Mastectomy April 10th

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daenerys30
daenerys30 Member Posts: 30
edited April 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a mastectomy April 10th with tissue expander on right side. I have two drains. I don't feel like I'm recovering like I should. My breast feels numb and pressure at the same time. Had bad muscle spasm last night. Is it normal to feel so weird? I'm also still tired and cant do much. Help.

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  • Sabbymama
    Sabbymama Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2020

    I also had a mastectomy on April 10th with tissue expander, but on the left side, with axillary lymph node dissection. I have only one "large" drain, below my breast area. My breast feels similar to yours, numb and yet like there is pressure on it. I kept trying to burp thinking it might relieve some of the pressure...lol. My doctor prescribed diazepam for the muscle spasms and that seems to help. At my follow up on Thursday, the doctor noted some fluid in the area between my breast and underarm, which unfortunately has increased dramatically over the weekend, adding more pressure. I tried taking a walk a couple days ago just to get some fresh air and I was exhausted for two days! My BS said it took her almost three weeks before she felt anywhere near her old self after her procedure. I can't say that what you are feeling is "normal" but I can certainly relate. I hope that you are feeling better soon, but for the meantime, just rest and let others take care of you as much as possible!

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited April 2020

    daenerys30, you had major surgery only 5 days ago. You were put under general anesthesia for probably 2-3 hours, your body was cut into, a body part was removed, something hard and artificial was put into your body, and you were sewed up. When described that way (which admitted doesn't sound particularly appealing), what you are feeling makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Your body is in shock from the surgery, and you are feeling it.

    The numbness over your chest area will last for months and possibly forever. Some people regain some or all surface feeling but others don't. The pressure you feel is to be expected from the expander - the whole purpose of it is to stretch your skin (and muscle, if your implant will be sub-pectoral) so it's natural that you will feel the pressure as the expander does pushes your skin (and muscle) outward. Muscle spasms are normal - my PS prescribed gabapentin in advance, although fortunately I didn't need it for long. How much you feel the expander and for how long it bothers you is very individual. Some people adjust to the expander quickly and it doesn't bother them (I'm one of those lucky ones), some people feel pressure after every fill, sometimes for several days, and some people notice the expander the entire time that they have it in. That's all normal and to be expected.

    Pressure and numbness are normal. Pain around the drain incision is normal (that was the one that really bothered me). If you had nodes removed, underarm pain and numbness is normal (and could last for months - I was numb on the underside of my arm down to my elbow for 6 months). Quick sharp shooting pains in the underarm area are normal (that's nerve regeneration). But if you develop increasing redness, if you have increased swelling, if you develop a fever - that could be a sign of an infection and needs to be checked out.

    daenerys30 and Sabbymama, I hope that you are both among the lucky ones and your energy picks up and your discomfort eases soon.

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