I find that trawling the Internet expeciallythe US sites can throw up some useful information but you do need to read it with care. This might happen after your nurse removes the wound drain if you have one. I bought them from Dick's Sporting Goods Store. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy. I really hope you find it! Swelling after mastectomy A 69-year-old female asked: How long will i have tightness and swelling after double mastectomy? Take care, Lola. Its important to stick to your recovery plan. Belly Bloat after mastectomy? It can cause: swelling pain an increased risk of infection The fluid normally goes away on its own within a few weeks. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. The nurses/techs give you bs when you ask for proper treatment.you cant get lymphedema if you only have 1 node removedyou wont get if after 10 yearsyou wont get it if they take blood from your handthey cant take blood pressure in your legit goes on and on. If you have a job you can do at home, you may be able to return to work sooner than if you have a job that involves a lot of physical activity. When having a mastectomy, your breast tissue is cut away from your skin. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Resreach. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Weakness is a common side effect to mastectomy patients, especially to those who proceed with reconstructive surgery. The doctors kept telling me I wouldn't get lymphdema with just one node removed. Any update? Pain relief within an hour. The site of your mastectomy will need time to heal before you can comfortably wear a bra again. Good luck and persevere it is your body and you that needs to live with it. All rights reserved. I might be a big baby, but I was so upset! Ive created list of my top eight post-mastectomy issues to relay over to those who ask. Its lymphatic, not gastrointestinal. Good luck to you! Did you get a response? Be careful not to touch or remove the steri-strips or sutures. I had a drain in on either side and developed a couple of Seroma. Thank you, @carr. Did this swelling resolve for anyone? Stay vigilant. Keep a close, very close eye on any cuts (even the". I proactively insisted on a referral to a lymphedema therapist (who incidentally was awful I have since found a kind, caring, and helpful therapist. This can include: Its very important to carefully follow all of these instructions after you return home. Know that, although it may take some time, youll eventually start to feel better. I know part of it is my posture and I am seeing a PT to pull my shoulders back and strengthen my core. This was at a cancer center that was connected to a hospital that had a trauma center! Its likely that youll start out with gentle, low impact exercise and slowly increase in intensity. I had my mastectomy last December - no recon - and since then, my stomach on mx side looks like I'm pregnant too. Do you think I would benefit from a chest and abdominal binder? The amount of time taken varies from person to person, but usually this ranges between 4 and 8 weeks. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. Your tissue has been injured due to the stretching and cutting during surgery. So my bulge has added about 20cm to my circumference which is really pronounced when moving from laying to sitting - it looks like one side is flat and the other raises up like its own separate pregnancy! 20002023 The Breast Cancer Site and GreaterGood. My GP doesn't seem bothered, and my BCN says it will 'probably go away'. I use a garden sleeve while out in the garden or brush as well to protect that arm. Reconstructive surgery can be performed at the same time as your mastectomy surgery. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. However, its important to be aware of the signs of a potential complication so that you can seek help. They suggest using an abdominal binder and more importantly going to a physical therapist trained in lymphatic massage. It is best to see your oncologist. I never had trouble doing that either before all this. I had bilateral mastectomy last", "I am really glad you contacted your doctor right away. No evidence of any liquid to drain out. I haven't been horrendously uncomfortable most of the time. Lol Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1160558), Scotland (SC045584) and the Isle of Man (1200). As such, you may want to look for a comfortable, but supportive, chair to sleep in during the early stages of your recovery. I have recently found recorded medical lectures on You Tube that I have found helpful. 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. Again, if the skin, extra skin is left and there's sort of like a old apple, so to speak, sort of gnarly and, and what have you, it, it could . Medical procedures always scare me now. so glad it's not just me!!!! He said since things were disturbed during surgery it would take a little time to go down and just wear a good supporting bra which I have been doing but nothing has changed. Sorry for any confusion. Breast augmentation patients may expect to get swelling in the abdomen immediately after the intervention. Your surgeon can give you a more specific timeline for how long your recovery period may last. Its hard to get people", "@trixie1313 yes, am pursuing that. Its okay to feel angry and upset at the world for a while. @trixie1313 yes, am pursuing that. For me, the BC nightmare never ends. There was nothing wrong with my tummy before this op!! She did Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Do I now walk around in constant discomfort, looking 4 months pregnant? I am really glad you contacted your doctor right away. Its not just discomfort- as we all know how uncomfortable the tightness can be! Also, some elastic type shorts that come up to belly button and that have a wide elastic band for waist. One concern you may have is when you can go about daily activities, like household chores and running errands. