Am I paranoid?

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BBwithBC45
BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
edited January 2015 in Lymphedema

I haven't even had my surgery yet - it's tomorrow morning. But ever since my biopsy on New Year's Eve my arm has been feeling heavy, hurting, achy.

Is my mind playing tricks with me because I am so anxious about it all?

BB

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2015

    We are sorry your arm is annoying you. We do want to wish you all the best with your surgery tomorrow. May it all go well and our thoughts are with you.

    Anxiety can do many things to mind and body. You have been under a lot of stress for this lead up time.

    The Mods

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  • turtlelady
    turtlelady Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2015
    As the moderators suggested, it's not very likely to be lymphedema unless you already have a history of it, perhaps primary LE. And the biopsy itself can certainly cause plenty of discomfort. It would probably be best if you mention your concerns about the arm sensations to your surgeon. That way, he or she could be on the lookout for any issues.

    Good luck with your surgery! I'll be thinking about you.
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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2015

    It is HIGHLy unlikely that LE has raised it's ugly head from a biopsy but is possible. Request a referral to a LymphEdema Therapist (not some PT who claims to 'know all about LE' for an evaluation - everyone should to get a 'baseline' established shortly after surgery. I have a friend who had non invasive knee surgery and she deals with worse LE than I do and I had 19 nodes removed and all 19 were positive. Any surgery or trauma, can result in LE and the sooner dealt with the better.

    Again it is unlikely to that a biopsy caused LE but is possible so get checked out.

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  • turtlelady
    turtlelady Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2015
    Hi Kicks, Just FYI no one suggested that a biopsy would cause LE. What I said was that "the biopsy itself can certainly cause plenty of discomfort." That is certainly true based on my biopsy experiences. I don't know what's causing the achy, heavy sensation in BB's arm, but I hope she will be brave enough to mention it to the surgeon in the morning, so that she or he will be aware and observant.
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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited January 2015

    As Kicks said, there is a risk of LE from ANY surgery or trauma - perhaps rarely from a needle biopsy, slightly greater if an excisional technique was used due to additional tissue disruption. I hope BB was able to have a baseline set of measurements done.

    According to her posts elsewhere, she had lumpectomy yesterday so may be taking it easy & come back to bring us up to date. She will certainly want to guard that side and use her other arm for injections, blood pressure, IVs, etc in the future.

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  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited January 2015

    I forgot to mention to my surgeon about that arm - I saw him for a brief moment in the morning and I was so very anxious, that I forgot.

    I asked my husband to tell the surgeon about my pain in arm, back, chest and shoulder, and according to the surgeon's opinion this could have been caused by the clip that was put in my breast after biopsy. In his own experience only 1-2% of women with my diagnosis experience lymphedema later on. Let's hope I'm in the other 98%.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2015

    Turtle - FYI - it is possible for a biopsy to bring on LE. It is not likely but possible. There are so many 'things' that can bring it on. (It is also sad that many/most surgeons/Drs are not well educated about it. I was fortunate that both my Chemo Dr and Surgeon were very knowledgeable and noticed mine before I did and had me in with a LE Therapist FAST.). We are (or at least should be) warned to NEVER have blood draws, vaccinations, and BPs done on the surgery side as these can bring on/worsen LE by compromising the lymphatic system on that side.

    I have a friend who had minor non-invssive knee surgery - she deals with 'bad' LE that effects her QOL I had 19 positive nodes removed and deal with LE daily BUT my QOL is not effected at all (I've even taken up a few new 'active' sports though always have been very active outdoors) since LE presented. We are each so unique and it does appear that there is no 'rhyme or reason' as to how we will individually experience 'anything'.

    Also LE is not the exclusive 'property' of having had breast surgery. It can present in any part of the body after ANY surgery (even non invasive) or trauma (injury/bruising/etc.). I recently saw/read some info about LE sometimes presenting in the morbidly obese, even without surgery or injury, as the lymphatic system is so challenged.

    'Anything' is possible for some/at times even if it isn't common. There are no 'absolutes' for all.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited January 2015

    I'll just add that football players are at risk for LE due to repetitive trauma to their chests. After the earthquake in Haiti the incidence of secondary LE was very high due to crush injuries from collapsing buildings.

    As for obesity, statistically it will soon surpass cancer treatment as the leading cause of LE in the United States. (It is, however, often reversible following bariatric surgery when weight is greatly reduced.)

    It never ceases to amaze me that such a serious medical condition should still be so little recognized and understood by our medical community. Those of us dealing with it, or at risk for it, have the privilege of educating our own providers at every opportunity, so that those who follow us will hopefully find better-informed practitioners to ease their diagnosis and treatment.

    BB, hoping you have clear answers and real relief soon!

    Be well,
    Binney

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited January 2015

    Getting a bit off topic here but I work with a morbidly obese girl that clearly has LE in her legs due to her weight issue. She has terrible pitting edema and I have advised to to go get MLD. She knows but will not seek treatment. Her hands swell so bad after a flight that she has taken work off as she is in pain. yes LE can come onfrom trauma

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  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2015

    my surgeon gave me no info in LE. I had SLNB only. I've had some tingling cold feelings in my arm but don't know if that's from surgery two days ago or LE developing?

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  • Nash54
    Nash54 Member Posts: 837
    edited January 2015

    shelleym1....I think the tingling is from the surgery. From what I understand LE is swelling in the arm. You'll get some weird sensations from the nerves trying to heal.

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  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited January 2015

    Shelley, that's what my husband (a surgeon) keeps telling me too - that my body went through a trauma of surgery and it needs time to heal and all that tingling is from the nerves which need some time to get better. (Easy for him to say... :))

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  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
    edited January 2015

    BB is yours your entire arm/hand

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  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited January 2015

    My tingling is mostly in my wrist and hand, yesterday it was in the pinkie, today it is also in the ring finger.

    My armpit and arm are mostly numb and somewhat swollen.

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