healing

lindal52809

hello,  I'm new here, and I was wondering how the healing felt after your surgery.

I had a mystectomy on may 28th,  removing the tumor and 13 lymph nodes. I am managing the pain, but now I know in less than a week, I am feeling the tightness around the stitches everywhere. It is just something I've never felt before, and was curious if anyone else felt this way? Is this normal?   

Caseysmom

lindal:

Welcome!  I personally did not have any tightness around my stitches.  However everyone heals differently this could be normal.  I would suggest you call your surgeon and let him/her know whats going on.

Others will be around to share there stories.

Hugs

Laura

lindal52809

Hi Laura  & Hi Gg08 

Thanks for your responses.

Everything has been happening so fast, and now, i guess I'm getting the time to think about it all while I heal.

I saw my surgeon and 1 week, and then 2 weeks after my surgery, she removed my stitches because 2 sections of my incisions didn't heal.  No infections (a good thing) 

 I am on a wound vac now the last 5 days, and in therapy for my arm. Still num under my armpit area. But moving alot more than I was. (another test of the 3 p's my husband used to tell me about his favorite hobby (fishing), practice, patience, and persistance.) Never thought I'd be using that one so many years later.

I had a bone scan scheduled by my onco so that's done, and I am in therapy have work on my arm to have my c-scan yet.  Then the plan is to start my chemo. The waiting is the hardest part.

I guess I just wanted to update here, incase anyone has been thru these things, I'll be happy to read about it. Or if anyone just needs to talk, I'm not an expert. Learning as I go (quickly).

Thanks again,

Linda

Sorry so long replying.

lindal52809

Hi Bonnie,

I have't had any chemo yet. And am working on getting my PET/CT scheduled, because I can finally raise my arm enough, since the surgery I have been in therapy for my arm. Still working on that too.

 I won't be starting chemo until after my scan and my incisions are healed up.  Still have the wound vac on, it's been on for a week now.  Getting the sponges changed every other day, and they say it is healing nicely.   

Thanks for the prayers. Linda

lindal52809

Hi Bonnie, I did have 2 of the bulb drains for two weeks after my bi-last mast also. The day I had those removed, my doctor removed my clear dissolvable stitches because I had 2 areas that were leaking thru the stitches.  When she removed them we found that 2 areas were where my incisions were not healing. After another 2  weeks of showering, guazing up and recovering twice a day, it was decided that in order for these holes to heal up faster we would get a wound vac put on them.

The wound vac is a machine that is connected to my unhealed breast incisions, with special sponges, and clear bandages to hold the sponges in place and keep the area clean and moist. 

A  hose is attached which connects to a canister that is attached to the vac where the fluids go.

The vac is on 24/7 constantly removing any fluids, and helping the wounds heal faster. I'm told it should heal with the vac, in half the time it would without it. Then again everyone heals differently, but as I said it seems to be working. Somehow it works because negative pressure from the vac pulling is helping the tissues in the wounds to form faster and heal.  

Well, all this because my chemo is pending  due to the open incisions. I am not sure how I'm going to be once I start chemo, because of this delay, I really haven't been thinking about that as much. I'm ready to start though, I have been ready in my mind, and am anxiously waiting to begin. If for any reason but to get it over with. The delay is just a delay. Maybe what I needed, for some reason, only God knows.  We'll talk again, Linda

lindal52809

Hi Bonnie,  Hopefully you'll never need a vac, but thanks for letting me share about my experience with it.

My prayers are with you as you are going thru more tests of your own.

I do hope they turn out well. Best wishes, Linda.