question for all????

mmm5

Hi 

I am 4 1/2 years out and 6 months ago I had surgery on my left breast. Initially I had a double mast. for a right sided cancer, nothing on the left. The problem was that my left implant was heading under my armpit and so my PS did surgery in Feb to install a "sling" to bring the breast over. He said it ended up being quite a detailed surgery with about 100 stitches. Fast forward to June (4 months post surgery) I started having a pain in my left abdomen it was odd it didnt necessarily feel like "in" my stomach more like outside of stomach. I first thougth it was an ulcer because sometimes it burned, but other times it was like an electric shock when I coughed or power walked. It came and go and was never super painful. In August it was still there so went to my GP and at the time I still thought it was in my stomach and she ruled out big things and thought it to be musco/skelatal in nature. Over the last week I am figuring out it is a pain that radiates from my chest like under the implant. I have an ultra sound tomorrow (routine) I do them once per year so will check it out and I am not necessarily worried about this being a recurrance, I am just wondering if any of you have had phantom pains after your surgery. My PS does not think it to be scar tissue, but says he gets many pts, with pain after surgery. My big concern is that it has not gone away.

 I really hate this and having to post especially since I just went through a big scare last month with a lump under my arm, but could use the feedback from you all here. I learn more here than anywhere.

Thanks Michelle 

CoolBreeze

I think there is a pain after mastectomy thread around here somewhere.  It is not uncommon at all.  My mx site has been itching for 3 years!  I can't scratch it because it's numb so I find a place I can feel near it to scratch.  It's so weird what happens to us.

With 100 stitiches it would not surprise me if scar tissue wasn't forming somewhere near nerves and causing you pain.  Hope the US shows something definitively. 

camillegal

Michelle, u've probably had the US by now and find out soon--I hope it comes out good---And yes I have crazy pains like shooting pains catches me quickly--I wish I could make a wish on each one--like u do with a star. Not constantly just occasionally.

And CB u r so right--one time I asked my surgeon why I feel the itch and of course can't scratch it. he said something about the nerves, which didn't help me. So of course I didnt listen and I still have it and I do the same thing I find a place as close aspossible that I can acually feel and try to scratch it--It's a weird feeling not feeling anything at all. LOL

mmm5

Thanks so much for your replies, the US was on breasts and both were all clear but it does show things like scar tissue or Muscular issues. It also would not show a rib/sternum met. Do any of you know if a met of that sort would present with pain/burning shooting toward abdomen.  I have been through a lot of tests lately due to a lump I had in armpit and that was extremely traumatizing because THAT was the cancer side and it was a watch and wait situation. It all came out clear but not ready to scans again just recovering from last scare.

My PS and RAD tend to think it is from surgery this past Feb but of course cant rule out other things with out more tests.

I had a massage today and the therapist said it was held emotion "ANGER" .....LOL i laughed inside at that one Yes I am angry at having to think about this for the last 5 years.