2 months post op mastectomy questions
Good evening
I have some really annoying things going on with my left breast since the mastectomy. Right now I have an expander in since January 4th and it's been filled three times. I'm going to have one more fill before May 15th when I have the gel implant placed and the reduction on the other side.
So here's what I've noticed in the past 2 months....
The peeling and the scabbing and the flat part of my nipple that was black after it was grafted have all resolved. My areola coloring is coming back nicely and I have a tiny little scab the size of my pinky fingernail left on the side of the nipple. I used a wash cloth and mild soup to gently scrub off the black scab that was forming on the flat part of my nipple. I immediately dressed it with aquaphor and a sterile dressing. This helped form soft scabs and allowed the healing to happen faster. When the scab started getting dark, I used the wash cloth for a few days in a row and eventually the scab would just flake away. I use aquaphor every day on the nipple and areola and even on my surgical scars.
Almost immediately after surgery, my nipple was still semi erect, but soft. Now that everything is pretty well healed, my nipple is completely flat and even with the surface of the entire breast. IS THIS NORMAL? Will it raise? In the larger scheme of things I guess I really shouldn't care.
Also, I have deep internal itching of that breast that I can't seem to scratch and feel any relief. IS THAT COMMON? The only relief I get is if I cup my opposite hand and place it over my entire breast and shake it. Sounds weird, I know, but it helps with the itch.
So, I hope some of this helped you.
Comments
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Labmom3 - I haven't had the internal itching you describe, but my cousin did. She also discovered if she could "distract" those crazy nerves she could calm them. I believe she had a spot on her back of all things she could scratch for an itch in one of her foobs. And yeah the nipple thing. I have one outie and one that is more laid back. Not sure if it will change for you as time goes by. Mine didn't.
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