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Severe pain immediately after waking from right masectomy surgery.
In 2020, I woke up in the recovery room after undergoing a skin sparing right masectomy with 4 sentinal nodes removed. Within one minute I was in excruciating pain. I felt as if I was undergoing a masectomy without any pain killers. It felt as if my breast was being ripped off me strip by strip. I started screaming and crying. It took 3 separate shots of morphine before the pain finally stopped. Within minutes of the pain stopping, my whole body started to shake violently from the adrenaline. I was given a large shot of Klonopin to stop the shaking. It paralyzed my bladder. Thankfully little by little. drinking black coffee and walking back and forth, I had to be hospitalized for 2 more days. having my urine output measured every time I urinated. Everyone, the surgeon, the N.P. s the cancer social worker, refused to comment. Has anyone else experienced that much shocking pain after waking up after a masectomy?
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Hi @colely and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This must have been shocking. I am so sorry you are going through this. I did find some information that I thought you may find helpful.
- Pain After Breast Surgery: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mastectomy/expert-answers/pain-after-breast-surgery/faq-20058049#
Member @rach1009 has also shared about her experience with pain post mastectomy so am hoping the pair of you are able to connect.
How long ago was your mastectomy?
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1 ReactionI had a paravertebral block done which helped with pain immediately after surgery, but it wore off after 2-3 days! For me, the pain got better in a matter of weeks but it was not as excruciating as yours. Still it hurt!
To me it is important to very careful with movements after mastectomy surgery and give the body a chance to
heal. It was hard getting out of bed etc but eventually it does heal and the stitches can be removed.There is also gathering the liquid discharge as the body heals itself.
The Doctor could inspect if there is too much pain.
This is a major surgery and taking the time to heal, take pain relievers ahead of the pain, and rest.
Also, drainage tubes are the most painful aspects of the post surgery pain.
Anticipate it, the pain will be better two weeks post op, not gone away just better.
Best wishes and I hope you have great results and good margins after pathology!
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1 ReactionHi Colely,
It breaks my heart to know you had extreme pain immediately after mastectomy surgery and most likely are still in pain. I am sending divine white light to surround you and add you to my prayer list. In my case, I did not find this site until after my 05/2022 bilateral. Had I done more research I may not have had as many complications as I Still Do? My first BC surgery was a lumpectomy on 01/17/2007. I trusted the surgeon that had done multiple surgeries then and went blindly into 2022. After 05/2022 bilateral I had a near-death experience in less than 24 hours. Luckily I had insisted on an overnight hospital stay. I can not understand the justification for major surgery and being sent home the same day. Heck, my firstborn child, I was in hospital 5 days 50 years ago. May we both heal and be well again soon. I'm here for you, Lynn xoxoxo
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5 ReactionsP.S Back after my first breast cancer, I turned the oxy & hydrocodone into my family GP for disposal. I wish I had 1/4 of it back, so much sleep loss due to 3-month dehiscence.
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1 ReactionThis is SO TRUE! I am now over 16 years out since diagnosis of HER2 breast cancer. Life is good. I’m also pretty sure the standard treatment may have changed a bit since then but I wish everyone on this thread well and hope you have the best care possible.
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6 ReactionsIt's so encouraging that someone is 16 years out from a cancer diagnosis and here to remind us that life can be good again. I think a lot of people who are able to put cancer in their rear-view mirror and not look back, move on and enjoy life and we don't always hear about them. So thank you for posting that encouraging time span.
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