Post-Mastectomy Scars / Numbness / Swelling

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Bearhitch
Bearhitch Member Posts: 40
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi all - I am about 1.5 weeks out from my BMX and I have a few questions.  I was wondering if everyone else has an issue with a very prominent scar or if maybe that goes away with time?  The other day I was wearing a tank top and could see the scar through it as it is raised and hard.  A friend suggested gently massaging it to help it break up?  I was also wondering just what to expect with swelling and the numbness - I did not have lymph nodes removed but do have some swelling under my arms which feels so weird and uncomfortable.  I just had my drains out yesterday but I don't really know anyone who has been through this and NOT chose reconstruction so, I didn't know who else to ask about such things.  

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  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited May 2014

    All is normal. Did BS give you ok to massage and stretching exercises?  If so, that will help. I'm sure pulling the drains stirred it up. 

    The scar flattens out over time. Lots have used different lotions and potions. Massage is great but don't do it too soon. Check with your doc but I think it's still early yet. 

    The swelling should go down. Drain pulling probably aggravated it. For me, so does doing too much, too much salt and not sleeping propped up. 

    Go easy on yourself. It's really not been that long. 

    Ask whatever you want. Someone's been there, done that and will help you. 

    Take care. 

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  • Bearhitch
    Bearhitch Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2014

    No the surgeon didn't suggest the massage - a friend - I will wait on that.  The one side is just more poofy than the other - like the one surgeon did a worse job.  Its hard to adjust to this new look and the clothes that I thought would work just fine now - well, we'll need to revisit that  :)

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited May 2014

    Hi bearhitch, I agree with Zills that all is normal, there's swelling that lasts for a while. Maybe even a Seroma has formed, which is the fluid that the drain was  removing. It can hang around till the body reabsorbs it and cause more swelling, and even having a kind of sloshing, like a waterbed.

    There are quite a lot of us who have not reconstructed, so just ask anything, there will be someone who can help. Take it easy, it is very early days for you, and as Zills mentioned, overdoing it, can stir things up.

    I left the Hospital with exercises that had to be performed 4X a day and I massaged around the dressing and then massaged the scar as soon as the dressing was removed. I go to a massage therapist for remedial massage for Rheumatoid Arthritis and she does Myofascial Release massage on my scar. It has been about 18 months for me and I still massage it at night, before bed.

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited May 2014

    Hi Bearhitch,

    You had surgery so recently that I would be leary of doing any self-massage whatsoever in the area just yet. If one side is more poofy, it could be normal swelling or, as Ariom suggests, a seroma, but the fluid will most likely be reabsorbed by your body as you continue to heal. If not, your surgeon could aspirate the area, but that always carries a slight risk of inflection. Still, many women do have seromas aspirated, but normally not so soon after surgery, unless they're enormous. I had small seromas on each side which reabsorbed naturally.

    About two weeks after my bilateral mastectomy, I went to a physical therapist, who did extremely gentle myofascial release to make sure scar tissue didn't start adhering to my skin. But I wouldn't have attempted that on myself. You're still in a very tender state. 

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited June 2014

    You have received wonderful advice. For me the physical therapist wanted me to wait 6 weeks before I did any massage, I did not have stitches, I was glued, so perhaps that is why. But no matter what, it is a big deep incision and moving too quick will only make it swell more. nerves were cut, lymphatic systems disrupted...so you need healing time.


     

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