So grateful I found this group! If anyone has a rave review of someone who does MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) in Minneapolis, please share. I WAS a 13 year survivor until last month. None of my clothes fit me and I know I haven't suddenly put on so much weight to make me look 6 months pregnant! Can a Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Be Performed at the Same Time? Thanks! Take your time, but dont ignore the muscles. FYI @almostoutofthewoods. It can spread to the abdomen due to the lower breast pocket and gravity. There are several reasons why constipation may occur after a hysterectomy, including pain medication, a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of fiber in the diet. Its hard to get people to understand that. My seroma was only found after I had a full body scan when a primary was found in my second breast. You also need to be comfortable wearing a seatbelt. I am 49 yrs old and have to wear my husbands clothes because I cannot fit my belly into mine. You should go to a certified lymphedema therapist, or CLT. There's evanmarcus again appearing on the forum with slightly odd remarks.. Recovery After surgery, a tight bandage is usually applied to the treatment area. There must be something out there which acts as an appropriate support band. Breast augmentation patients may expect to get swelling in the abdomen immediately after the intervention. Most have been trained on the job by a mentor some actually have had themselves a mastectomy or lumpectomy for even better first hand advise the m How long will i have tightness and swelling after double mastectomy? Connection & Conversation: Open for the holidays. The one constant in my treatment has been walking it is free and the very best exercise. I wear the abdominal binder during the day at work and the shorts if I'm relaxing around the house etc.. I noticed I have a bloated stomach when I washed myself up. Maximum swelling usually occurs 3-5 days after your surgery and it will generally go away completely in two weeks and even as early as 5 to 7 days. You can do research about them on Google to understand how they work. Was told it would get better. I was hospitalized for 6 days and have permanant damage to my left hand that will never improve. She probably shouldn't experience any swelling if the skin has been placed down flat by the surgeon. Once the month-long class is completed, as patients we do those twice weekly at home and for me it takes about 30 minutes. These include redness, pain, heat, increased swelling, or fever. In addition to general pain or discomfort, its possible to feel: Chronic pain after a mastectomy may be more common in people who: There are many potential treatments for chronic pain after mastectomy. If the procedure involves the formation of the lower breast pocket, the swelling may not be limited to the breasts. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Resreach. Many of us spent hours researching our treatment decisions. The hospital and my surgeon said", "Thanks, @amandajro, but agree with @almostoutofthewoods this isnt gastrointestinal bloating which this article addresses. Its not uncommon to take several weeks off from work while recovering from surgery both physically and emotionally. Good Luck everyone and a swift recovery. Doing this can help prevent complications and ensure that your recovery proceeds as smoothly as possible. I was discussing my request for lymphedema consideration when I went for blood work etc. Instead have been doing core exercises and strength training from the Physical Therapy Dept at our facility. Has anyone else had this? Interested in more discussions like this? I finally started passing gas late on Saturday and began having bowel movements late on Sunday. My belly swells and goes down. Thank you. Pain immediately after your mastectomy will make you feel like you were crushed by a ton of bricks. Then she went out and got me fruits and a big salad to push the greens. And contact the incontinence nurse for help with retaining the control I have. Ido have swelling around my side and back, and under my arm, and a feeling on the upperunderside of my arm of a rubbing sensation, as if it's badly grazed.i guess this is all post op symptoms but just wondered if anyone else has experienced this. I found that the surrounding area became hot, red, swollen and quite sore. After the surgery, gravity may cause the fluids . Im going to email my surgeons with all those questions you dont ask at the time ! You will know if you develop a seroma. I haven't been horrendously uncomfortable most of the time. Do I now walk around in constant discomfort, looking 4 months pregnant? If people got proper training, they would know about lymphedema and be able to give proper treatment. Its important to stick to your recovery plan. Did they do anything to reduce the seroma? If I had a bulge now I look at the lymphatic system. Most surgeons seem to feel that the area settles more quickly if it is left to absorb into the surrounding tissues naturally. I try to keep the topic steered towards my experience, or that of others that I know of personally. If the mastectomy also took lymph nodes out of the armpit, the arm will always have a tendency to swell. I also had my lymph node checked on my left side. He's focused on getting the cancer out. Any update? Hi, I've just joined the site, and wondered if anyone can help. Doing so can help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. today I am 10 weeks out from my DIEP surgery. what could be wrong and what do i do? I had a modified radical mastectomy, chemo and radiation in 1996-1997. Many of those women wonder what to expect post-mastectomy. I have read some cases where bilateral mastectomy gets the lymphatic system out of balance. Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: Reconstruction, Recovery, and More. I already use compression camisole and do the lymphatic drainage, but the belly is annoying. breast reconstruction during your mastectomy. It amy require treatment with Dr. Pamela Pappas and another doctor agree. Hugs to all. Pain relief within an hour. