Chest tightness - post Bilateral Mastectomy
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@myyoga Yes, the 2nd and 3rd week are pretty uncomfortable. In my case, I did not have lymph nodes removed but my doctor said there is no way not to cut through the lymph vessels because they are kind of like a web stretching under the skin. Cutting anywhere actually cuts these vessels resulting in Axillary Webbing Syndrome (AWS) or “cording” typically from the armpit to the forarm. In some instances this cording phenomena can develop in the trunk (like me) along the sides of the abdomen on the ribcage and down toward bottom of abdomen. Cording is basically lymph fluid that cannot find its way after its vessels are cut and so it runs along side of a vessel it finds and hardens, turning into tissue (scar tissue). Mine was very painful and felt like a tight cord around my ribcafe and I could not even take a deep breath. I was in this condition from about day 9 (right after drains removed which were taking care of this fluid) until about day 17. Once day 18 was here it started to get about 5% better each day. Physical Therapy is KEY! My PT stretched one of the cords and it popped. The stretching hurt but the pop released some tension. I am 10 weeks post op now and although I have a strange sensation on my chest. It is no longer actual pain. I am seeing a PT twice a week which has helped me get back to full range of motion and I started fully working out with weights on week 9. I am seeing my primary care doctor next week (week 11 post op) to have her order a CT of my chest and abdomen just to make sure there are no flexed or out of place ribs and to make sure there is nothing crazy in there (hematoma that has hardened) because I am having a sensation when I push or lay in one side where it feels like a rib is stabbing into me. Just doing this test for peace of mind. I also started getting massages and chiropractor care this past week. Please take care and invest in this self care for the best possible outcome and healing result. Remember that what you do over the next year will dictate how you heal. You have the power to affect the end result over the course of the next year and on. I wish you well in your recovery journey and hope this information helped you and any others struggling and wondering (like I was). Wishing you well! 😊 💜
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@flattie_baddie_72 You’ve come back! Thank you! That was my shot in the dark. I didn’t think it reached you. Thank you for answering my inquiries thoroughly. I definitely will request PT after 3rd week to make sure I heal properly. I didn’t have lymph node removal either, so the tightness was a surprise, especially when my sister who had the surgery last year didn’t have much of problem. She didn’t go to PT and did some minor stretching at home. She only took one pain killer through the entire process. I thought there was something terribly wrong with my surgery. I will certainly go to a PT. Thank you so much🙏
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you bet! Yes! I was freaking out too. I opted for an aesthetic flat closure (no excess skin) … so because of that I think the tightening cordlike effect was even worse. Ughhhh. It was brutal and could not even stand up straight. It felt like someone had a phone cord wrapped around me and was tightening it every time I tried to straighten up. So freakin scary! I assure you it gets better. In retrospect, as much as I was itching to get my drains out, I kinda wished I had delayed it to day 10 (instead of day 8). I don’t know, maybe that would have made no difference at all. Plus, you don’t want to leave the drains in too long or they can be harder to remove. Anywhoooo! I wish you well and a speedy recovery! ❤️🩹 😊 🙏🏼
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Thank you! 🙏🤗
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