Surgery

Hi  welcome to the site a very  quiet one today as site maintenance meant it was closed this morning.

Glad your op over and you feeling not to bad .my story is on my profile just click on name to read . 

When I had my op the best thing I used to aid sleep was a V pillow it raises and supports your arm . Can get them most places Argos ,Aldi etc .

Also our hospital provided a heart shape pillow for underarm when sitting brilliant ! If you haven't got one you can get them from Macmillan I think .

TBH sleep can for a lot become hard for a while (rollercoaster brain)! I always kept a drink of water and a small box of digestive biscuits  next to bed and a easy read book .

To aid recovery sleep whenever you can and keep active even a short walk up and down garden path .

im sure you'll get lots of replys but have a browse around threads lots of interesting ones .Awake site can be useful thru the night as others will go on when Awake 

Keep posting 

Hi and another warm welcome to the site. Like you I had just the one incision for WLE and sentinel node biopsy but it was much longer than I had expected, the length of my index finger plus knuckle. A previous lumpectomy for a fibroadenoma was tiny in comparison, just an inch or so. I found that I could only sleep on my back (having been a side sleeper) as it was just too painful on either side. To get comfortable I used an extra pillow under my head, and a thin single duvet (then a flattish pillow after a few days) under the arm on the operated side. I also ended up using another pillow (again a flattish one) under my knees as otherwise my heels felt uncomfortable. A terrible palaver but it worked! I thought I'd never get used to sleeping on my back but I did adjust and found it ok. As a bonus, it is apparently the best position for your spine! Two years on, I still sleep mainly on my back but can sleep for short periods on my op side. I don't need a pillow under the arm, in fact I think I stopped that after a couple of weeks. But I supported that arm when sitting up in bed or in a chair for many months after, with a pillow or cushion. We're all different in terms of the location of the incision, also its length and depth, so it's really trial and error to find what works for you. 

Hope that you are healing well, don't forget the post op exercises, they really do make a difference and help hugely with regaining mobility. Like Northerner I'm also a big fan of walking. My main thread here for posting is the 'Walking Back to Happiness' thread as I like taking photos when I'm out. There are some lovely beach photos there from people lucky enough to be near the sea. 

Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

HI , It is very early days for you at the moment and your mind will be working overtime I'm sure. I too found pillows of various thicknesses helped and used a soft teddy bear under my arm to help with support.But the heart cushion sounds a better alternative.If you feel sore or in pain do take painkillers to help- there are no medals for being uncomfortable when you don't need to. I resorted to hot chocolate at night to help me sleep and a few drops of lavender oil on my pillow to help me relax. Sending you big but gentle hugs xx

Thank you

I'm on day 6 now and still very uncomfortable, I feel very full under my armpit with lots of pain- does this sound about right? 
incision site looks ok, no swelling, it’s just under my armpit is causing me discomfort

Think you need to speak to your BCN   if only to put your mind at rest . I had masectomy with sentinel node removal 4/5 .So slightly different recovery expectations from myself ...be careful you not expecting too much from yourself it's only 6 days be kind to yourself .

Your BCN can tell you if it normal or if you really worried in pain see you and give exam .

Have you been given arm  exercises to do if so should you be doing them or not .?  That another question for BCN 

we're all different but I found I could do some of the easy ones and it helped loosen up . So I would ask what's best with discomfort you're feeling .

Rule of thumb was if not red and swelling then ok but ask BCN that is why she is there .

take care

Thank you Northerner, my breast itself is fine, I have no swelling, the wound looks fine   and it’s not particularly red. It’s just high in my arm pit I have horrible burning pains -  only when I move a certain way! ( my incision is no where near where the pain is although obviously I know they went into armpit)

 I spoke to my BCN  on Friday and she said it was nerve pain but it’s really getting me down now :( 

I do my exercises 3/4 times a day and even though it feels tight I manage it with not too much pain.
I might give them another call tomorrow x

Hi , As Northener has suggested you need to speak to your BCN. I didn't have any swelling under my armpit (I had lumpectomy and sentinel node excision) but of course each operation is individual and a slightly different position of the tumour or lymph nodes can cause different reactions. Glad your incision site is looking ok. Are you managing to do the exercises that you have been given or is the swelling immpeding you doing them?  Your BCN will know exactly what your details are and will advise accordingly. It is her job to be available to advise you especially now with the restrictions because of Covid. I would ring to speak to her tomorrow. Sending hugs xx