BMX seven weeks ago and scar pain/question

coffeelatte

I am seven weeks out from a double mastectomy and I have a question. I have been really careful not to lift heavy items or do too much; however, today I watched my 10-month old granddaughter for one hour while my daughter went to the dentist. All was fine until she fell and hit her head on the kitchen hardwood floor. I immediately picked her up to sooth and check her. She is fine but I felt a pull (slight) on the left side and then it was ok. Well as the day wore on the scar hurt more and more. It then started to burn a bit. So I checked it out about an hour ago and the scar on the left looks wider and redder than the right. I know it is wider than it was this morning and it is very irritated. Maybe I just did too much today (lots of cleaning) but I wonder if I blew it and made the scar widen. Anyone else have this happen or notice the scars look different? I am left-handed and the left is my cancer side.

crystalphm

I was still sore at 7 weeks, in the sense that lifting a baby would have been too much for me. but you did what a good grandma does, you comforted your little one, and you are wise to now take care of yourself.

I would say you did too much, but hey, it wasn't a choice. Things are still healing inside so something stretched a bit. The burning pain is nerve pain (regenerating or irritated) and it is hurting from the lifting. You probably had lymph nodes removed so that side is going to take longer to heal also.

You can always make an appointment to see your doctor if you are worried, it sounds to me like you just need to rest and it will improve again.

coffeelatte

Crystalphm, I am sure you are right. Yes, I had a lymph node removed on that side and I think that is where the pain is mostly located now as I sit and rest. I think the scar probably did not change, but instead I just really took a good look at it. Usually I just do quick glances.

Ariom

I agree with Crystalphm, it is very early days for you, and you have overdone it. I would have done exactly what you did!

The burning sensation was with me for some months, not real pain just a series of strange sensations. Every time I thought I was feeling really good and ended up doing a bit too much, or lifted something a bit too heavy, I paid with another weird sensation.

If you are really concerned, get it checked out, otherwise just try to take it a bit easy and see how it feels in a few days.

I massaged my incision every day with good quality aromatherapy massage oils, to avoid adhesions, and did the PT exercises religiously. I found the most tender area was under my arm from the SNB.

Take care, I hope you feel better soon!

Zillsnot4me

I have a little one and she gets lifted alot on the weekends. Mine was usually on the "bad" side and would subside after resting on Mondays if I didn't aggravate it more by cleaning. Usually felt it at night.



I did seem to pull once on my good side. Felt like it was drain scar tissue. It lasted several days but it was most tender if I laid on that side but I was farther out than 7 weeks.



Exercises, stretching and massaging are the keys. Mine didn't emphasize it enough and I figured with the baby and household chores it would be enough. Nope.



Good luck.

coffeelatte

I did take it very easy today and it helped. I was miserable until I propped my arm above my heart for 45 minutes and did the lymphatic massage. I am still really sore and tender, but got some relief today after really taking it easy. I must get swelling all around the incision but I can't really see it. I need to watch out for lymphedema because I have had two prior surgeries on that arm and swelling was already a problem on that side.

Ariom

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better!

Take it easy whenever you can for a while yet. I found it would come back and bite me if I got too far ahead of myself!

I am afraid of the dreaded LE too. That's enough to make me think twice about overdoing it too much!