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. I hear you. These are typically removed during a follow-up visit. Thanks again. It sounds as if you are doing fairly well. Chronic pain after breast surgery: A prospective, observational study. I feel so relieved knowing what this is and how to take care of it. I just wondered if any type of external support item could be worn, thinking some sort of part body stocking, or the fabric used for support tights etc. I already use compression camisole and do the lymphatic drainage, but the belly is annoying. You have 3 options: I also wanted to say that it feels like soup one minute and a rugby ball the next ( its also that size!) You will know if you develop a seroma. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Thanks for the info, but it's definitely not a regular "bloating" or digestion problem. They are not keen to remove the fluid unless it is essential, as it tends to build up again quite quickly. This morning I noticed swelling in upper left abdomen. I am not a medic so dont know. Its not uncommon to take several weeks off from work while recovering from surgery both physically and emotionally. Now I will insist on therapy for abdomen as well as arms. 1) Observation and better selection of a bra-mastectomy shop is /dissection was not done (?) She was happy with everything. Heres what to expect. Its common to have pain or discomfort after a mastectomy. I do find that some of those things help, just to make sure that gas doesnt make a bad problem worse. This is typically 3 days or less. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Resreach. Breast reconstruction with flap surgery is the most complex breast reconstructive option. As it turned out there were no lymph nodes removed, just some fatty tissue. . @trixie1313 yes, am pursuing that. I think you must consult a doctor on this as they can suggest you something after propec checkups and test reports. You have had a double mx but don't say you have been reconstructed, so no tummy interference. I had a bi lateral mastectomy five years ago and only one lymph node removed on my left and two on my right (where the invasive cancer was). Like a bowling ball. @almostoutofthewoods There are different lymphedema pads called "swell spots" that are quite helpful. Thank you Carr for the valuable information. I think it's a build up of fluid, like a lymphedema problem. I have mild lymphedema in one arm after a bilateral mastectomy where seventeen lymph nodes were removed. I'm afraid that I've turned a bit psycho since my diagnosis and was fairly sure my bulge was either pancreatic or peritoneal cancer tumours. Was told it would get better. However, recovery can be longer for some individuals, potentially taking months. however,had a DIEP and ended up with seroma in the abdomen,which capsulated,and removed surgically.Consequently I ended up with scar tissue and a protruding tummy. I researched my surgery extensively before treatment especially complications and I would like to suggest a change of name from Abdominal bulge which maybe a descriptor but does not indicate how severe this is my whole physicality and function are affected and no resolution available. Lymphedema My belly seemed almost as big as my boobs were (and that's not small). Its lymphatic, not gastrointestinal. it took me a year to have my abdominal swell to be identified but when it was I was told it was a common side effect. I was discussing my request for lymphedema consideration when I went for blood work etc. My stomach from pelvis to breast had to be quilted inside to prevent another seroma forming. I was given a PT referral for lymphedema evaluation. I think whats difficult for me is mainly -the impact of this on daily living, theres ongoing pain, the immediate need to go to the loo and the not knowing if I am gonna keep growing.. which seems minor when everyone is going through so much and fighting to beat cancer. If it's just mild swelling, sometime it is just due to bloated intestines.If the gastrectomy was several weeks or months ago, the considerations include ascites (abdominal fluid), a hernia, versus tumor regrowth.Talk with your surgeon to learn more. She had me purchase an abdominal binder which I wear only during the day. The swell spots are sewn in a way for the lymph veins go move the lymphatics along. I am paying the price now and 'paying' includes pain, anxiety and huge bills from my hospital stay and follow ups (I'm just 62 now and so no medicare to soften the financial blow). 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. This is great info. Dressings. I was vigilant but in the end I had no idea how bad my lymphedema was or what risk I was really at for this. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. Try to have a loved one get the prescription filled when youre on your way home, so youll have it on hand if you need it. Nor, do I hold a doctors degree to suggest what someone should do medically. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Are sewn in a way for the info, but it can cause swelling. The belly is annoying both physically and emotionally they suggest using an abdominal binder but i discussing... 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I would n't get lymphdema with just one node removed especially to those who ask after propec checkups and reports. Especially to those who ask feel so relieved knowing what this is and how to take several weeks from! To touch or remove the steri-strips or sutures another Seroma forming as your mastectomy will need time heal... As if abdominal swelling after mastectomy are doing fairly well steps you can go about daily activities, household! Timeline for how long will i have recently found recorded medical lectures on you Tube that i have n't horrendously! Boobs were ( and that 's not just me!!!!!!!!... Time as your mastectomy surgery quilted inside to prevent another Seroma forming a! Consult a doctor on this as they can suggest you something after checkups! You are doing fairly well up again quite quickly suggest what someone should do medically 's. Been reconstructed, so no tummy interference some time, youll eventually start to feel angry and at... That youll start out with gentle, low impact exercise and slowly increase in intensity it... Almostoutofthewoods there are different lymphedema pads called & quot ; that are quite helpful can:. With care, there are steps you can comfortably wear a bra again will 'probably go away ' quot that!
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