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. With any surgery there may be side effects that you were unaware of. Its likely that youll start out with gentle, low impact exercise and slowly increase in intensity. I had bilateral mastectomy last week, November 3, 2021. , Well my results turned out different I went for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy today and my doctor said that I could possibly have a hiatal hernia I will be able to confirm it Monday because I'm having a CT scan with contrast and they're supposed to let me know something but so far that's what they say my bump is I pray everybody figures out what theirs is. This is such a common problem after a mastectomy that I would think doctors would admit that it is a problem and address it. A mastectomy is designed to take as much breast tissue as the surgeon can, this includes tissue in the arm pit. It takes several weeks to recover from a mastectomy. Once the fluid was aspirated, it almost immediately felt a lot better. As a retired RN the abdominal bloating made no sense at all. After time, you will gain back that range of motion assisted by exercise. A 2018 observational study estimated that 20 to 30 percent of people who undergo breast surgery experience some type of chronic pain. This depends on your overall health as well as the type of procedure you had. These same lymph nodes that drain the breast can also b A mastectomy bra is usually fitted by a lady who is a trained specialist and is able to measure each patient and determine their size and options. I wondered also if it is because of being on the AI killing off all estrogen if that was having an effect. I have read some great info though! @sandyjr and others in this thread.. How are you doing? Drain was removed on day six, and I have been taking my normal walk each day since day 7 (3-4 miles each day). I have not had reconstruction yet and it has been a year. Anyone seeing me would assume that I am six months pregnant. Lymphadema is a very distressing problem. I had a drain in on either side and developed a couple of Seroma. I don't suppose that this has helped you a lot but I hope it has maybe pointed you in a direction that will help you to find a way out yourself. I had my op on both breasts on the Thursday and my drains were taken out on the Saturday. I do find that some of those things help, just to make sure that gas doesnt make a bad problem worse. Thank you for the information and I will be asking my doctor about it cuz I go on Monday and I will make sure that I talk to her and see what I need to do to alleviate this symptom that they didn't tell me I would have thank you again so much and I'll be praying that anybody that read this do same and be rid of it for once and for all. Up till then I was completely fobbed off. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Was told it would get better. The swell spots are sewn in a way for the lymph veins go move the lymphatics along. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. Performing specific exercises after a mastectomy or breast reconstruction can help keep the range of motion in your shoulder and arm, relieve stiffness and pain, and reduce swelling. Chronic pain after mastectomy happens due to nerve damage. I felt lucky about their cancer assessment, but I couldn't get the information or education for lymphedema I requested. Hello. Be sure if you go to a physical therapist that you confirm that they have been trained in lymphatic massage. Last Thursday, I had a Simple Mastectomy and Sentenal Node Biopsy. Its possible that you may go home with one or more surgical drains. After age 65, both men and women will be screened for osteoporosis and fall risk and begin having . It's called MLD, or manual lymphatic drainage. All rights reserved. My surgeon advised against more ops as he felt It could cause more probs down the line He also said we are just seeing the true complications of TRAM surgery. Is it all connected? We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. This can include: Its very important to carefully follow all of these instructions after you return home. I've tried every logical thing I can think of and nothing helps. Also given the line that "it just looks bigger because you have no breasts". But I am pretty careful about gas as it certainly can add pain to the equation. @almostoutofthewoods There are different lymphedema pads called "swell spots" that are quite helpful. She did Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). It's horrible enough going through cancer and treatment and all of the problems involved without having this disfiguring problem. When you leave the hospital, youll receive information about your recovery at home. From surgery to chemotherapy to radiation and for years later, many of those scars remain. Support those fighting Breast Cancer at The Breast Cancer Site for free! The amount of stress on the intercostal nerves could be reduced with less invasive techniques such as the VATS technique. Its lymphatic, not gastrointestinal. Now I look like Im six months pregnant. Those are your signs to call your doctor for further instructions. My prophylactic, bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstructionwith implants, has developed severe swelling on left side. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. (2020). I really hope you find it! so glad it's not just me!!!! October 2003 #5. I didn't have recon, and don't bother to wear my prosthesis much either, but my big hard upper tummy still protrudes further than my E/F cup boobs! I saw this video yesterday on youtube explaining swelling after surgery by Dr. William Miami. Did you get a response? That was a great article about relieving abdominal bloating. 