MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

vanstrada54

Thanks  Marlegal!   From the research I have  done  and  the   comments from others  the soreness  is all part and parcel of recovery  ! I was  just wondering  how  much  is  the normal process of healing . Thats why I love these places where we can hang out    and  learn  and grow  instead of having to wait for  Drs   to help .Don't get me wrong Drs do have their place  in healing but   they are not available 24 hours  and  for most of my life  up until now ,the only time I saw a Dr  was on my annual check up .

vanstrada54

Thanks  Momine  I have a  appointment with the  Physio  in a fortnight . That is reasuring to know what I can expect . At least it is  not agony  like when the drain was in  ! But  even as sore  it  does limit me    a bit . All part of the adjusting I guess !

vanstrada54

I was recommended to massage  the wound area  and surrounding rock hard areas . So am trying that as well .

elimar86861

vans, If the areas are hard, it probably is a build up of fluid, and you are right, a gentle massage might help.  Til you go to your Physical Therapist (PT) appt., and learn exactly how to do the "manual lymph drainage" massage, you might be interested to know there are instructional videos on You Tube.  It's not like it is rocket science, but there is a bit of technique involved.

Sherryc

Eli I am doing the happy dance for you right now!!! I am doing much better. PS was right that I would be much more sore this time than exchange. But I am off of pain meds and just taking Tylenol now. Still taking huge naps which is why I am still up. Gotta get that straighten out before I go back to work. Foobs look great and my underwire bra already fits better. Can't wait to get out of this surgical bra. I have quiet a collection of them now. hehe

Eli glad you have kept your humor so far. I always think it helps to get through the tough times. I do think I'd rather go topless than bottomless. IDK that's just me. I go back to the gastro guy on Thursday to have my hemorrhoid banding checked and the thought of dropping my drawers again is not a pleasant thought.

vanstrada54

Thanks for the good advice !It looks good on you tube .

barbe1958

vans, I had my DH rub a non-scented cream into my wound site once the wound healed. He did this every night and he got used to my scars a lot faster than me! When the nerves started regenerating I was SO itchy!!! So he would rub fairly aggressive to kind of "scratch" the itch. I have supple skin now around my chest with no areas tied down by scar tissue. Instinctively, we did the right thing! I WAS diagnosed with mild truncal LE with swelling around the scar line on my back. A bra would put me out of my mind in misery!! So glad I go flat.

Elimar, your port must be like my pacemaker as I always know it's there. I got used to clothing and seatbelts on it after about 10 days but find myself still pulling the seat belt away without realizing it. I don't know if I do it because of habit or a soreness! I don't pay enough attention to myself to know...doi!

Marlegal, I do know what you mean by finally being relieved with your breast cancer diagnosis. I truly believe that anyone would get some sort of cancer the longer they live. Cells just get old. It's as simple as that. Once they start to break down it's a free-for-all as to what will happen. This had been my FOURTH breast lump biopsy over 30 years that finally diagnosed the cancer so it WAS a relief to get my double mast. My PCP thought I was being rash, but I'd had these rather large breast for a loooong time at that point and was glad to see them go. Now, with some of you getting a SECOND cancer, well, that's just not fair!!

vanstrada54

I have decide that  cancer  is    a contradiction   in very poor taste .As we all know there is  no    concrete  agreement  on why   cancer is triggerred in some  people   and others it just   by passes . But  recent  research   seems to agree that   Stress is  one of the main  ones !  Ironic thing  about cancer  is   how stressful it is  ! We can't win   .Thanks for the idea about the cream . I  have   been  able to  use    body creams   and my actual wound  is  looking really good  . My problem area seems to be where my  drain   wound is  . Because of the infection I had there  it seems  to be  healed but   sore . And I have  a couple of rock hard  areas  near my  underarm  pit . Being more aware of my body nowadays  I am never quite sure  what is ok   and  what    is  isn't ok .But  we soldier on don't we ?

Loral

Hi, My underarm was rock hard and swollen but It's about 8 weeks since surgery and now I just have a faint scar, but my arm is numb from shoulder to elbow and it really aches. Sort of like someone twisted it.  My breast hurts some, the scar looks good, but I still have a rock hard rope type bump in there. I think they said it's a seroma or hematoma or scar tissue...Who knows??? Hope you are better soon.

elimar86861

LorAll, A doctor should be able to tell the difference of what is causing your hardness.  If it is scar tissue, PT can loosen that up.  Your numb arm, don't worry, the nerves will need to heal some more and then the numbness will gradually go away.  If you feel "rope-y" in the arm, some women get what is known as "cording" (also "axillary web syndrome) and it is a stiffening of connective tissue in the arm.  PT can help this.  If the "rope-y" feeling is in your chest, it may be that your internal stitches got encapsulated.  This is more a "string of pearls" feeling.  PT massage can help that also.

marlegal

LorAll, I don't want to alarm you, but in the interest of full disclosure and all that ... my underarm is still numb, and an area on upper/back part of my arm as well. I was told (7 yrs ago) that it would go away in 6 months! When it didn't, they said "oh, by a year" ... when it didn't, I found women in chat and on these boards who said theirs never came back either. It's not usual, but it's not unheard of either. The only time it really bothers me is when I itch from inside and want to scratch myself silly, to no relief!! In the overall scheme of things, and hearing the side effects which some others face over the years, I'm okay with it - I was just very surprised.

Sherry, good luck with your visit hon ... gentle healing hugs to you.

Eli - I keep forgetting to ask - the picture of all the women which is page topper right now - who are they/where is that?

