Swollen arm

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY
Swollen arm
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  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 11,162
    edited June 2017

    Good morning ladies.

    I woke up in the middle of the night and my right arm was swollen twice the size of my left. No pain. Just feels heavy. Went back to bed since nothing to do about it in the middle of the night. Woke up and alot of the swelling had gone down but still very noticeable. It's the first things dss noticed when they saw me.

    Any suggestions what it could be ? Really don't wanna go to urgent care if not necessary.

    I had a mastectomy like 15 years ago and have never had lymphedema. Is not as a needle stick or blood pressure in this arm in over 1 year. Also had 2 blood clots my first time around but this is different. The blood clot was warm to touch and when I pressed gently on it it would leave an indention. None of those are true this time.

    Dss and I are supposed to leave Monday morning for a mini vacation. Some know i am very recently divorced. Dss and I have never went alone on vacation. And even when married it was rare to go on vacation somewhere other then the lake house. Just busy with life and saving money. After divorce I decided was going to enjoy doing more things with boys. I mean really , can't take the money with me and I wanna make memories and pics and videos for dss to have happy memories not just dwell on the seemingly never ending pain and sickness. Besides it's to late to cancel the 1st nights cabin stay. Grr.

    Any ideas ??? Do I wait another day to see if it continues to improve or go to urgent care today so If there is so something wrong n we can get started on fixing it. ??



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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited June 2017

    Oh Patty, if it's not one thing it's another. Sure hate that you are dealing with that so close to vacation. I'm not sure what it could be except lymphedema. My left arm swelled off of naproxen for some reason. When I stopped taking it, the swelling stopped. Maybe medication? I think being that it is so close to you leaving, I would go to an urgent care and see what they think. At least if there's nothing wrong it will give you peace of mind. If something is wrong, hopefully they can treat and send you on your way for a great time with the boys. Please keep us updated, prayers are with you. Enjoy every moment of that trip.

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  • stagefree
    stagefree Member Posts: 2,780
    edited June 2017

    hi Patty,

    My left arm played the same game to me last week. Where the met on the back of my shoulder since dx, it was severely swollen, from elbow down to wrist, my arm got swollen doble and was dotted red. I immediately compressed ice packs, took codein and stopped using the RIGHT arm as well, not to lose it all together.

    These are the basics I know, yet works each time. You probably slept over the bad arm as I did. Now over. Hope it doesn't repeat again.

    DS knows all about me and helps carry stuff and all. Have fun!

    :)

    Ebr


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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited June 2017

    It's a good sign that the swelling decreased; you may have slept on your arm. Maybe you were bitten by an insect? Any new meds?

    I think developing lymphodema this late would be super-rare. However, I'd go to urgent care now to get it checked out. If it's something, you can address it. If it's nothing, your mind will be at ease and you'll have a carefree mini-vacay!

    Tina

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  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited June 2017

    I have lymphedema. My hand swelled and I couldn't see my knuckles. I went to the local hospital at night. They gave me a heparin shot and sent me home to wait for an appt for an ultrasound. It was nothing. An SE from the arimidex.

    I hope yours is nothing too. Enjoy your vacation!

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  • DaughterOfStageIV
    DaughterOfStageIV Member Posts: 49
    edited June 2017

    My mom had random swelling in her legs after returning from a vacation. We went to the doctor right away, and he thought it could be a blood clot. The ultrasound ruled that out thankfully. After dealing with the swelling on and off she finally went for a massage- and that reduced the swelling by about half. She did a few more massages until all the swelling was gone-it was the strangest thing. It must've been fluid that needed to be moved around or something. She has not had the swelling problem again. It's important to go see a doctor with any swelling. Hopefully it's just minor and easy to treat! Good luck

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited June 2017

    Dearest, is your port on that side? It can be a blocked subclavian....and needs to be seen emergently. Hopefully it is not that. If it is, the port will be removed and you will be on blood thinners orally.

    Others have mentioned lymphedema which can occur at any time.

    Please let us know how you are doing with i

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  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 11,162
    edited June 2017

    thanks for the responses. That's what I love about Bco. Always someone who has been there and done that and someone to cheer you on.

    My arm is much better. No idea what the problem was but the swelling is gone. It still feels full of heavy but if it's not falling off I am not worrying about it now as I am in a mini vacation. Woohoo.

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited June 2017

    Patty,

    Arm not falling off? Super! Enjoy your vacation.

    Tina


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