pre-mestrual "breast" sorness after mastectomy?

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elisewin
elisewin Member Posts: 19
edited December 2015 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

hi to all!

i had my left mastectomy about 4 years ago and 4 moths ago my right one. I'm 36 years old and still have my periods. I think I still have some kind of premenstrual soreness in some areas of my chest, especially in the recent surgery side the right one.

do you think this is possible? i know mastectomy does not remove all the breast tissues but this seems strange to me. I will have my check up in September and i will ask my surgeon them as well.

every time i have a little pain i'm going mad but i'm trying to manage it, after my first surgery i was checking my remaining breast so much that i actually stimulated nipple discharge (!!!)... i'm trying not to get to that point again.

thank you !

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited July 2015

    I'm sorry you're having to go through this, especially at such a young age. It seems unlikely that you would have premenstrual soreness, unless your surgeon left quite a bit of breast tissue, which also seems unlikely. But definitely ask him or her when you have your checkup, or maybe even call sooner, so you don't have to wait until September.


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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited July 2015

    elisewin- I remember having what you described. My surgeon thought it could be considered "phantom pain". It was really annoying. For the most part it got better, but sometimes I still get a pain in one of my breasts that aren't there anymore. My periods stopped for the most part since beginning Tamoxifen almost 4yrs ago. Maybe that's why things got better for me.

    If no one is around when I get these pains, I clutch the area with my hand. It helps. I read you're suppose to do this in front of a mirror.

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  • elisewin
    elisewin Member Posts: 19
    edited July 2015

    Thank you both!

    I think pre period my pain threshold is lower, also my drain scar is really bothering me today !

    Thank you again and have a good day

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  • Kdell63
    Kdell63 Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2015

    Elisewin,

    I had a double mastectomy on June 26, so I can really relate. Here's my graphic experience: I feel a type of throbbing where my nipple used to be. I can also occasionally feel the sensation that my nipple is responding to cold - very weird and disturbing. I really can't comment about it being premenstrual or not. I'm only a month into this...sure hope you're feeling better soon!

    Kath

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited July 2015

    I am 4 years out, and I still have pain and phantom pains...especially in the (former) nipple area, and where the drain was. My doctor feels nerves were damaged in the sugery and it will always be this way. Some days are better than others.

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  • Ringelle
    Ringelle Member Posts: 240
    edited August 2015

    Im so glad I found this discussion. I have been searching all over the web for this today. I had my bmx 10 days ago. I started my period yesterday and my pain level has been hightened today. I hadnt taken a narcotic pain pill in 3 days and today I had to just to get comfortable again. Its driving me nuts and I was trying to figure out if my period could have increased the pain or discomfort

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  • mrsnation
    mrsnation Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2015

    I had my mastectomy Oct 28, 2015 on the left side only, with an immediate DIEP Flap reconstruction. I've had my period twice since and experienced pre-menstrual breast pain/tenderness, as usual. It is weird, I agree. Somehow, it made me feel a little more normal, however. I realize this is probably unrealistic, but I am encouraged--even if it is only phantom pain--that I will eventually regain some feeling in the left breast.

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