Sunburn feeling?

I am 2 years out from a Umx and I had that same sunburn, or raspy sandpaper sensation. It is very normal after Mx surgery as we actually have the breast tissue scraped off the back of that area and it leaves it very inflamed. I found that holding the area with my open, flat hand when I was sitting relaxing, helped a lot, as did massage with essential oils, in a carrier oil. My Surgeon suggested touch and massage to help the sensitivity.

I found this surgery to be one of many different, strange sensations, some of them I named and they have been discussed on a lot of the threads here. Try drinking something very cold and discover the "Waterfall" sensation as it goes down. I had my surgery during the hottest part of the Aussie Summer and on my way home from the Hospital I bought a frozen coke, as a treat because it was near 41c that day, the sensation made me think I was having a heart attack. Many of us have had the same sensation, but no one, has been able to explain it.

Then there is another I call "The Claw" is happens when you have overdone it, mostly at night and it can only be described like the feeling of a sharp claw holding your chest and underarm. I am pretty sure this one is more to do with the node removal, again, very common.

There is also Phantom Itch, which can really be disturbing when you first realize you itch, but there is nowhere to scratch to relieve it. I find rubbing my back with a scratchy towel can relieve it. Again, my Surgeon said it was the nerves that started at the back which were firing off this itch sensation, at the front.

Then there is the zinging and zapping of the regenerating nerves, which my Surgeon explained as nerves trying to reconnect and that most of the regeneration is finished in about 12 months after surgry. I have found there hasn't been a lot of improvement in the numbness or the occasional bout of pins and needles once the 12 months had passed.

I hope this may help when you feel something that you haven't felt before, just know that it is all normal and many of us have felt the same weird sensations.

That's OK Kayb, I got carried away with all the other sensations which I got a bit rattled with, because I didn't expect them.

The oils that I use are an analgesic blend, very soothing, the analgesic blend is called Be Relieved, which I have used for many years, because I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I get them through a company here in Australia called aroma.com.au

I would imagine there would be something similar where you are. I find them relaxing and definitely better for me, than taking meds, which I usually have some kind of reaction to. The essential oils are antibacterial and antiviral too and the carrier oils are wheatgerm, macadamia and sweet almond.

I found relief by keeping all fabrics off the area. That meant sleeping shirtless and tenting the covers over my chest. During the day I kept my shirt undone a lot. Not practical for everyone but it worked for me. The sensation only lasted less than a week.