Mastectomy

TYZABULL

I had my surgery the day after Christmas and i have no clue how to care for this ugly looking disfiguring thing that I am left with. They won't give me any more pain pills and scabs or stiches or something are starting to pop and causing me even more pain. I'm just miserable..can I put lotion on it to at least moisten the area? Any help is appreciated.

Snickersmom

I'm so sorry you are having such difficulty with your mastectomy. I had a bilateral on May 3rd of this past year and I can honestly say I felt no pain at all. Twinges here and there, but certainly not enough to even consider taking the Percacet they sent mehome with. What did they give you for pain? I still have my original amount of Percacet. I had glue over dissolvable stitches. Nothing pulled at all although I have to admit that my incisions were not pulled tightly. I was able to raise my arms over my head after a few weeks and got all of my mobility back fairly quickly. Unfortunately, since my surgeon didn't pull the skin tight enough to be totally flat, I have an area of puffy tissue just in front of my right armpit that's pretty uncomfortable so I am supposed to have scar revision surgery in a few weeks.

Have you called your surgeon about your pain and the problems you are having? I used a ton of Vitamin E oil on my stitches but I think I waited until they were pretty well healed.

TYZABULL

At my follow up yesterday I told her about the pain and they want me to use Tylenol, which does nothing. I which I had just chosen to not have any surgery. I feel betrayed.

Snickersmom

what kind of pain are you having? And is it our surgeon who said to take Tylenol

TYZABULL

The pain is under the incision. Like where the drainage tubes are at. There is tape all over the tubes so I can't really tell what's going on thin that area, but it hurts. Also the scabbing in the incision is popping loose or something. And every time I lift my right arm above shoulder level it's excruciating. Yes it's the surgeon telling me to take Tylenol.

Snickersmom

The area of my drainage tubes - which were taped in place - was tender but not painful. Did you have a mastectomy? My incisions were tender for a week or two but I don't recall that they were painful. It sounds like the scabs from the incisions might be starting to come loose. Or fall off. Did they send you for lymphadema therapy? You didn't say anything about your lymph nodes but I would think they would have talked to you about that.

If It hurts to raise your arm, then don't raise it over your shoulder. Just try to do the exercises to the best that you can. It does get better but give yourself time to heal

TYZABULL

Thanks snickers. My nodes were fine. The pathology report said negative for nodes. They did find 3 additional tumors they didn't know about for a total of 5 masses in one breast and yes I had a total right mastectomy. The drainage tape has yellow fluid inside. Hope that's normal.

Wonderfulmom

What type of insurance do you have? Call your doctor and tell them that you are in a lot of pain and ask for a referral to a pain management clinic. Check with your insurance company, but I know many pay for it. My surgeon was very stingy with pain meds and left me in pain for three solid weeks, until I told him that I wanted a referral

TYZABULL

United health care. Now there is idea. I never thought about that. I will be on top of tha Monday. I'm trying to get back to work and with pain like this I don't see it happening.

Nursepatient35

TYZABULL

I'm so sorry you are having this pain. Try not to compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone has a different experience just like childbirth. I'm 4 days post op and still feel like I could use the 2 Percocet every 4 hrs like I got in the hospital but didn't get sent home with enough to do that. I'm trying to do Tylenol and ibuprofen and just trying to tough it out. No matter how you look at it, it sucks. But I do believe it will get better. It just may take longer than the next person. Have you been trying to do too much? If so, take it easier. Do you have someone who can help you out more? I will pray that your pain gets better. I too think the incision looks like a hack job but working as a nurse and seeing lots of incisions, they sometimes do look pretty rough for quite a while. Everytime I look at my incision I want to cry but please don't try to compare yourself to the next person. Just give yourself time to accept things and get used to a new normal. This too shall pass.