7 days post lumpectomy and sentinel node removal

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Hello, I had my dressings removed yesterday following my recent surgery to remove grade 2 IDC and 2 lymph nodes. I previously had surgery on the otherside for similar, but it was in 2021 and I can't remember the advice I was given about how to prevent the rubbing under my arm. The armpit scar has healed and they have advised me to rub vasaline onto it - but the rubbing on clothes and against my arm is painful. I seem to remember placing something over the scar last time, but can't remember what it was!! 

Any suggestions?? Xx

  • I used double base cream as advised by the hospital and, after a bit of experimenting, used an ironed men’s handkerchief to avoid irritation. 

  • I used sterile gauze pads, and they gave me a bit of extra padding/ reassurance against little bumps or knocks.

  • Hi I had a bilateral lumpectomy 5 days ago right idc grade 2, left tubular carcinoma grade 1 with sentinal node biopsy on both sides , I was just wondering how you have felt after the  7 days ? I wasn't too bad first 2 days just sore and uncomfortable then yesterday and today achey fatigued and jittery,  I know they say it gets worse before it gets better, also underarm dressings pealing up.

  • I was the same, fine for a couple of days and then felt awful. I think it was the anaesthetic-i felt like I had a hangover for about 10 days.

    I've just had a re-excision to take away a little bit more surrounding tissue and feel totally different this time. Granted it was only in one breast this time around and was a simpler/smaller op. However, I spoke with the anaethetist beforehand and he said that some people have a bad reaction to the gas, so he would just give me the drugs this time. So, fingers crossed for no "alcohol-free" hangover today Wink

  • I got some spare dressings from the hospital after my initial surgery, and when the underarm one started peeling ( even with careful washing)- I just popped another over the top, to keep with wound dry.  Getting them off was a different matter lol Face palmScream .

  • 10 days ! I am really impatient and already stir crazy lol. I did get some spare dressings so am going to attempt shower number 2 tomorrow (first one was like having my skin lasered) and change them and by the sounds of it a hair removal treatment too!Thinking

  • Oooo-i was told not to shower ( to keep the dressings dry), so had been having a shallow bath and using wipes on my upper body separately once out of the bath.   The removal of the dressings wasn't due to hair, it was the glue that they are stuck down with. Peeling them off delicate skin was a 2 person ouchy operation lol.  Altho I read on here that the BC nurses have stuff that dissolves the glue

  • I was pretty similar, felt quite good for the 1st few days and then gone downhill a bit with both breast and underarm feeling more sore and tender but guess that's where bruising and swelling coming out! Seems to have worsened slightly when dressings were removed, but wonder if dressing were so tight they were holding it all in? The main issue is the numbness and heavy feeling in breast and anything touching the scar under arm. I am trying to remember back to 2021 but where the ops were done as 2 sep ops and breast excision was under breast last time this time it was at 12 °clock position so feeling much different. Tiredness seems more of an issue too this time round - but perhaps I didn't try to do as much last time? 

    Thanks everyone for their messages and saying how they are feeling. Take care everyone xx

  • Nurses said the dressings were waterproof but just not to stand facing the water and pat them dry afterwards. Oh no perhaps I will try and get some of that glue stuff Grimacing. Thank you for the adviceSmiley

  • Thank you both it's reassuring hearing how other people felt. Yes heaviness in breast too for me, worse when removing surgical bra so yes probably was holding it all in. Hope we all feel a bit better soon. X