May 2021 Surgeries

dulcea, that’s wonderful you are feeling well. I was too. Almost back to normal then bam I started chemo. Yuck! Not fun!

Thanks carlsoda and monarch.

I actually debated on whether or not to say how good I felt when I knew some of my surgery sisters where on a different part of their journey. I figured with all the whining I had done, I should also share my current state.

It can't be easy for you to be barely recovered from surgery and have to go through chemo too. I hope you are managing well. We are all pretty amazing Wonder Women in the end though, having to go through this and continue to carry on!

Wishing you all the best.

Hi everyone: I'm late to finding this thread. I had a double mastectomy with DIEP flap 5/10, and a breast revision 6/7 (there were some blood flow issues that meant they couldn't finish the reconstruction in the first surgery.

I'm progressing but much, much slower than I had hoped. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced some of what I am and what, if anything, helped you.

1- extreme skin hypersensitivity in the breasts, esp. around the healing nipples. Any clothes on it is so uncomfortable. I'm getting some nerve "zingers" so I'm guessing it is nerve regeneration and that is what my PT said, as well. But, I can't go topless all day. I'm starting gentle touch and desensitization but, so far, not a significant help. How long did this last for you (I'm about 5 weeks post revision) and was there anything else you did that I have not, and which helped with this?

I'm single-handedly keeping the bra industry afloat, buying anything and everything i an attempt to be comfortable.

2- I'm still have abdominal issues- although the very acute pain levels are down, I'm still having some nerve symptoms in and just below my belly button. Also just below, I feel like there is a sort of knot. My abdomen, esp. on the right, seizes up and is SO tight sometimes. I'm seeing PT and doing massages at home. Further diagnostics (U/S and CT) were inconclusive as to presence of a small internal hernia (and since I am technically improving, I don't want a further surgery at this time). It did find a small 'lesion" on my kidney that will require f/u, unfortunately, but that does not explain the abdominal discomfort.

I did have a C-section and a prior laparascopy 20+ years ago. So it could be scar tissue causing these issues. They just aren't 100% sure. But they did say my abdominal recovery is not typical. Anyone else experience something similar? If so, any insights or recs for things I haven't tried?

I know these are relatively insignificant in comparison to some of your stories. But, I do appreciate any thoughts/ideas/help as I'm super uncomfortable and it is bumming me out to miss so many things just b/c my bras are uncomfortable or my stomach is tight.