33 and just had surgery on 5.30.2012

Amy332012

So today is 1 month since I was diagnosed. I have beedn to 13 doctor appointments and had the mass and all my lymph nodes taken out on 5.30.2012. So I was wanting to know how long should I be sore. It's been 4 days and I still can't move my right arm.

SheChirple

Hard to say. 

You had a lumpectomy?

I had double mastectomy with tissue expander implants, 4 wks with my drains, so my pain continued throughout that time.  I also had only SNB (sentinal node) removed.

It will take as long as it takes.  Hang in there.

Amy332012

 Yes I had an lumpectomy and he was only going to do the sentinal node but the dr didnt like the way everything looked while doing the surgery so he just went ahead and took out all the lymph nodes.

Anonymous

33 is young. Were you tested for BRCA 1/2?

Amy332012

Yes I was tested for BRCA 1/2 and no mutation was detected.

julz4

Amy, I had my surgery on the 22 & had 2 nodes removed. I many friends who all say taking the nodes Hurts! For a while. In fact I have numbness & it may take months, years or never to get the feeling back from the nerves being cut. I hate it! I knew it would hurt but did not expect the burning pain & fatuige in my arm. I know another few weeks I should be better but it's so slow. Remember to ice it as it helped me & many others. A bag of frozen peas. Only 20 minutes on. Every hour or so. Make sure you cover with a paper towel, pillow case or thin towel. Take your pain meds now is not the time to become a super hero! Pain relief is known to help you heal faster. I hope some of this helps. Keep asking ?'s & let us know how your doing! I wish I had better news. We will muddle through together!

Amy332012

Hey Julz4

   The more I think about to me the pain is from the drain tube. but then again under my arm anywhere hurts. Also the back of my arm is numb. I guess I should have kept more ice on but didn't.  Another ? is What is the white/clear reddish looking stuff in the drain tube that won't go down?

julz4

I didn't have drains but know of them. Is the stuff coming out of the drain into a bulb clear even though it is tinged reddish brown? Brown usually signifies old blood...so the tubing could be stained. Does your Breast Surgeon have a nurse you can call & ask ?'s. Get a notebook/paper & write your ?'s down so you can ask. Call tomorrow & let the Drs office know how your doing. When do you see your BS again?

The back of my arm is numb too. Very normal! Also under my arm hurts too very normal too. They cut a lot of nerves & do a lot of tugging & pulling to get the nodes & breast tissue out. Gentle hugs!

julz4

I just reread your post. Is it still draining into the bulb? Or has it suddenly stopped after draining a lot? Or has it been having less & less drainage as the days go by. I'm no expert but if it has been draining a lot & all of the sudden stops abruptly I would wonder if the drain has clogged. Just a thought! Something to call the Dr about. You should of come home from the hospital with a sheet of instructions that has on it when & what to call your Dr. about.

Yes those drain tubes will/could hurt till they come out.

Amy332012

It's still draining normal but it has gooie looking stuff in the tube. I go back to my BS on Tuesday so I guess I will be fine until then. I have read all the sheets sent home and I have did everything it says.  I can't wait until tuesday to see what the dr has to say about the surgery and about the lumyph nodes he took out. Anyway. Take care and keep in touch. It's will be good to talk to someone who is going through the same thing.

SheChirple

Amy you need to be draining the tubes daily, or even a couple of times a day.  did they show you how?  I was scared to do it, at first.  Once I did it a couple of times it was fine.  I was scared I would pull it out! 

You pinch it at the insertion to your body, about 4 inches away, and hold firmly.  Then you squeeze and drag down the tube, away from your body all the way to the bulb.  I used a pencil to squeeze my finger against with a little baby oil, and it slid nicely.  The tube stretches during this and it is a little scary, at first.  But, done right, it gets it flowing again.

Amy332012

Yes Ive kept a log of everytime I've drained it. The first day it was really red but as the days pass it is alot lighter almost clear. It draining fine. It looks like guts in the tube and all stuck together. I know it sounds gross . The fliud is going around it and I really don't think if it came down to the end of the tube that it would go through it.

stickwitch28

Hi amy332012

I had my mastectomy 15 days ago, and yeah, I know that stuff that goes down the drains. Well, I never asked my doctor what it really was but I did see her a couple of times like squeeze the tube downward toward the bulb, like gently gliding her thumb and two fingers along the length of the drain with the guts on to move it along the way. Then she proceeds with the draining. I never saw any of those guts swimming in the drain, I guess it stays there in the tubes, though at least the fluid gets going. My doc took my drains 10 days post surgery because I was already 20 cc for the whole day. 

Anonymous

That is good news, Amy. I would not wish that gene on anyone. Good luck and godspeed!

Blessings2011

Amy332012 - I had a lot of that stringy gunk in my drain tubes.

DH tried valiantly to strip the tubes with no success. 

(Hold VERY tight at the end where it enters your body, then with the other hand, use a wet washcloth or alcohol wipe and pinch the tube shut, then pull hard, downward, and try to move the gunk down the tube. Don't worry about stretching the tube...it is very strong.)

We finally realized that the bulbs were filling up anyway, and it didn't matter that all the lumpy, stringy solid stuff was in the tube. The fluids were draining off anyway.

ALSO - just a hint: always empty your drains and log in the amounts when the bulbs get to be halfway full. My PS said that once they get full, there is no longer enough suction to pull fluids out of the body.

When it's empty, clean the bulb opening and cap with an alcohol wipe. Drains are an easy way for germs to enter the body.

With the cap off, fold the drain in half across the middle, then roll it to squeeze all the air out. Then replace the cap. This will give you the best suction.

Hope you feel better soon!