Pain/redness from compression bra

Digitbean

Hi Girls!

I had a mastectomy on left  breast on 7/3. The PS expanded me more than he had planned because they inserted pain ball to assist w pain. He wanted me to have a nice look after surgery and pain ball combined with pain meds would have made initial few days much easier. 

Bad news is that pain ball fell out before I even left hospital.  I was heavily drugged and not informed of importance in making sure to hold /secure ball.  They couldn't replace it. 

That made for a fun few days of lots of pills and continual pain. 

At about day 3, I switched from compression bra to camisole bra.  The compression bra was extremely tight (probably due to swelling). My back began to spasm, I was continually uncomfortable and couldn't breathe easily.  So, I switched to camisole bra on day 3 and never went back.  I did call nurse navigator to ask if it could be worn at all times. She was delayed in getting back to me and I forgot question when we next spoke.  Speed forward to yesterday (day 9) nurse navigator called to check in on me. I remembered that question and was informed I should have worn it anytime I was active (which I was the entire time,  When doing exercises, etc).  She said this must explain why my drainage history went from 150cc  to 60cc's so quickly.  Asked if any damage was done due to fact that I'd been very active for 6 days without compression and she said no,  but you want to wear when active going forward. 

I switched to compression bra after our call and remained in it for about 12 hours.  The pain was bad within hours but i had to wait for camisole bra to line dry. Ugh!!!! when I did drains I jumped from 5cc to 30cc in 12 hour period. 

My anxiety and doubts that no damage had been done as I felt the support I'd been missing while doing exercises and general activities. couldn't help but think all sorts of thoughts on proper draining, scar tissue forming due to lack of support, suddenly noticing little things that probably were there before (numbness, implant feeling like under armpit,  lots of other panicky thoughts).

Exercises were extremely painful. Felt as if I'd pulled something. 

Had to put ice below left breast to reduce redness/swelling that had started. woke up in pain today. The area is red.

Does anyone know if I could have caused damage by going 6 active days (walking,  breast exercises) with no compression?  Is it bad that blood wasn't draining completely all those days?  I really love my team of docs/nurse navigator, but feel that since message i left to inquire about bra (the day that i began wearing it) went unanswered its in their best interest not to tell me if damage could have happened....or if not damage, to not emphasize what lack of compression caused in terms of drainage, support,  healing.  

Sorry for such a long message - my mind is racing. 

Thanks and all the best to all of you!