Post Mastectomy and Axillary Lymph node removal pain

We went to A&E again because my scar burst at 2am and the breast clinic called us straight into them to get it aspirated. The infection has caused Lymphodeama in my chest. I am so gutted. My radiologist said the Lymphodeama will be reversible with the Physio. I'm now on two strong antibiotics and my mobility is back to what it was 2 days post surgery. So disheartening.

Sorry to whine it's just been a very hard week. I'm exhausted from pain and lack of sleep.

So sorry to read this DaffodilSue  - sounds awful and thank goodness you have been seen now. Cellulitis is very painful. It’s unusual you didn’t have any wound checks. 
I had a set back and wasn’t seen when I said I had a problem - eventually after 2 and a half weeks I found out my stitches had opened - this triggered some lymphoedema which has resolved through physio / scar therapy and keeping on top of exercises. 
Hope you feel better soon x 

Oh DaffodilSue, how utterly disheartening as you say. An awful experience from which hopefully  you are now being able to recover with the infection being dealt with. I hope you will be able to go and be checked a bit now, not just told that it’s all normal- obviously some pain, discomfort etc is, but the situation should improve not get worse and burst the scar!

All the best, once proper healing gets going you should feel the difference. 
xx

Thanks all for your support. The antibiotics have really started to kick in and given me relief from the pain which is great.

I have alot of Scar tissue formed now which is thick and numb but i'm hoping the Physio will help me work this through, plus the cording. 

My surgeon, who is lovely and has left me with a very neat scar, said i'm in the 3%of women who have all these complications together, which is why people didn't pick up what was going on at first, and just thought I had a low threshold for pain. She said it is all reversible and will work through.

I just have to hope it doesn't cause delays to any other treatment I need, which I won't know until my Pathology results come back, and they confirm my cancer stage.

I hope you are doing well on your personal journeys through this minefield. Thanks again for your support, you were a bright light in a dark tunnel.

I’m so pleased to hear that you’re on the up now with the pain and infection being dealt with.
I have found it amazing what scar tissue can do by way of thinning, flattening  and settling down.

Nearly 18 months on from my node clearance my arm looks fine and works well. Nerves still quite numb, but in 2016 i had a complicated femur fracture just above my knee. (Way too fast on a bicycle, down a windy lane)  The muscle and other layers of tissue that had to be got through to sort out the twisted splintered bone settled down well with the numbness from the severed nerves taking longer over several years  but gradually feeling pretty much the same as my undamaged thigh.

Not quite sure how it will work for my fairly numb upper arm and right side of chest, but I feel it’s likely to continue to change in how it feels.

All the very best to you meanwhile.

xxx