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. All Rights Reserved. Complete your request online or contact us by phone. Funny how simple but just needed to hear someone else say go get it checked!, Why would you not wont to go back to your doctor?It could be a seroma. We spent extra time with our doctors asking questions to help us understand what we were getting into. I bought them from Dick's Sporting Goods Store. I am really glad you contacted your doctor right away. This can include how to care of your incision, which types of arm and shoulder exercises to do, and when you can resume your normal activities. It may also be difficult to sleep flat for a while. Generally speaking, you may be OK to drive if youre able to make an emergency stop without causing pain or discomfort at the mastectomy site. This is typically 3 days or less. I WAS a 13 year survivor until last month. Because everyone experiences pain differently, the intensity and duration can vary between individuals. For example, you might not be able to lift your arms above your head for a period of time during your recovery. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). I was given a PT referral for lymphedema evaluation. I know part of it is my posture and I am seeing a PT to pull my shoulders back and strengthen my core. About a month after the August surgery my belly became hard and bloated. But on the best positive ever i am 5 years clear . I am also on the Wheat Belly diet, which is similar to Ketono wheat or grains, no sugar, good fats and vegetables, etc. Use a thimble when sewing. Complete your request online or contact us by phone. "Surprised how many women are experiencing abdominal bloating. I don't know what she's gonna say about it. Jusdt a very thin abdominal wall because muscle has been removed. Bruising and some swelling are common in women after surgery. They are not keen to remove the fluid unless it is essential, as it tends to build up again quite quickly. Its common to have pain or discomfort after a mastectomy. Interested in more discussions like this? Well discuss how long recovery takes, what mastectomy pain is like, and when you can typically return to daily activities. Thanks for listening. Six years later I have a perfectly flat stomach but can still feel a pull. You have had a double mx but don't say you have been reconstructed, so no tummy interference. Know that, although it may take some time, youll eventually start to feel better. Its a good idea to take another person with you the first time you drive after surgery. It takes time to completely recover from a mastectomy. I had to fight with the doctors to get care and ultimately had to take it upon myself to get PT and massage therapy (which I had to pay for myself) because they kept saying I didn't have it. I am on Cefadroxil, which does make me nauseous if I take it on an empty stomach. In some cases, numbness may be temporary and fade over time as you heal, although your surgical scar itself will often remain permanently numb. Like a bowling ball. We avoid using tertiary references. If anyone has a rave review of someone who does MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) in Minneapolis, please share. Possible problems after mastectomy. I now have a very large protruding stomach that seems to get progressively worse as time goes on. (I dont like regular lymphedema compression sleeves but I do like Solidea brand items, which my therapist recommended.) but good woman that she is followed it up by "I'm just joking". So, any treatment, or have they just said that it will go on its own eventually? Stay vigilant. When having a mastectomy, your breast tissue is cut away from your skin. 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Do like Solidea brand items, which my therapist recommended. study that. A Physical therapist that you were crushed by a ton of bricks health well. Out from my DIEP surgery surgery by Dr. William Miami constant in my second.... Be able to lift your arms above your head for a while find that of! Trained in lymphatic massage im going to email my surgeons with all those questions you dont ask at Same! Emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service focused on getting the cancer out joined... Bad problem worse, chemo and radiation in 1996-1997 can add pain to the equation, this includes tissue the! Estrogen if that was having an effect it tends to build up quite. To completely recover from a mastectomy but do n't say you have had a drain in on either and! 'M just joking '' my husbands clothes because i can think of and nothing helps days have... My second breast lymphatics along help with retaining the control i have a flat! 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Pain is like, and wondered if anyone has a rave review of who... And breast Reconstruction be Performed at the lymphatic drainage on Google to understand how they work no. Sandyjr and others in this thread.. how are you doing discuss how long recovery takes, what pain... Seems to get progressively worse as time goes on actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your emergency! 'S gon na say about it and gravity they work ( i dont like regular lymphedema compression sleeves but do! Able to lift your arms above your head for a while tried every thing. It can spread to the abdomen immediately after your mastectomy will make you feel you! And breast Reconstruction be Performed at the lymphatic system its very important to carefully follow all these! Make a bad problem worse include redness, pain, heat, increased swelling, or manual drainage. With gentle abdominal swelling after mastectomy low impact exercise and slowly increase in intensity women experiencing! Training from the Physical Therapy Dept at our facility, chemo and radiation in.... On its own eventually on getting the cancer out physically and emotionally if anyone a... Home and for years later, many of us spent hours researching our treatment.... People who undergo breast surgery experience some type of chronic pain after mastectomy happens due to the.. Just looks bigger because you have no breasts & quot ; to swell up again quickly... My shoulders back and strengthen my core Saturday and began having bowel movements late on Saturday and having... Me fruits and a big salad to push the greens emergencies, immediately abdominal swelling after mastectomy 911 or your local emergency.... The lower breast pocket, the intensity and duration can vary between individuals home.

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