I had mastectomy in October 2024. About 6 weeks ago I was still having lots of discomfort and swelling underarm and under side of upper arm. Finally got my NP to realize something wasn’t right so she sent me to a lymphedema clinic. The lady there was super kind and taught me how to massage the area of arm. After a week and a half I am better and optimistic that it will improve even
More ! I also wear a compression bra now which also helps !
ALL day and part of evening. The therapist suggested wearing it to sleep but I haven’t tried that.
Medicare and supplemental insurance will pay for lymphedema clinic and lymphedema bras and sleeves if needed.
Good luck. 🙏
Thank you! My swelling still doesn’t go down after almost 2 months now. I shave appointment with a surgeon this week for hematoma and will ask her about lymphedema. I have compression bras that I wear for only a week after the surgery. It’s very uncomfortable but we do what we have to do. I hope you will completely recover from lymphedema. Thanks you so much for the information 🙏🤗
This might be a newbie question....but when you have a mastectomy with a sentinel node biopsy (say 2-3 nodes), just how common is lymphedema? They keep telling me it's "low" but then every time I talk with someone who has had a mastectomy they are either having to manage it or are altering their lives significantly in order to reduce risk.
This might be a newbie question....but when you have a mastectomy with a sentinel node biopsy (say 2-3 nodes), just how common is lymphedema? They keep telling me it's "low" but then every time I talk with someone who has had a mastectomy they are either having to manage it or are altering their lives significantly in order to reduce risk.
I had a double mastectomy 3/3/25 with only 1 sentinel node removed in the compromising Rt breast. I ended up with lymphedema at least that's what we think it is. The swelling is not too noticeable. I only noticed it myself, I think when the numbing went down in that area. It feels puffy so my therapist says she wasn't sure at 1st if it really is lymphedema, but we are treating as if it is. The area is my armpit and straight across to my chest only on the rt and in the fat pad of my shoulder blade area.
My concern now is I also have nerve pain. I have the iron bra syndrome too, which is slowly going away. But the nerve pain is crazy. It calms down at night when I'm still lying down. Once I get up and moving it comes back. The pain is like a severe sunburn, and it can act up at times like it's a motor going crazy with the pain. I'm now on Gabapentin but it is only masking it a bit. I just started using an Infared sauna. I have heard good reports on it for treating lymphedema and wound therapy, yet there isn't much as far as studies done on it. I don't use the real high heat through.
This might be a newbie question....but when you have a mastectomy with a sentinel node biopsy (say 2-3 nodes), just how common is lymphedema? They keep telling me it's "low" but then every time I talk with someone who has had a mastectomy they are either having to manage it or are altering their lives significantly in order to reduce risk.
I had mastectomy on the left side with 2 sentinel nodes removed. This was 4 years ago and I don't have any lymphedema. It is low with 2 or 3 removed. From what I was told the more lymph nodes that are taken out the more a chance to have lymphedema.
Good luck and sending hugs.
This might be a newbie question....but when you have a mastectomy with a sentinel node biopsy (say 2-3 nodes), just how common is lymphedema? They keep telling me it's "low" but then every time I talk with someone who has had a mastectomy they are either having to manage it or are altering their lives significantly in order to reduce risk.
I had a double mastectomy w/ 2-3 nodes biopsied as well 3/21/24 and did not develop lymphedema. Prior to the surgery however, I had a cancer nutritionist who provided me with a food plan and had a blood test that identifies food sensitivities by analyzing the inflammatory response of white blood cells to various foods and chemicals (MRT). Further, the oncologist stated to stay hydrated and exercise. I also used a vibration plate before and after surgery (get doctor approval for after surgery). This assisted with the lymphatic movement and increased my recovery. I did not develop lymphedema.
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Do you wear compression bra all day or just a few hours a day? Thanks.
ALL day and part of evening. The therapist suggested wearing it to sleep but I haven’t tried that.
Medicare and supplemental insurance will pay for lymphedema clinic and lymphedema bras and sleeves if needed.
Good luck. 🙏
Thank you! My swelling still doesn’t go down after almost 2 months now. I shave appointment with a surgeon this week for hematoma and will ask her about lymphedema. I have compression bras that I wear for only a week after the surgery. It’s very uncomfortable but we do what we have to do. I hope you will completely recover from lymphedema. Thanks you so much for the information 🙏🤗
This might be a newbie question....but when you have a mastectomy with a sentinel node biopsy (say 2-3 nodes), just how common is lymphedema? They keep telling me it's "low" but then every time I talk with someone who has had a mastectomy they are either having to manage it or are altering their lives significantly in order to reduce risk.
Is this common? Thank you in advance!
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1 ReactionI had a double mastectomy 3/3/25 with only 1 sentinel node removed in the compromising Rt breast. I ended up with lymphedema at least that's what we think it is. The swelling is not too noticeable. I only noticed it myself, I think when the numbing went down in that area. It feels puffy so my therapist says she wasn't sure at 1st if it really is lymphedema, but we are treating as if it is. The area is my armpit and straight across to my chest only on the rt and in the fat pad of my shoulder blade area.
My concern now is I also have nerve pain. I have the iron bra syndrome too, which is slowly going away. But the nerve pain is crazy. It calms down at night when I'm still lying down. Once I get up and moving it comes back. The pain is like a severe sunburn, and it can act up at times like it's a motor going crazy with the pain. I'm now on Gabapentin but it is only masking it a bit. I just started using an Infared sauna. I have heard good reports on it for treating lymphedema and wound therapy, yet there isn't much as far as studies done on it. I don't use the real high heat through.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi,
I had mastectomy on the left side with 2 sentinel nodes removed. This was 4 years ago and I don't have any lymphedema. It is low with 2 or 3 removed. From what I was told the more lymph nodes that are taken out the more a chance to have lymphedema.
Good luck and sending hugs.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI had a double mastectomy w/ 2-3 nodes biopsied as well 3/21/24 and did not develop lymphedema. Prior to the surgery however, I had a cancer nutritionist who provided me with a food plan and had a blood test that identifies food sensitivities by analyzing the inflammatory response of white blood cells to various foods and chemicals (MRT). Further, the oncologist stated to stay hydrated and exercise. I also used a vibration plate before and after surgery (get doctor approval for after surgery). This assisted with the lymphatic movement and increased my recovery. I did not develop lymphedema.