1. < Breast Cancer

Abdominal swelling/bloating after a double mastectomy

Posted by shahzadee6 @shahzadee6, Apr 17, 2019

I have not had reconstruction yet and it has been a year. I am not fat just looks like a have a basketball under my shirt.

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Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @almostoutofthewoods "I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction about 3.5 years ago. I was stage 1..." + (show)
@almostoutofthewoods

I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction about 3.5 years ago. I was stage 1 in my left breast, but had the double as a preventative measure, since I never wanted to go through this again. I didn't have chemo or radiation and I only took anastrozole for 5.5 months, after bad side effects. I now have a very large protruding stomach that seems to get progressively worse as time goes on. I am now almost 72, retired, and I don't wear a bra with forms unless I dress up, so my body resembles a man with a big beer belly. It's NOT a good look! Although I have been told the common reply from my surgeon and family Dr. that I just didn't see it before because my breasts were there, that is total B.S. I do have mirrors in my house and my stomach never stuck out before. This is such a common problem after a mastectomy that I would think doctors would admit that it is a problem and address it. It's horrible enough going through cancer and treatment and all of the problems involved without having this disfiguring problem.

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Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to you, as I can understand.

@kk57 has shared something she is doing that seems to be helping.

I did find this information which may be helpful to see if there are things in your day-to-day that you can add or modify to support reducing bloating.

- Eighteen ways to reduce bloating:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322525

Are these options things you've already tried or are doing?

REPLY
3 replies
almostoutofthewoods | @almostoutofthewoods | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to you, as I can understand.

@kk57 has shared something she is doing that seems to be helping.

I did find this information which may be helpful to see if there are things in your day-to-day that you can add or modify to support reducing bloating.

- Eighteen ways to reduce bloating:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322525

Are these options things you've already tried or are doing?

Jump to this post

Thanks for the info, but it's definitely not a regular "bloating" or digestion problem. It's not caused by gas, which most of the suggestions are referring to. I think it's a build up of fluid, like a lymphedema problem. I've tried every logical thing I can think of and nothing helps. It always looks the same, no matter what I do. It's very common, especially with those who have had a double mastectomy. I know they cut all of the muscles and nerves and they never recover completely. Thanks again for trying to help!

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @almostoutofthewoods "Thanks for the info, but it's definitely not a regular "bloating" or digestion problem. It's not..." + (show)
@almostoutofthewoods

Thanks for the info, but it's definitely not a regular "bloating" or digestion problem. It's not caused by gas, which most of the suggestions are referring to. I think it's a build up of fluid, like a lymphedema problem. I've tried every logical thing I can think of and nothing helps. It always looks the same, no matter what I do. It's very common, especially with those who have had a double mastectomy. I know they cut all of the muscles and nerves and they never recover completely. Thanks again for trying to help!

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I do find that some of those things help, just to make sure that gas doesn’t make a bad problem worse. Lymphadema is a very distressing problem. I do not have it bad like some do. But I am pretty careful about gas as it certainly can add pain to the equation.

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almostoutofthewoods | @almostoutofthewoods | Oct 3, 2021

Yes, on a rare occasion I have gas, but that isn't the problem, since it always stays the same even when I have gas and I take care of that problem. I am also on the Wheat Belly diet, which is similar to Keto--no wheat or grains, no sugar, good fats and vegetables, etc.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 4, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to you, as I can understand.

@kk57 has shared something she is doing that seems to be helping.

I did find this information which may be helpful to see if there are things in your day-to-day that you can add or modify to support reducing bloating.

- Eighteen ways to reduce bloating:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322525

Are these options things you've already tried or are doing?

Jump to this post

Hello @amandajro

That was a great article about relieving abdominal bloating. Thanks for providing that information.

REPLY
KK57 | @kk57 | Oct 4, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @almostoutofthewoods and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can tell this is very bothersome to you, as I can understand.

@kk57 has shared something she is doing that seems to be helping.

I did find this information which may be helpful to see if there are things in your day-to-day that you can add or modify to support reducing bloating.

- Eighteen ways to reduce bloating:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322525

Are these options things you've already tried or are doing?

Jump to this post

Thanks, @amandajro, but agree with @almostoutofthewoods… this isn’t gastrointestinal bloating which this article addresses. This feels different… like an unusual fluid retention in the belly region. I have read some cases where bilateral mastectomy gets the lymphatic system out of balance. So, for now, I’m sticking with my detox tea, exercise and yoga to try to get my body back in balance.

REPLY
1 reply
KK57 | @kk57 | Oct 4, 2021
In reply to @carr "I had surgery Feb. 27, 2019 and had abdominal swelling. The hospital and my surgeon said..." + (show)
@carr

I had surgery Feb. 27, 2019 and had abdominal swelling. The hospital and my surgeon said the swelling was not swelling, they said my stomach appeared to me to be swollen because I did not have breasts. I started physical therapy 2 weeks ago and the physical therapist could tell right away that it was fluid. She did Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). So, yes, I have lymphedema and the massage moved a lot of fluid out. She had me purchase an abdominal binder which I wear only during the day. Also, some elastic type shorts that come up to belly button and that have a wide elastic band for waist. I bought them from Dick's Sporting Goods Store. I bought the 9" abdominal binder from the medical store called Aids for Recovery. I wear the abdominal binder during the day at work and the shorts if I'm relaxing around the house etc..
Be sure if you go to a physical therapist that you confirm that they have been trained in lymphatic massage. Also, try walking to help.

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Thank you, @carr. This is great info. It’s lymphatic, not gastrointestinal. It’s hard to get people to understand that. FYI @almostoutofthewoods.

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 5, 2021
In reply to @kk57 "Thanks, @amandajro, but agree with @almostoutofthewoods… this isn’t gastrointestinal bloating which this article addresses. This feels..." + (show)
@kk57

Thanks, @amandajro, but agree with @almostoutofthewoods… this isn’t gastrointestinal bloating which this article addresses. This feels different… like an unusual fluid retention in the belly region. I have read some cases where bilateral mastectomy gets the lymphatic system out of balance. So, for now, I’m sticking with my detox tea, exercise and yoga to try to get my body back in balance.

Jump to this post

@kk57 See if you can get a referral to a physical therapist who addresses lymphatic massage.

REPLY
1 reply
KK57 | @kk57 | Oct 5, 2021
In reply to @trixie1313 "@kk57 See if you can get a referral to a physical therapist who addresses lymphatic massage." + (show)
@trixie1313

@kk57 See if you can get a referral to a physical therapist who addresses lymphatic massage.

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@trixie1313 yes, am pursuing that. If anyone has a rave review of someone who does MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) in Minneapolis, please share. Thanks!

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1 reply
almostoutofthewoods | @almostoutofthewoods | Oct 5, 2021

I just googled abdominal lymphedema and yes, it is a thing, and yes, that is what I have and I'm sure many others with "Buddha belly" have. They suggest using an abdominal binder and more importantly going to a physical therapist trained in lymphatic massage. It's called MLD, or manual lymphatic drainage. You should go to a certified lymphedema therapist, or CLT. Regular massage, especially deep tissue, can be harmful.

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