Post mastectomy concerns

Johnnygirl

Hi all,

This is my first post. I just had a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy on Wednesday September 21st (3 days ago). Recovery has been going well so far. Tonight I felt a sudden muscle tightening in the pectoral muscle above the left side surgery site. When I look down there is a visible indent on the edge of my bandage where the muscle looks sunken. Since then I've felt tingling and numbness down my left arm and hand and across my chest (primarily left side). Is this normal? Is this a sign of lymphedema? My anxiety is rising the longer it lasts (about an hour and a half now). If anyone has an idea what this is, I'd appreciate the peace of mind. Thanks.

xxyzed

It is very normal for your chest to have all sorts of strange tingling and pull feelings for the first few weeks after surgery. I had a lot of lymph nodes removed and had a tumour wrapped around the nerve going down my arm that had caused tingling down my arm and hand before my surgery. It takes a while for the cut nerves to settle down. Lymphedema is not diagnosed until some months after surgery as everything is initially considered to be post surgical swelling. The other thing you can develop which is a pulling feeling is cording. Three days post surgery it would definitely be considered post surgical swelling. You should be doing the exercises you were given by the hospital. At three weeks past surgery I consulted a Lymphedema therapist and was given more exercises and fitted for a sleeve. This was because of the large number of lymph nodes removed, the limited range of motion I had, the size difference between my two arms and the fact that my arm ached if I held anything. It is early days for you. Raise any concerns with your surgeon and if still concerned at two weeks out see a Lymphedema specialist

Keepongoing

do you have tissue expanders in also? You have all kinds of weird sensations after mastectomy. The nerves and muscles have been traumatized and cut. It is common to have muscle spasms especially if tissue expanders placed at the same time. My PS had me take muscle relaxer for that which helped more than the pain med for me anyways. I would even sometimes feel like I was wet and think my drains were leaking and I would look and they were fine . It was very hard to describe the sensations until you experience it.

farmerlucy

Sounds pretty normal to me. I'm guessing the tissue expander is below the pec muscle. The distortion is normal. As far as arm and hand tingling, I found a PT in network, who also happens to be a BC survivor. She did something called a nerve cleanse on my arms that helped a lot. Reconstruction is hard work. You'll get there but it takes time for everything to calm down. Hang in there!

Luna52

I had my BMX about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Agree with all who have posted - you will have lots of strange sensations. I even felt itching sometimes where my breast used to be.

I don't think you can tell much from peeking inside the bandages. I have indentations around my incisions and my pec muscle is fine.

I didn't experience numbness in my hand but my sentinel node was removed about 6 weeks prior to my BMX so mine is a little different scenario.

Don't hesitiate to call your surgeon if you are stil worried.

jenco60

My doctor at Moffitt says after surgery you will feel sharp pains and they are normal due to nerve endings being severed. It will all heal in good time. Stay away from radiation if you can!! It burns, itches, and iritates. Hard to wear clothes and a bra for me.

jenco60

neuropathy is the numbness in feet and hands and comes from the Chemo. I have been off chemo for two months and still have the neuropathy. Seems like it will be a long wait. I just started growing back some hair, I started worrying that it was never coming back.

Johnnygirl

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like this is a normal thing. I do not have tissue expanders either. No plans for reconstruction at this time.

hsant

I had my BMX (no recon) in June, 2015 and I still have some tightness in that area. I also experienced quick, quickbouts of pain for the first six months after surgery. Nothing major, but I thought I would mention it.

ksusan

My surgeon had me taking lorazepam to decrease muscle spasms right after surgery, for what it's worth.

msphil

hello sweetie sounds pretty normal to me too hang in there ms phil Praise God im now 22yr Survivor .idc stage 2. 0/3nodes Lmast chemo and rads n 5 yrs on tamoxifen