tightness in chest after bilat mast. no reconstr.

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited May 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After
tightness in chest after bilat mast. no reconstr.
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  • robinlori
    robinlori Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2016

    Hi Everyone,

    I am having bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction, on May 9. I am concerned about the tightness that I have heard about around the chest after surgery. I will not have tissue expanders so will the tightness be less? I have severe GERD and cannot tolerate wearing bra because it aggravates my symptoms. I am worried that the chest tightness will aggravate my GERD symptoms as well. Thanks for your response!

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  • Lrb3665
    Lrb3665 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2016

    I had my BMX no reconstruction April 19 and also suffer from GERD. The tightness has been tolerable and has not stirred up my GERD at all. Overall the entire surgery was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. The drains are a pain but also doable. Good luck

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  • robinlori
    robinlori Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2016

    Thank you for your encouraging response!

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  • Mckaylaleigh
    Mckaylaleigh Member Posts: 90
    edited April 2016

    The only tightness I experienced was from my post surgery wrap.  I have GERD also but didn't have any issues.  I hope all goes well for you!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited April 2016

    I had a BMX with no recon 2/4/16 and I had a feeling of wearing an iron bra. It wasn't exactly painful, just real tight. I also have GERD and it didn't affect that. It was more annoying than anything else. At first, the iron bra feeling drove me a little crazy. it didn't help that I had to sleep on my back for several weeks until the chest wounds healed. I didn't feel like my BMX was all that painful but I was very fatigued. I had some unusual complications that most people do not have, so my advice is to be prepared in case things go sideways. It has been almost 3 months and I am doing very well now.

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  • mselli
    mselli Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2016

    I had surgery almost a month ago (April 7th), and agree that it feels like I'm wearing an iron bra. I wonder sometimes if I'm doing my exercises enough, but I try to do them about 3 times a day. Lots of discomfort tho.

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