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I am 14 days post double mastectomy (and lymph node dissection- both sides) with these wonderful tissue expanders. I asked the surgeon what was normal and what wasn't. She told me that it's hard to say because everyone is different. Some days, I feel fine, other days I am extremely uncomfortable- I feel like an elephant has taken up residency on my chest. I've also got tons of tightness in my arms, like a pulled muscle. I am only sleeping on my back as I can't get comfortable any other… read more
@A MyBCTeam Member
I do believe we are on the same boat. I am officially 21 days post op with t/e and All lymphnodes removed from left and 2 from right. The muscle tightness is pretty severe and it sucks that we have nothing to compare it to normal or not, but all I have read it seems to be normal. Once drains are out it is a tad bit better but still super tight. I'm in parking lot waiting to see my PS right now 1:45 will let you know what she has to say about it
You seem normal. It will get better when the drains are all out, but TEs are heavier than your natural breasts, slide around and cause discomfort. I slept on my back for weeks. The tightness seemed like I had on a bra 3 sizes too small.
I am not sure if anyone else felt this but I actually had less muscle tightness in the arm area after they started doing the fills. I never needed much more then an occasional Tylenol after each fill. I think everyone is different. I was very big chested before so maybe that helped me. As for sleeping I made what I called my cocoon that I slept in at night. It was five pillows stacked around me so I could lean into them and sleep. I did not lay on my right side or left side for almost 8 months. It was like learning all over how to sleep normally after that. To this day I am not a back sleeper, just to happy being back on my sides. I also even sleep on my stomach every once in awhile just because I can now!
I found I could gently push the TEs more toward the middle when they seemed to have migrated uncomfortably to the sides. Which was often.
@A MyBCTeam Member
For my incision I am using antibiotic ointment plus xeroform ( it's a gauze with a specialized form of petroleum jelly). As for the rads Yes they want to wait at least 4 weeks but would like to start no later then 6 weeks because although I am NED the her2 is always of concern( lil buggers might be in hiding) and also because of the type of breast cancer. As my Doctor said even though my lymph nodes where all negative with Having had the her2. Plus the IBC rads for me are not necessarily just as important as chemo , but damn near close.
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