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@trixie1313

@timely
I'm not sure what a "chip bag" is, but maybe it's similar to a "swell spot." I've never had a silicon liner and not sure what that is as well. Following my lumpectomy, I had to go get my breast drained of blood (needle aspiration) about 5 times of honeycombed seromas. Following the lumpectomy a few months later, I had to undergo mastectomy and I chose to have both breasts removed...I decided to go flat....then came the radiation (30 treatments in two areas, front and back). When I had the axial webbing, it was so bad that I couldn't even lift my arm up as the lymphs blocked all the way down to my wrist. My PT started me with a WearEase post-mastectomy bra and a JoviPak serratus anterior pad which I wear under the bra -- it reaches from my breast all the way back toward my rib area. I was advised to wear this throughout the day continually for about 3 weeks. It did help with the aid of the PT working on all the pressure points from my wrist, along my arm, at the armpit, and breast area -- quite painful as she would push on the pressure points and also lift and pinch the lymph veins. I was very fortunate as at my Kaiser PT Dept, there are two PTs who are quite knowledgeable in what to do for these problems. So between that and radiation fibrosis, my breast was even more sensitive. What I have found is that the arm axial webbing, breast lymphedema, and fibrosis can, and have for me, reared their ugly heads up but with the knowledge I have on how to treat the symptoms, I am well armed with my trusty post-surgical bra and swell spot. These problems are definitely not for the faint of heart, but please look forward and not backward as how you feel today is not how you will feel in a year from now.

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Replies to "@timely I'm not sure what a "chip bag" is, but maybe it's similar to a "swell..."

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

The chip bag is 6 in long and about 2 inches wide. It is light mesh. PT filled it with assorted sizes of square sponges.

I am supposed to wrap it in a circle around the left breast inside a regular bra.

I just can’t use it as it puts pressure on the sentinel node area which then shoots pain to the armpit in the middle and at the top and even pain to spots in upper arm and knots appear.

I could not wear that big pad that you mentioned that went from bra to back to bra snaps.
They sold a D/D+. I am a D. This D+ was huge. Lumpectomy side is perhaps a C.Other breast is a D. My old Bras are all Ds. Silicon liner fits inside lumpectomy side to make it a D.

Any other bra puts pressure on sentinel node and causes pain there. This has been happening since lumpectomy surgery 11/21/22.

So taking a regular bra and putting in chip pad causes pain in 15 minutes.

Do not want to usechip pad in expensive compression bra and get it out of shape or wreck the silicone liner which cost $290.

Seems there is a problem with the nerves at sentinel node.