Lots of tightness around the chest wall, kinda like a vice. Tingling, itchy as the body recovers internally.
Good luck, I have no regrets with Lobular getting a DMX.
Lots of tightness around the chest wall, kinda like a vice. Tingling, itchy as the body recovers internally.
Good luck, I have no regrets with Lobular getting a DMX.
A few other things that I found helpful…. I bought an oversized heating pad to help with the fluid dissemination after the drains were removed. I also had a beaded weighted pillow that I could heat and use when I slept.
I also used a wedge for the first week. I had no issues getting up/down out of a chair.
Make sure you move things in the kitchen/bathroom down to below eye level in the cabinet, fridge and pantry.! More than once I had to wait for my husband to help me get something off a shelf.
I had to change my dressing every day. I was told to use Vaseline on the incision site NOT Neosporin. I bought a new jar and oversized dressing pass I could wear under the medical wrap. I also used Aquafor on the skin around my incisions to keep it from drying out.
Button down pjs & shirts are a must have for after surgery. Also easy on pants/leggings….
I am having delayed reconstruction so I am actually LOVING having a flat chest now… no bra (never a fan of them). But I did get the bras with inserts. I find them uncomfortable because the strap sits on my port. Make sure you look for something comfortable if you go that route!!
Good luck with surgery!! The drains are a pain in the xxx but they are serving a purpose. And this time will pass also and it will become a blur!!!
Hi @slim51. I had a double mastectomy on October 23 with 4 lymph nodes removed.
I had tissue expanders inserted because I want breast reconstruction.
They already look really good, and I’m glad I did it. I will get permanent implants in a few months.
I had 4 drains. No chemo or radiation.
With tissue expanders, I had many restrictions per my surgeon. I was definitely not cleaning the house or resuming normal activities.
I did require and was appreciative of the pain medicines I was prescribed.
I slept in a recliner for a month. Then transitioned back to the bed.
I was not able to shower myself for quite awhile because I was unable to lift my arms above my head. I couldn’t lift anything over 10 pounds.
I am 59. I had an aggressive cancer, caught early.
Everyone makes personal choices. For me, reconstruction was the right choice. And I have access to excellent doctors who are fellowship trained in breast cancer treatment and reconstruction.
@susan7656,
I pretty much am in parallel with your experience.
Did they monitor you and/or were you prescribed medication afterward? (I’ve been seeing a 5 year follow up)
I have not been checked again since. It kind of worries me.
@susan7656,
I pretty much am in parallel with your experience.
Did they monitor you and/or were you prescribed medication afterward? (I’ve been seeing a 5 year follow up)
I have not been checked again since. It kind of worries me.
Thanks for your message. Sorry you’re in the cancer lane with the rest of us.
Since my mastectomy in October 2024, I have seen my oncologist twice, and I’m going to see him on a schedule for 5 more years. For the first 2 years, I think I see him every 8 weeks. He said some can be telehealth if I’m not experiencing any new pains or having symptoms. I like him very much, and he has a very long list of publications about his scholarly work on breast cancer, in particular triple negative.
He did do a physical exam the last time I saw him. He was very clear that I need to contact him if I develop any new pains or symptoms.
The level of “surveillance” does involve all of my other pieces and parts. 🙂 So, that means colonoscopies every 3 years, vaginal ultrasound yearly, annual dermatology visits, and probably other things I haven’t encountered yet. My primary care doctor is also involved in making sure cancer doesn’t pop up in other places.
Because of my type of breast cancer (LGASC stage 1b), the oncologist said I did not need radiation or chemo. He offered me chemo if I wanted it, but he said there was no data (for my type of cancer) to show that chemo helped at all.
I did go through genetic testing through the original breast center that found my cancer, before they transferred me to a university hospital. It showed I have a CHEK 2 mutation.
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Lots of tightness around the chest wall, kinda like a vice. Tingling, itchy as the body recovers internally.
Good luck, I have no regrets with Lobular getting a DMX.
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2 ReactionsThe tightness goes away in my experience. I heard the term "iron bra" and could relate. For me, a short term sensation.
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1 ReactionA few other things that I found helpful…. I bought an oversized heating pad to help with the fluid dissemination after the drains were removed. I also had a beaded weighted pillow that I could heat and use when I slept.
I also used a wedge for the first week. I had no issues getting up/down out of a chair.
Make sure you move things in the kitchen/bathroom down to below eye level in the cabinet, fridge and pantry.! More than once I had to wait for my husband to help me get something off a shelf.
I had to change my dressing every day. I was told to use Vaseline on the incision site NOT Neosporin. I bought a new jar and oversized dressing pass I could wear under the medical wrap. I also used Aquafor on the skin around my incisions to keep it from drying out.
Button down pjs & shirts are a must have for after surgery. Also easy on pants/leggings….
I am having delayed reconstruction so I am actually LOVING having a flat chest now… no bra (never a fan of them). But I did get the bras with inserts. I find them uncomfortable because the strap sits on my port. Make sure you look for something comfortable if you go that route!!
Good luck with surgery!! The drains are a pain in the xxx but they are serving a purpose. And this time will pass also and it will become a blur!!!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@susan7656,
I pretty much am in parallel with your experience.
Did they monitor you and/or were you prescribed medication afterward? (I’ve been seeing a 5 year follow up)
I have not been checked again since. It kind of worries me.
Hi @amsmith -
Thanks for your message. Sorry you’re in the cancer lane with the rest of us.
Since my mastectomy in October 2024, I have seen my oncologist twice, and I’m going to see him on a schedule for 5 more years. For the first 2 years, I think I see him every 8 weeks. He said some can be telehealth if I’m not experiencing any new pains or having symptoms. I like him very much, and he has a very long list of publications about his scholarly work on breast cancer, in particular triple negative.
He did do a physical exam the last time I saw him. He was very clear that I need to contact him if I develop any new pains or symptoms.
The level of “surveillance” does involve all of my other pieces and parts. 🙂 So, that means colonoscopies every 3 years, vaginal ultrasound yearly, annual dermatology visits, and probably other things I haven’t encountered yet. My primary care doctor is also involved in making sure cancer doesn’t pop up in other places.
Because of my type of breast cancer (LGASC stage 1b), the oncologist said I did not need radiation or chemo. He offered me chemo if I wanted it, but he said there was no data (for my type of cancer) to show that chemo helped at all.
I did go through genetic testing through the original breast center that found my cancer, before they transferred me to a university hospital. It showed I have a CHEK 2 mutation.
So - I hope some of this is helpful to you.
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Hug
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