4 weeks out and still sore. Anyone else?

hi theresef

I'm new but wanted to post. I had double mastectomy w tissue expanders placed at same time 6/23/16. I swear I was exhausted for about 6 weeks!? I thought I'd go back to wk in two weeks!? What was I thinking !? I went back to half days in 4 weeks. Please don't try to do what you cannot. Take a deep breathe and let your body heal at its pace.

theresef - I know exactly how you feel. I had bmx with free flap surgery on 9/27 and still feel exhausted. I have heard that it takes all of 8 weeks to get back to normal but I am feeling the same as you. I do have skin sensitivity and pain - especially under arms and on sides of breasts. Everyone has said to take the time to heal and I understand that this is completely normal for this surgery so I am trying to be patient. I am so glad to be cancer free! Hang in there - we will get there!

I had my bilateral September 26. Still sore and get worn out easily. My doctor said 6 weeks before any vacuuming or lifting more than 10 pounds. I started chemo 2 weeks ago to so I'm blaming some of my issues from that too. I think it takes time. Lately finding anyway to sleep that's comfortable seems Impossible!

Theresef: I slept in a recliner. When I finally moved to my bed I had my husband build a wall of pillows for me. I promise you that will get better. I remember waking up one morning with my left arm over my head, something I had always done and figured I'd never do again. See! And, I also remember one morning waking up ON MY STOMACH!! It will get better. I promise!

I didn't do recon, but even without that:

- I was easily exhausted for about 4-5 weeks after surgery. The first two weeks were the worst, I couldn't go more than 3-4 hours without needing a nap. I didn't stop feeling like I needed a nap after doing something 'strenuous' (and the threshold for what my body considered strenuous was pretty low, like, walking up the basement stairs was 'strenuous') until about 5-6 weeks.

- I was sore in general in the chest and shoulders for about 8 weeks before that started to lessen (I wore my compression garment 24/7 for 6 weeks as it helped with the soreness, then just at night until about 10 weeks). Had to sleep in a chair for probably 4 weeks, then with a wall of pillows in bed to make sure I didn't roll over for another couple weeks after that.

- I'm 4 months out now, and my chest is still tender where my breasts used to be; it's not noticeable for daily activities, but if someone presses on it too hard, I stretch, or when I massage the area it's still sore like a bruise.

My PS told me, without reconstruction, it'll take at least one full year to be considered fully healed and most people still have soreness and swelling for at least 6-8 months after the surgery. With recon, her outlook was the same, just from the date of the final reconstruction surgery instead of from the BMX.

I'd say being sore and uncomfortable 4 weeks out, especially with TEs, is pretty normal.

Frustrating, but normal.