Post bilateral mastectomy swelling

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Taramay
Taramay Member Posts: 13
edited July 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello, I'm new to these boards. I recently underwent a skin and nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy last Tuesday 5/26 with tissue expander placement. I had my drains and bandages removed yesterday & could finally shower yay!! I haven't had much bruising which is good but I'm very swollen in the area under my armpits to the sides of my tissue expanders. I'm just curious for others when this swelling began to subside.

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited June 2015

    That is probably from the lymph node being removed. That incision has been the most uncomfortable of any I've had, including the exchange surgery and a lift.

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  • Lkscolo
    Lkscolo Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2015

    I had the same surgery as you on May 21 and have the same pain complaint. I hope the swelling goes down soon for both of us

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  • marketingmama
    marketingmama Member Posts: 161
    edited June 2015

    Ditto for me too. In fact my surgery was also on the 21st. My drains came out on Tuesday and it still hurts to have my arms at my sides. Is this related to TEs, drains coming out (seroma developing???), or just to the lymph node removal? I had just my sentinel nodes removed but I had 5 of them in total (which I never knew was possible).

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  • cheddiecat
    cheddiecat Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2015

    I began experiencing swelling about 4 days post skin-sparing BMX surgery and am still swollen under both arms and down about 8 inches plus the outer skin of each breast. Initially thought it was the tissue expanders pushing out to the side (which may be part of it), but it is definitely swelling. Hardly moved my arms for the first 3 weeks until that last drain was removed. Now that I am more active it bothers me more because my skin is so chafed and tender. Will definitely be asking my PS about it at this week's appointment, but wondered if anyone had experience with how long this might take to subside?? Thanks!

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  • windingshores
    windingshores Member Posts: 704
    edited July 2015

    I had much more swelling with my prophylactic mastectomy versus the earlier one on the breast with cancer (and SNB done with that). For me, I think the drain wasn't quite placed right.

    I had painful swelling under my armpit and around the incision for 2 1/2 weeks, after the drains were taken out the 5 th day after surgery.

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  • Taramay
    Taramay Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2015

    The swelling eventually went down for me around week 3-4. At week 2 I asked my surgeon about it and she says its normal and icing wouldn't help it. I had asked if I could start taking ibprofrin again instead of Tylenol and she said I could. Within about another week the swelling went down. I don't know if it would have at that time anyway, or if the arm exercises helped, or the ibprofrin but I do know ibprofrin is anti inflammatory. She also said if it didn't go down it could be lymphedema on the sides which is possible and if it didn't subside she would send me for pt.

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