What type of pain are we talking about after dbl mastectomy?

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Deamo1
Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
edited July 2018 in Just Diagnosed

My surgery is in 4 days. I am starting to freak out. My surgeon said it's not really that bad of a surgery. "More like a skin surgery. We send you home on tylenol the next day" Is this BS? Tell me about your experience. I have a very low tolerance with any kind of drugs.

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  • Gigicommon
    Gigicommon Member Posts: 68
    edited July 2018

    After my bilateral mastectomy I was sent home the next day with a prescription for Norco. I felt discomfort but no extreme pain. I only took the Norco for a couple days (I wanted to be able to drive). I wish you all the best with your surgery!

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    Thanks for your info. Sounds like they are really trying to not give heavy narcotics. Idk what the surgeon meant by "Tylenol" Wonder if she mean Tylenol 3?

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited July 2018

    Deamo- most likely just Tylenol. Tylenol 3 doesn’t typically work well for adults overall. Just Tylenol is the new thing because if the opioid epidemic. I also had Norco following surgery. You won’t know what level of pain you’ll have til you get there, however, unless you’re gave TEs put under your chest muscle you won’t have any muscles cut and that makes a huge difference.

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    TE's? Is that reconstruction surgery? No not having that if it is. Thanks, this does make sense then.

  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited July 2018

    Had a double mastectomy and went direct to implants. No pain killers. Only given Ketorolac thru iv on day of surgery. It's heavy duty tylenol according to nurse in hopsital. it worked fine,. Sent me home with some pills next day. Never used it. I walked out of hospital next day. Tightness with arms, but honestly that was about it for me. I was tired and cleaning the drains was a pain..think where the drains were in and if I tugged on it, that's where it hurt.

    My PS told me right off the bat no pain killers. Thank goodness it worked well with just the Ketorolac. There is a thread on this site in regards to it. I'd ask if thats what they are referring to



  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    I will definitely ask, thank you!

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited July 2018

    Ketorlorac is Toradol. It’s often used in surgery and for kidney stones. Much heavier duty than Tylenol and makes you sleepy but does not generally make you loopy.

    Yes TEs are tissue expanders for recon. If no recon, then no muscle should be cut.

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited July 2018

    My bilateral mastectomy was the most painless of all my breast cancer treatments. Not completely painless, but compared to chemo, radiation, and reconstruction it was a walk in the park. I would say the healing process was more irritating than painful... drains, lifting/driving restrictions, watching out for infection. Then there was some phantom sensation, that was more like sensual stimulation. The nerves had some getting used to a new path around the area.

    All that went away a couple of years later when I had bilateral DIEP reconstruction. Now, they're mostly numb, although some nerves have started making their way in along the edges after almost a decade..

  • Rascalsmom
    Rascalsmom Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2018

    The first thing I did after being diagnosed following mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsy, was to call my primary care physician and get in to see him. I've never had such an emotional upheaval as a diagnosis of cancer before. I was always needle phobic and my anxiety was running crazy. He gave me a Rx for ativan and I take it just before procedures, not on a regular basis. It helps.

    The pain I felt after the mastectomy was like a horrid sunburn on my chest. It lasted at least a month. I did not have any reconstruction immediately. After I finished chemo (did not need radiation) I had surgery to get expanders. It was immensely easier than the mastectomy. I will have exchange surgery next week. I'm told that will be even easier. Looking back, I'd say the core biopsy was painful but mastectomy the most painful. Get your anxiety under control. You can do this. Be brave.

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    Rascalsmom I think I might ask my dr for something. My nerves are a wreck.

  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited July 2018

    My BMX wasn't particularly painful. I took some Percocet in the hospital (1 night stay), then a prescription NSAID after that. My biggest aggravation was the drains they placed during surgery. They were a PITA. Oh, and having to sleep on my back. I'm a front sleeper, but i was prepared to sleep on my back for a couple weeks to let everything heal (I didn't have traditional reconstruction). There were some difficulties healing, so i ended up on my back for 4 MONTHS! As Scooby-doo would say, "Ruh-roh!" But at least it wasnt painful.

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018
  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 345
    edited July 2018

    No BS! I had BMX with no pain, no painkillers and was back to walking by third day, running in less than two weeks. Do the exercises right away, day of discharge if possible. You won’t regret it.

  • SLL101984
    SLL101984 Member Posts: 222
    edited July 2018

    I worked myself up like crazy before my surgery and it was not half as bad as I expected! I had a BMX with te’s placed immediately. They were left empty for 2 weeks so no added pressure from them during the initial healing process. I took oxocodone while in the hospital and only stayed on it for 3 days total. After that I took Tylenol as needed for about 10 days after surgery. I had no issues with nerve pain, or a sunburn feeling like some ladies say they have. I will agree with everyone else that the drains are the absolute worse! Annoying to have connected to you, have to empty, and painful if you tug on them. The drain sights are still the sorest spots for me.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2018

    BMX no recon. I took some lorazepam (a benzodiazepine) at my surgeon's request, to stop muscle spasm in my chest. That was it--no opioids, Tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen. I was in first thing in the morning and at home in the afternoon. I had more pain from the abdominal binder hitting my armpit than from the mastectomies. I did have some throbbing pain when leaning forward for the first week or so, but that resolved soon. Honestly, my biopsies were more painful than the mastectomies.

  • DATNY
    DATNY Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2018

    They gave me Advil in the hospital some time after surgery and I left home the next day with the instructions to take it every 6 hours for as long as needed. I took it twice, mostly because I was affraid the pain might come, not because I was in any real pain. Nothing after that. I took it easy, and other than pushing myself to reach out for things I didn't do anything special, no special bed or bedding, no exercise. Also my husband and mom looked after me, so I didn't have to do anything around the house for weeks.

    Pain was not the main feeling at the time, but some sort of rage this thing had to be done on me. 5 months later I can't believe how happy and content I am without breasts. Today I carried around big buckets of water for my newly planted trees. But there is numbness in the area, of course and phantom feelings. Good luck, it's going to pass as long as you heal well and don't develop infections.

  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited July 2018

    my csection was much worse

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    Thank you ALL for your comments. You made me feel so much better. Love and health to all!

  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited July 2018

    My mastectomy surgery took down to and including the deep fascia on both sides of my chest. I had steady pain that gradually subsided over time, and I had intermittent "breakthrough" pain strikes that came less frequently over time.

    The area from which the lymph nodes are collected is likely to be the sorest place, and for the longest time.

    Ask the Hospital people to do whatever they properly can to make the tracer injection procedure tolerable for you.

    (((Hugs)))

  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited July 2018

    After my BMX, I took ibuprofen once home. I had a prescription for Norco but didn't fill it. Starting the next day, I went on walks(4-6miles). It helped me to not feel sorry for myself & I've always had trouble "sitting still". Went on a 10 mile hike the day after my drains were pulled(6 days after surgery). Best of luck with your upcoming surgery. Wishing you a fast recovery.

  • Deamo1
    Deamo1 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2018

    Thank you! Just had the surgery 3 days ago and you all were right. No terrible pain.

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