After Mastectomy & auxiliary clearance

Hi Mackinley. I am just over two weeks post surgery and can identify with all that you are saying. I had lumpectomy with auxiliary  node clearance and it is indeed the underarm and upper arm where most of the pains and sensations are coming from. Numbness and some pain underarm and strange sensations of numbness and extreme sensitivity in the upper arm. I am told that all of these things are due to the nerves being stretched or damaged during the clearance and it will take some time to settle down.

I also have a fluid build up. Mine is under the arm but I think the same principle applies with the mastectomy site. I had to see the breast care nurse twice last week and have another appointment later today. It sounds as if yours is a seroma and I have been assured that this is all fairly common and is simply a result of the lymph fluid finding somewhere to go until it is successfully absorbed by the body and a cavity left by surgery gives it a nice home!

I am sure your nurse will advise whether you need it to be drained. This may not be the rule everywhere but I was told by two nurses that if the build up gets to the size of an orange they will look at drainage. It will also depend on how painful or uncomfortable it is. I was concerned about drainage having read that they prefer not to drain due to the risk of infection. However, my nurse advised that there is a risk of infection if it gets too large and this is a greater risk. Unfortunately, mine took matters into its own hands and burst before i could have it drained - a bit of a shock! Whilst the fluid build-up is common, the bursting and leakage isn't, so I was just unlucky.

Your nurse will reassure you but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this.

Thank you PatsyP2 your response has been very reassuring think I woke up this Morning just feeling a bit sorry for myself. I think only having a follow up appointment by telephone is a little daunting too as I personally would like a professional to examine me & check everything is as it should be but I understand we are living in unprecedented times I suppose I should just be grateful my operation went ahead although I was booked in for a lumpectomy which was changed to a mastectomy on the Morning of the op.

You sound extremely brave about your experience & thanks again for sharing, good luck With the test of your recovery.

Thank you and I am sure your nurse will see you if you are concerned about the fluid. I had two physical appointments last week and am going for another today. Even before the ‘burst’ the nurse had booked me in to have a look at the fluid and the wound. Each time they seem to have a busy clinic of ladies seeing them for various things to be checked out. 
Gosh, that must have been a shock, finding out you were having a mastectomy on the day!  Going in for surgery is bad enough without getting a curve ball like that. 
Good luck to you too 

Hiya. 

I'm now 6 weeks on Wednesday post mastectomy and full lymph node clearance. My wound area was very swollen and tight in the chest area and around the side under my armpit was really swollen. It has calmed down alot now. I had a wound check 2 weeks after op have you had one yet? 

I have cording and have physio every 2 weeks at mo. I had an ultra sensitive upper arm and around where my arm meets the side of my body just felt bizarre. My physio said to gently rub about 5 different types of textures up my arm a couple of times with each texture twice a day e.g. Silk, cotton, wool etc to try and get the brain to recognise the different textures. Now my arm is numb in parts but is no longer ultra sensitive. I didn't go anywhere near the wound.

Xx

Hi Ellegee

I have a telephone appointment only today But I am going to ask if I can be seen if only for reassurance that everything is ok 

The underarm area is still very painful & a lot of swelling & what I can only describe as sloshing about in the breast area.

thanks for sharing your experience & good luck