PTSD After Mastectomy?

My wife's assisting surgeon mentioned the other day about the possibility of post-operative PTSD after a mastectomy. She said that some women suffer from depression after surgery when they realize that their body has been forever changed. My wife, who's been a trooper through this whole thing, really seemed like this could be a problem for her. I told her it would make no difference to me and that I just want her around.

Is this an issue we should be concerned about?

Engine, one of the things that happened for me, and caught me off guard, was for months as I was falling asleep, I would have memories of being wheeled into the OR flash through my head. There was something about the experience of surgery that was unresolved and my mind wanted to return to it over and over and over again. Eventually, those flashbacks stopped, but it took about a year.

Thanks, everyone.

I certainly can imagine this causing PTSD. Part of the issues our returning soldiers have when they have lost a limb is the realization that their body will never be the same. Certainly, this is a very similar thing emotionally.

I gues all I can do as the primary caregiver is to watch for symptoms and be as supportive as I can be.

After my umx, I would be watching tv and suddenly break down crying. I couldn't bare to look at the mastectomy and when I had the reconstruction I found that I would forget I had cancer. Anything to look and feel like before I will do it. I used to feel my heart pounding I was so afraid of a slow painful death in a hospital bed. The first month after diagnosis almost killed me. Finally, one day I woke up and went without thinking of cancer for several hours. It went on the back burner. But every test especially cautionary biopsies sends me right back to that hell. I tell myself to keep looking for it, because I want to find it asap. I can't imagine what people with secord, third .. recurrences go through. The uncertainty the helplessness, I keep telling myself have faith and move on.

Thanks again, everyone. I absolutely believe PTSD after BC surgery is real. I pray you are all coping well with it.

Meow13: I know what you mean. Before this recurrence was found last month, every time my wife had a mammogram or a blood test after her AML, I'd go right back to that dark place of worry. "Are our lives going to get turned up side down again?" I believe strongly in the bible, and while it might not be the the way everyone copes, it helps me. Now, I try hard to remember Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." In other words, God is saying, "I got this. Don't worry." There are many other verses I rely on that talk about anxiety and worry.

Right now, with my wife's mastectomy about a week and a half away, I concentrate on taking this day by day, one thing at a time. If I don't, it will easily overwhelm both of us. "What if she's unable to work again? What if at some point I am alone? She makes twice my salary, how will we survive?" I can't dwell on that. I have to have faith that all will be well.

Hi, I was diagnosed with PTSD back in 2004, I was directly across the street on 9/11. I waited three years to get help, what a waste of time. I finally went to a therapist who specialized in PTSD and with talk therapy the PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks disappeared. I also started an anti depressant when I started therapy which helped a great deal.

Fast forward to 2017 when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, PTSD was back, this time I did not wait, I started to see a therapist right away and started to take an anti depressant right away. I also discovered my breast cancer is 9/11 related, so that in itself brought back memories from 9/11. It's such a shame that there is still stigma attached to mental illness. If I were you I would watch out for any symptoms.

PTSD is real and should be treated, my husband also sufferes from it. He didn't get help til after he retired from serving 32 years in the military. He also agrees that he should have seeked help sooner.

Hopefully your wife won't suffer from it, she is very lucky that she has you and that you are on the lookout for her mental health and that you love her for who she is.

Thanks everyone. Very much appreciated.

My wife is not doing a reconstruction either. I am sure not having the breast will take a lot of getting used to on her part. She's always had such a great attitude with the first two battles, I pray this will be the same, though all she lost the first two times was her hair (It never came back very well after the AML). This is going to be more of a change than the lumpectomy. I hope she does ok with it..

I am so glad I found this site. I wish you all the best.

Thank you, Egads007. I'll check the article out.

Thanks. I try