More questions

upbeat
upbeat Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi again everyone. I asked about swelling before and got some very helpful info but I don't think I was very clear as to the nature of my swelling. I had a mastectomy, clear nodes, stage 1 on January 17. The swelling is not in my arm but right under my arm...at times feels like I have a "smurf" football hanging there. It prevents me from wearing a bra of any kind and with my very large remaining breast I am always uncomfortable. Have checked with Dr. and Onc to no avail...wait a while and perhaps we will have to drain it if it doesn't improve. I saw a Chinese Dr. who gave me a natural diuretic and a session of acupuncture. I am scheduled for 3 more. Also have pain in the back and it really helped that. Have any of you had any experience with acupuncture or other none medical treatments? If so, did they help? Thanks so much all of you...what a great club to belong to even though admission fees are steep :-)

Comments

  • elizagain
    elizagain Member Posts: 43
    #2
    Hello. Yes I've had acupuncture, not for this, but for allergies to my cat. It worked wonders. After 3 months, my cat was sleeping with me. I think you have to give yourself some time for the swelling to go down. I remember that I also ahd some strange things after my mastectomy and 3 years later, just a dim memory. Good luck!
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #3
    Well after my mastectomies I have huge handles that are just below the arm pit. I have found that even after 10 years I have discomfort and pain in these areas. Now it is possible that nerve rejuvination is part of it. I had 11 out of 21 positive nodes and always feel the area that was disected. Swelling can come in many forms I am sure but keep after them to make sure that it is nothing more sinister.
    Hope you find some relief,
    Tara
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #4
    Have you tried wearing a sport bra? That is what I did after my mastectomy.IT seemed to 'hold' in the extra. I also did guided imagery for pain...www.healthjourneys.com has a bunch of cd's to chose from.
    Best wishes ~
    Cindie
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    I went thru the panic of thinking I had a reoccurance because my entire 'special' breast swelled and was red after doing some moderate yard work. My onc and I watched it, treated with antibiotics, etc. It goes away and comes back, based upon what I have been doing with my arm that day....

    I have found that removing my bra helps alot...guess the node removal made a 'new' path for the fluids that gets cut off somewhat by my bra...and massaging the area from the center out toward the arm pit, and down the side of my ribs...I guess you could say I have become a lymph node...hehehe!

    Hugs, kathi
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #6
    KathiM said:

    I went thru the panic of thinking I had a reoccurance because my entire 'special' breast swelled and was red after doing some moderate yard work. My onc and I watched it, treated with antibiotics, etc. It goes away and comes back, based upon what I have been doing with my arm that day....

    I have found that removing my bra helps alot...guess the node removal made a 'new' path for the fluids that gets cut off somewhat by my bra...and massaging the area from the center out toward the arm pit, and down the side of my ribs...I guess you could say I have become a lymph node...hehehe!

    Hugs, kathi

    I guess this may swell on me sometimes since I do allot of arm work painting and mudding and taping. I am very lopsided since the same area is much bigger on the left side than the right. I did have infection on right so don't know if that had anything to do with it. I think mine was left like this in case I ever wanted to have reconstructive so there would be skin available. I am not sure if this might have anything to do with your own situation.
    Tara
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #7
    It has been over a month since your surgery and your surgeon should be consulted about draining it if it is overly swollen. You might also ask about massage for lymphaedema. I'm not sure about the spelling, but what I'm trying to spell is the word for too much lymph fluid which causes swelling in a part of the body where the lymph nodes have been disturbed. Some people get swelling in their entire arm or part of their arm. I also got some swelling under my arm down my side. The flabby flap along my ribs under my arm seemed to eventually go down on its own in about a month or two almost to look like the other side, but I heard the doctor mention even after a year that I still had some lymphaedema there and probably always would have. Right now it just looks a tiny bit puffy and it is numb from surgery as well. My friends who had more severe lymphaedema went to a specially trained massage rehab therapist who showed them how to self-treat the swelling with light massage. The massage helps to move the lymph fluid in the direction it should go so that the swelling is decreased. Then special bandaging techniques are used to keep the fluid from re-inflating the area. I know they use these techniques on arms and legs. I believe they can also be used on torsos, but it is important to get to a specially trained massage therapist and to do that with the blessings of your surgeon. You don't want to mess up your surgeon's stitching and cause yourself even more damage by massaging too hard or in the wrong direction! Soft leisure bras may also work for now without hurting as much as a regular bra.

Discussion Boards