Abdominal swelling/bloating after a double mastectomy

Is swelling after radiation normal? My breast is swollen but I feel like my whole body is swollen too!!

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I had 25 treatments. One week after the treatments ended I noticed my breast was swollen. Take a few months for it to return to normal. Hugs.

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I had a single mast. with 6 sentinel lymph nodes removed a month ago. Within a week I noticed that my abdomen seemed to be getting larger on same side as the surgery. I asked the surgeon 2 or 3 times over the next few weeks about it. She didn't pay much attention. I went to breast reconstructive surgeon for consult and he immediately said I have lymphedema, just in beginning stages. I was given a referral to Lymphedema specialist. I have not seen her yet but spoke on phone. She said fluid from the surgery to the abdomen is very common. Whether it's caused by lymphedema, I'll find out next week. If anyone is interested, I will post what I find out. I'm already doing lots of research. I also was not given any information on this possible complication from the surgeon.

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I have the same thing. I had massage for lymphedema in my arm and it improved dramatically, but was not aware of it being a possibility in the stomach at the time. Now, I am almost 3 years beyond the inception and wonder if anything can be done. I wonder if you could share specifics on what you purchased to help reduce your stomach? I am also 75 and could lose 5 lbs, but I can’t wear half of my wardrobe because of the size of my stomach.

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Ok.
I have been going to a lymphedema PT.

I was told that I have breast lymphedema. I had a lumpectomy of left breast and 2 sentinel nodes taken out.

I have swelling of left breast and swelling at left armpit.
I have 2 folds of skin above the belly button.
Step one:
1)She has me doing massage at armpit across chest 2)?at area of ribs below bra and then 3) at area above stomach.

Then I massage the breast and pull lymph fluid from bottom quadrants up and over to right armpit. Then pull lymph fluid from top of breast directly across to right armpit.
Then I do the sets again in step one.

She told me to massage lymph down at the end from left armpit to groin only at end. Did not say how many strokes.

Meanwhile when I am done, my entire right side is swollen with all the lymph and straight side with no waist line.
She did not say to massage right side at the end at all and has never heard of this problem with someone with only lumpectomy and sentinel node removal.

Her only idea to me before I see her this week is to just massage the left breast downward straight down to
the groin until I see her this week and to do just that…..
1) I only did this one time as I could not even get breast all drained doing this and armpit was still puffy and stomach still puffy.

Her only other idea is to get the vest.
She is planning on measuring my arm again even though she measured it last week.
Doctor says that I do not have breast lymphedema.
Arm measurements have changed very slightly.
She is also pushing for me to wear a sleeve even though I have no arm lymphedema and she says that I do not either.
Read that one should not wear one if you do not have arm lymphedema as it could cause arm lymphedema.

Do you think that I should even see her again or get another PT for a 2nd opinion?

Or just ask her to go over the massage with me to make sure that I am doing it properly? Otherwise, appointment time is just measuring time.

Is it possible with arrhythmias that the normal lymph is not working properly to drain lymph on right side at end of massage?
Can manually move the lymph collection down the side on the right if I do that.

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It's never to late for treatment - I can confirm that by the before & after measurements my OT took to see progress - while my abdomen showed a significant change it was my hip area that really surprised my OT and me - she asked if I ever had any surgery and I replied 2 c-sections - my girls are in 20's so long time ago...my clothes fit better & more importantly I feel better. There are several companies that deal with lymphodema pumps my OT suggested BioTab for their abdominal garments that are easier than some to put on. Here's the website -
https://biotabhealthcare.com/

Any other questions I'll be happy to help. Take care.

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It does not look like you can order products from their website. Did you have to get through your therapist?

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