far too much of yourself. It is very early days - it can take at least 6 months following surgery - or radiotherapy if you are going to have that - for things to settle. I was very surprised at how long it took me to get my full mobility back in that arm and like you, I had a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node removal. I did my exercises diligently and it took months to get full mobility, and I also really stiffened up again during radiotherapy. I am a pretty active person so I found this frustrating but reading up about recovery time helped me to realise it was normal.

My advice would be to give yourself a break. What you have been through is not trivial, not physically and certainly not mentally. It is a lot to process and it is surprising how long it takes. 

It is a life changing event. I am a different me from the one before breast cancer. That's not necessarily a bad thing - I definitely get my priorities straight now. But it leaves you with a legacy of worry and for me, I was also put into a menopause so have had to contend with that too.

Be kind to yourself

Oh wow, this is the most reassuring thing I could have heard.  Thank you!  I’ve been so perplexed and angry at myself and wondering WHY I am so slow to recover.  I’m just tiring so easily but hearing that this is NORMAL is all I needed today.  Thank you 

Hello,

like it's been said you have had major surgery, your body needs time to recover and often our mind thinks we can do things our body isn't ready for and we are keen to get back to what we were like before!

I had my first surgery 9/9, I had a quarter of my breast removed, reconstruction using stomach tissue from a chest cavity shave and full lymph node removal. I tried hoovering at the end of the first week as mentally I was determined to prove it wasn't beating me, I sat down feeling proud of myself albeit knackered and noticed one of my wounds had bled through my top!! I pushed myself too far. It's so frustrating, I have days of pure exhaustion and anger and other days when I feel like I'm doing ok. Washing has been the biggest peeve of mine, even now due to wounds I still have a hairy arm pit that's difficult to wash and a boob that hasn't seen water since before my first surgery. I feel disgusting! I've since had another surgery and am booked in for my 3rd.... pretty sure my crusty boob and pit may fumigate the surgical team! 

One step at a time. It's a rollercoaster and you're doing amazingly! Sending love! Xx