What next after bmx?

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Kiks1
Kiks1 Member Posts: 254
edited December 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi everyone, your help and support has been invaluable through these these last few weeks. Now, I need your experience and help once again.

I just had a bmx 5 days ago. I elected not to do reconstruction. The surgery was ok, I suppose, except that it took me longer than usual to wake up. In addition, the morphine gave me a splitting headache and I finally convinced them to remove the iv drip. I don't have much pain ( I didn't with my c-section years ago either) and have not taken any pain killers except tylenol for my headaches ( still have a little after 5 days). Pathology report came back good with no lymph node involvement or lymphovascular invasion. So now, being a compulsive worrier, I have develope new fears. I hope you can all give me some advice.

1. I have full range of motion in both my arms and shoulders and am worried that I may over use it and cause problems in the future. I feel no pain on my arms just a slight soreness under my armpits. I have been trying to remember not to carry any thing heavy and have been doing the exercises that I was told to do at the hospital. Is this the right thing to do?

2. My chest still feels a little numb and swollen since it has only been 5 days ago. Do not know when they will remove the drains. The dr wants to see less than 25ml a day before doing it. I have read a lot about problems with chest tightness and am wondering if any of you can give me suggestions on how to prevent the situation. I am somewhat terrified of this since I have asthma. So far , I am doing deep breathing every hour with the aparatus that they have given me at the hospital. What else should I be doing? I am still in the bra that they have given me at the hospital so I really can't feel much.

Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited December 2015

    Hi Kiks!

    Congrats on finishing your surgery and managing your pain.

    I'm sure there will be others by soon that can help with your questions (since I didn't have a MX), but I thought I'd post this:

    "After surgery, limit stretch on the axillary area for 10-14 days post-operatively , as lymphatics have limited time to regenerate: NLN Conference Lecture, 2010, Jodi Winicour PT"

    I pulled this from the StepUpSpeakOut website on Lymphedema. "Here's" a link to the page from that site on Reducing your risk of Lymphedema. I didn't know after my SNB that I should limit the exercises that could affect the ability of lymphatic vessels to heal during the limited time available for healing them.

    So. You may want to read more on that site. And certainly the Lymphadema board here has more info.

    HTH,

    LisaAlissa


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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited December 2015

    Hi Kiks..I had a BMX on October 14 and chose no recon

    the first 3 weeks i was weighing everything i carried..was rushing to feel normal again

    I had 4 drains...1 came out after 4 days...2 came out on day 10 and the last one was 2 weeks after.

    I had and have numbness in multiple areas but my chest doesn't feel tight anymore.

    Morrphin was not helping me had a burning pain instead they gave me 1 dose of Oxicodine in the hospital.

    didn't need any pain med at home maybe couple of Advils

    Chest will be swollen and tender for a while and tightness was very disturbing I thought i was wearing a 2 size smaller bras 24 hours a day.....but it will get better mine feels completely normal now

    I'm able to carry and lift my 2 grandaughters without any effort

    I also had a OT which she came home to show me basic exercise moves

    you might even feel a very cold feeling when you drink cold water or any other fluids.....

    I wish you a speedy recovery.....

    Because my sentinel node had a micro cell in it I'm getting 4 rounds of TC chemo

    Sheila

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2015

    The physiotherapist saw me at the hospital the day after my mastectomy and SNB. She started me on a light exercise/stretching program right away. I saw her again the next day and went home with an exercise program in place. I have a great range of movement and no problems but I have followed her advice and been sensible. She told me no grocery shopping on my own; IE carrying bags of groceries AND pushing a heavy trolley for several months and no heavy lifting of any kind. My surgery was the 9th of October.

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited December 2015

    Seconding what LisaAlissa posted, be careful lifting your arms above shoulder height for the first two weeks. Jodi, the woman LisaAlissa quoted, was my PT before and after my mastectomy and told me she's very frustrated that so many women still just get the outdated advice to just start doing "wall crawls" with your arms immediately after surgery. She limited weights very strictly at first, gave me specific exercises to do, and gradually moved the weights up so that my strength would return to normal without worry. I highly recommend getting a LANA-certified PT and following their recommendations. I now have wonderful range of motion and feel great.

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  • hsant
    hsant Member Posts: 790
    edited December 2015

    Hi kiks. First of all, congratulations on your Path report! That has to be a huge relief.

    I had a BMX last June, no recon. I'm 48, and in pretty good shape. I've managed to avoid any long term medications up until I was prescribed Tamoxifen.

    Okay, I read myself into a tizzy before my surgery. Can't lift my arms over my shoulders, can't lift more than 10 lbs, I memorized the sheet the hospital gave me on lymphedema prevention. but I felt great after surgery, So when I had my first post op appointment with the surgeon, I asked him if I could lift my arms to say pull on a tshirt, his answer was of course, and I said but I can't lift more than 10 pounds for the first 6 weeks. His response was, who told you that? I said um... The nurses and it's on my post op care sheet. He said to ignore all that and gave me the ok to move my arms freely in any way that was comfortable for me, and to lift whatever was comfortable for me. However, I should avoid lifting weights, jacuzzis and saunas, because of the surgical tape. I asked about my lymphedema risk, and he told me that since he only removed one node, my risk was extremely low, so it wasn't necessary to take any precautions with respect to this. My point for sharing this with you is I highly recommend asking your surgeon any medical questions.

    Tightness and swelling is normal. You just underwent a major surgery, and your body was put thru major trauma. I was very bloated in my abdomen for the first couple of weeks.

    I had my drains removed on my fourth day after surgery. I was releasing about 15ml every twelve hours when they were removed. I had one in each breast.

    I'm still numb, but I get weird jolts of pain every so often where my dran was inserted, and in the area that used to be my nipple.

    I hope this helps☺️. Merry Christmas

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  • Kiks1
    Kiks1 Member Posts: 254
    edited December 2015

    Thank you for all the advice. Unfortunately because of the holidays I will probably not be able to get drains removed till Monday after. She does want to do it till less than 25ml in 24 hrs for both drains. I am sleeping well so I am not complaining.

    Hsant, thank god you brought up the swollen belly, I thought I was putting on weight just lying around! Sorry, hard to shake off vanity especially after losing the boobs. I have always been so active that just lying around makes me feel guilty.

    SummerAngel, I am in CO also and will look into the lymphedema PT that you and LisaAlissa brought up.

    Thanks again everyone, you are my angels. Have the bestest and merriest Christmas.

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  • hsant
    hsant Member Posts: 790
    edited December 2015

    Kiks, please pm me if you want.

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited December 2015

    My surgeon also told me that I could do whatever was comfortable, but surgeons know very little about lymphedema. My surgeon told me that only heavy women get it, and she was a wonderful surgeon. Just putting it out there.

    Kiks1, if you're nearby I definitely recommend Jodi, she's extremely knowledgeable and great to work with.

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  • Eliz1973
    Eliz1973 Member Posts: 46
    edited December 2015

    Regina,

    I am so excited for you that your lymph nodes are clear!!!!! Yay!!!!!! That's fantastic news!

    I too have asthma and am having a hard time with tightness 10 days out. Soreness is manageable, but "there."

    I felt better when I got my drains out. Releived some pressure. Everyday is better physically, my emotions are a constant roller coaster!

    Sending prayers and best wishes your way,

    Elizabeth

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