LindaKR

I still have some large places of numbness too, under arm (both on my side and my arm), upper quadrant of my back, and most of my MX/Rads area.  Does anyone else feel like their milk is letting down or have and itching nipple on MX side?  Alot of the time my underarm feels swollen because of the numbness, but really isn't.

And Eli I too wondered who that lovely group of women is?

elimar86861

Don't be too disappointed that the group of women have nothing to do with B/C...I think it was something for the art museum in Seattle.  Just looked like a nice group photo to me.

Sorry that some of you still have numbness in the arm, maybe due to having more nodes out than I did?  I did have some numbness in my arm but mine resolved in 2-3 mos.  I can only wonder what will go numb on me this time around.  Uh-oh!

vanstrada54

waving from  Gatton  . I have decided  I am not going to Hell after all !  Thought I was there for a while !  Can't stand this heat  today  and it is only 3 days into summer ! Hope you are all cool and comfortable !

Momine

LorAll, have you seen a PT yet? The lymphedema PTs tend to have a better sense with this stuff than the docs (in my experience anyway).

A year out, I still have a couple of small areas, one on the back of my arm, and one just behind my armpit, that are half-numb some of the time. 

It is, however, much, much better than it was in the first months after surgery. PT helped, as did exercise and, I think, eating well and taking some extra B-vitamins for a while.

elimar86861

O.K., Who wants to jump into my pockets this morning?  I have the first rads and the first installation of my "chemo carry-out."  It's not that I need a lot of hand holding.  It's just drudgery to troop around to this kind of stuff and it would be more fun if I had a few sistahs to keep me company.  Also, remind me to ask my questions about what kind of diet I should be following during these 6 weeks and should I avoid all supplements or what?  I hope they have something like that printed up in a handy guideline sheet, but I have a little tablet to jot it down in case they don't. 

I have to be on a three hour fast and am drinking some tasty barium for this first rads, but please consume many delicious delights while you are hunkered down in my pockets.  When I go up to the rads desk, get ready to grab some caramels out of their big bowl 'cause the pickin's are slim at the MO office (just some mints.)

Here's my fashion for today.  I can totally rock this look AND I like tumbleweeds too!

                                                          

barbe1958

I could totally ROCK that look too!!! Good cover for no breasts. What is a chemo carry-out?

Here is another balloon buster. I am 4 years out and still numb under my arm where I shave. I have to be very careful when I have the razor in that area as I cannot feel it still!

Anyone with sore arms, please see a PT and ask about LE!!! Stop it early and it maybe will not consume your life....

Momine

Eli, what an adorable dress! We can have a disco party in those pockets.

Barbe, I was told no more shaving of armpits after BMX. I use that cream remover stuff, which stinks.

TAB55

Eli: I'm with you this morning.  I even promise not to peek when you have to drop your drawers.

All:  I still have numbness on the upper outside of my arm from my surgery 6 months ago.  It doesn't surprise me.  I had my ACL reconstructed on my left knee in 1997, and I still have numbness from that.  I had my ACL reconstructed on my right knee in 1993, and there never was any numbness from that surgery.  So, it can go either way...

Meece

Wow! So much to catch up on!

First...Whooppee!! Good news on your scan, Eli~.

Welcome to the newbies, hope you are not  having too much difficulty sorting through the barrage of information.

I am now 9 years out from dx, and next month will be 9 years since surgery.  The back of my arm and my armpit are still numb in most places.  Shaving is something I do very carefully.  An electric razor usually works best.

TAB55

I have a question for all of you.  Do you think it would be OK to have laser hair removal under my arms?  I'm sick of shaving, and the laser hair removal worked great on my chin.  Still, I'm worried about LE.

Meece

I would think that your onc or a PS would have some thought on that, TAB.  I am not sure how laser affects tissue.

TAB55

Meece: Good point.  I'm seeing her for my six month mammogram and check up on Thursday (all are invited to the pocket party).  I'll add that to my list of questions.

Marple

TAB55, I used the search button to look up laser hair removal and it would appear it could present a lymphedema risk. 

Eph3_12

Hey!!! Who just stepped on me?? Move over Meece, I'm "bigger" than you & need more room.  E---I have cheetos for after! 

vanstrada54

I seriously don't understand  why the treatment of cancer is so vicious  and   cruel  . I have never heard of the treatment being worse than the disease before !  I know   tough it up sister   but  I  am  tough  just don't understand  why    this is so mean   ! Just saying  !

vanstrada54

In  1986 I had a hysterectomy . On my scar site it is still numb   I would imagine  we learn to live with the numbness ! Just another frustrating   aspect of this hideous disease. But wait there  is more !

Eph3_12

van-the disease is vicious & cruel, that's why!

elimar86861

Well, I have had my chemo pump for an hour now and I it! 

It weighs a couple lbs. and is in an awkward carrying pouch that will be a millstone around my neck for the next 6 weeks.  It beeps and makes a whirring sound, and will be doing that day and night.  It came with about 100 dos and don'ts.  It's like having a dictator in a pouch.  I cannot imagine wearing this outside my house with any kind of comfort so maybe I won't be going to see The Hobbit after all.  Maybe I'll just become a crazy recluse and watch Ice Station Zebra continually. 

Elimar is having a bad day.  When Elimar speaks of herself in the third person, can an implosion be far behind?

Cindyl

Elimar - So sorry the pump is a PITA. Hopefully after a bit of time you'll grow accustomed to it.  I do have to laugh about "dictator in a pouch" but I know it's not fun to have a 24/7 mechanical buddy... I'm never happier than when I take of my hearing aids and le gear and I suspect that the pump is even more intrusive.