Feeling in nipple, after Skin sparing BMX

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Iwannacookie
Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
edited November 2014 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a skin/nipple sparing BMX, with TEs on Aug 26th.  I'm healing incredibly well.  Today I had my 3rd fill and I told the PS that I have a lot of feeling in my right nipple (none in my left).  She acted really surprised in a way that alarmed me.  So I asked her if that was bad or good.  She said that perhaps there was still some breast tissue there, but then she tried to brush it off like it wasn't anything to worry about.  I think the surgeon who performed my BMX is an excellent doctor so I can't imagine that she could make such a mistake, but my PS had no other explanation for the feeling I have. 

Has anyone else had this happen?  Is it possible that the nerves in/around my nipple simply weren't severed--which I would think is a good thing, yes?

I sent an email to the surgeon to see if she has anything to say about this.  While I'm waiting for her response I'd love to hear from you guys.

Thanks!

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited September 2014

    I have some feeling in the area that would have been my former nipple on my left (cancerous) side only. I think some nerve endings were spared or regenerated there.  I'm getting ready to have recon and may lose it.  I sure wish I'd been offered nipple-sparing on my prophylactic side.  

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited September 2014

    I did not have nipple sparing but I had phantom sensations for a long time. In fact I still feel them when I get a chill. 

    I take a pen and close my eyes to tell where I have sensation and where I don't. Surprisingly the 3d nipple tattoos really stung not just the day of the tattoos but for a couple weeks afterward. That was 18 mo past my Mx.

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  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited September 2014

    My feeling is very "normal"; i.e. I only feel something when its touched--no phantom.  I can feel the difference between a simple light surface touch and the feeling of pressure if I squeeze it.  I suppose it's possible that my surgeon managed to not disturb the nerves.  I hope so because if there's still breast tissue there, it defeats my whole reason for choosing a BMX over a lumpectomy.

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  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited September 2014

    I can't stand this feeling in my nipple!!! How could such a little piece of my anatomy be causing me so much distress?!  I placed a band-aid across it to see if that would help by pressing it down, and also keeping my shirt from rubbing against it.  It's just so intensely sensitive.  But then I thought it might be a bad idea to have the bandage adhesive starving my skin from air while it's still healing.

    If you've ever had a cat who's had fleas you've probably seen them twitch and jump and then dart suddenly, when they're bitten.  Like they're totally flipping out.  That's how I feel.  It's making me twitchy and want to jump out of my skin--anything to be able to "run away" from the discomfort.  

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  • clmtootie
    clmtootie Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2014

    I do have some feeling on my right side after my NSBMX but none on my left.  Both the BS and PS said it was because the left is the tumor side and the right wasn't.  I can feel the nurse when she goes to do a "fill" on my right however, I don't feel it at all when she does the "fill" on the left. 

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  • sunny8
    sunny8 Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2014

    Omg, I had some feeling in my left nipple. the non-cancer side. Especially during healing. It hurt like hell. The right side/ Cancer side was completely devoid of nerves so it was a breeze after surgery. The other side, I had a bit of skin sloughing off the nipple and so it was raw and as if all the nerves were exposed. If the wind blew, I would be in pain. Now that the skin has healed, I feel much better. I asked the surgeon and he said that it was great I had feeling. Blah.

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  • mlb1202
    mlb1202 Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2014

    I had my skin/nipple sparing surgery on October 27th with immediate reconstruction & I have felt some sensation in my nipples as well. My ps actually TOLD me I might and that they'd be sensitive, etc. so its definitely real! I do notice the feeling is more on my left than right. (Right side I had already undergone a lumpectomy which incision was along nipple so maybe nerves were more damaged?) it feels a bit itchy/sensitive at times... Like its healing Nothing bad though. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!!!!!!

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  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2014

    Since my last post in September, the horrible sensitivity in my right nipple has dissipated a lot. It's bearable now.

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  • Akitagirl
    Akitagirl Member Posts: 142
    edited November 2014

    Hey there,

    I had a BMX on the 28th of October - my cancer was on the left side, so the surgeon definitely ensured all possible breast tissue was removed (including all nerves). However, on the right, I requested that she leave a larger layer of epidermal tissue - and voila! I have feeling in my right breast. Left breast, mais no!

    Akitagirl

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  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2014

    It's kind of funny to me that I really don't miss having feeling in my breasts. I guess that's never been an erogenous area for me. It's weird, but it's not bad.

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