Tightness, can't breathe feeling after BMX

KANSAS65

    Just over a year after my wife had her BMX (no recon, rads or chemo), she's still having major problems of tightness. Her clothes feel heavy on her and she says it's so tight she's miserable. She gone back for more PT but feels worse. I don't know what to do, so I thought maybe someone here has had the same trouble and would have some input. Thanks KANSAS 65

Ariom

Hi, I am sorry your wife is having this issue.

I wonder if she has had some Myofascial release massage done by the PT?

I started massage as soon as I had the bandages removed and it helped the tightness, and burning that I felt. I have continued to have my chest massaged when I go for my regular massage with my remedial therapist. It has improved so much that I only have discomfort if I get overtired, or overdo it.

I can't speak of the heaviness your wife is experiencing, except to say that this is a surgery of strange sensations. I had virtually no pain from my surgery, but had weird sensations that are starting to disappear now, 8 months down the road.

My Surgeon told me that the nerve regeneration can cause all kinds of strange sensations. I know it really doesn't give you aything difinitive  to tell your wife,  other than, most of these feelings do disappear with time.

I wish you and your wife all the very best!

Changlyn

I am two months out from a single mastectomy.  I notice a tightness also where the breast used to be.  I think it may be muscular.  Its almost like someone is holding the spot over my mastectomy scar.  Let me know how it goes with your wife

DX 2.3 cm, left breast mastectomy.  clear margins, no node involvement but LVI.  Had both IDC and Lob cancers in same breast.  My Oncotype came back a three so no chemo but I am on Arimidex for at least five years

KANSAS65

Thanks for your input Ariom and Changlyn.

Cats134

It's been 1 1/2 years since my bilateral mastectomy and like your wife, no recon, rads, or chemo, and I still feel as if a giant rubber band is wrapped around my chest.  Often I find myself reaching behind my back to unhook a tight bra... and I'm not wearing a bra.  There are nights where I have to jump out of bed and stretch or wiggle around because I woke up with the sensation of not being able to breathe.  I'm numb in areas, tingly in others and my BS says I have to learn to live with it.  The nerves regenerating are a bit wacky.

What helps me is stretching.  Over extensions of stretching my arms and chest.  Anything that stretches my arms behind my body.  For example, placing my hands on a doorjam and leaning my body as forward as I can go.  I can stand on my basement steps and touch the ceiling so I lean my hands against it and and tip foward so my arms are stretched up over my head but behind my body.  I do it slowly and it feels good.  

Best to you and your wife!

Cats

crystalphm

This feeling does happen, and the myofascial release done by a physical therapist helps...and once you learn, she can do it to herself.

I don't know why some of us have this feeling and others don't, but I suspect it has to do with nerves that are cut that create sensations. I am 3 years away from surgery and still feel this, and you are right, exercise doesn't change the feeling.

KANSAS65

Thanks Cats and Crystalphm. My wife has read all the posts and thanks everyone for there input!

Nahelton12

Wish I could help. Not that far along in my journey. Just wishing you well. Really cool that you are doing everything you can think of to find solutions for your wife. That's got to make this challenge a bit more bareable.

KANSAS65

Thanks Nahelton12, Thats spouses are for helping the other one through good times and bad. We are hangin in there. Heartfelt best wishes to you on your journey.

dogsandjogs

I didn't have the tightness but did have a horrible sensation of ants crawling under my skin. I also felt like someone was pouring warm water all over my chest (from the inside)

I was told that these odd sensations are from the nerves re-generating. 

In my case, they only lasted a few months.

Reesecup

I just had a bilateral late September and am having terrible breathing issues as a result of the tightness in my chest. I am so tight it is causing me to feel like I can't get enough air. This is a problem I never thought about prior to the surgery. I read so much about it but had no idea it would cause this. I had a failed reconstruction with tissue expanders and thought once those were removed I would be fine but I still have the same issue. I have the same feeling that my clothes feel heavy on me. Not sure I will be able to use prosthetics as they lightest weight ones feel heavy against my chest. I am going to ask for physical therapy and if anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate it. My whole life is upside down over this.

Thanks

crystalphm

Reese, is there a medical explanation for what you are feeling? (always see a doctor first)...but if not, I have about the same thing going on. Wearing foobs and a cami is ok for about an hour, then the pain begins. This would include anything slightly snug. When I do wear foobs, I wear the handful bra, where the foobs don't touch much skin (hollowed out form) and that helps.

Physical therapy helps, but I sure do still have clothing issues, it is very hard for me to be comfortable anymore it seems. But it seems to me you are very new at this, and yes, I did have a "terrible tightness" for about 9 months?? and until I learned myofascial release massage. Ask your therapist. I am 2 years from surgery now...and some people are just very sensitive.

KANSAS65

Reese, You sound like your having the same issues as my wife. She is better over a year out, but has problems with clothing feeling heavy and the tight can't breath feeling. She cant where her foobs very long. The Doctors all think its because my wife is very slim and doesn't have much extra skin. Crystal brought up myofascial release massage which helped my wife somewhat. Best wishes with your recovery Reese.