Had surg. on Monday. Now numbness underarms etc. Fluid gain. Itchy. Normal???

Corinna11
Corinna11 Member Posts: 75
in Breast Cancer #1
Hello sweet sisters!
I finally had bilateral mastectomies, reconstruction and node dissections on Monday. Stayed overnight but came home next day because I missed everyone. I have a few questions as to what I should feel or what is normal....

!. I have no feeling or numbness under both arms from neck and part of face to a bit lower than elbows.

2. I went from 149# the morning of surgery to 158# the day I came home. I am pretty puffy everywhere.

3. My sternum hurts pretty bad as well as the node dissection areas.

4. Itchy EVerywhere!! Driving me nuts!

5. Still bleeding some from my numerous incision sites.

Did any of you have these issues? Will they get better? Especially the numbness (I cant feel my underarms to shave).

I await your words of wisdom..... =)

Corinna

Comments

  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #2
    Corrina,
    Hello my dear let me attack your questions one at a time.

    1. You will be numb for quite some time. I am still numb in some areas and my surgery was Feb. 28th (bilateral). I'm still numb around my armpit areas but each week I notice improvement. I can now say I can feel my fully inflated tissue expanders. The numbness will get better as the weeks/months/year goes by.

    2. Your body is adjusting from a traumatic surgery. While in surgery they use a flush to keep the surgical area clean. You are probably just retaining a lot of water from your surgery and being immobile. After the puffyness goes away.. that should subside. But keep an eye on things and if it persists too long make sure your doctor knows.

    3. The sternum hurting is probably from the tissue expanders being placed behind your chest wall (I am assuming you had expanders put in since you were home within a days time). That too is normal. I was lucky I didn't feel this pain... see your not as numb as you thought you are. When they took out my sentinel nodes it felt like a skin pucker under my armpit. This I am happy to say was the first area I noticed improvement once I was given the okay to start my arm exercises.

    4. Itching wasn't a problem with me.. but from what I remember itching is a sign of healing.

    5.Patchy bleeding is common for up to a few days after surgery. Keep changing the dressings and if it persists contact your doctor.

    So my dear, I'd say your symptoms are all normal. But if any of them become unbearable make sure you check in with your doctor.

    The healing has begun...
    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • emamei
    emamei Member Posts: 146 Member
    #3
    Numbness...
    Hi Corinna.

    I had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection last October and will be having a mastectomy on June 1st.

    Regarding the numbness you're experiencing, I would say yes, this is normal as many of your nerves were severed in the surgery and will take some time to heal and repair themselves. Unfortunately the numbness to some degree could be permanent.

    I believe the fluid retention you're experiencing is also normal and is probably due to a couple of things; 1. the natural flow of lymph fluid has been disrupted by the removal of lymph nodes and your body needs to reabsorb the build up. 2. You also probably received a lot of fluid via IV.

    I was told not to shave under my arms (or anywhere else for that matter) with a razor ever again as any nicks or cuts could introduce bacteria and lead to infection and with a reduced number of lymph nodes to fight of infection such infections could be quite serious. I was advised to invest in a good electric shaver.

    I too had itching after my surgery. I was told it was a reaction to the anesthetic and pain meds.

    Your body had undergone major trauma with the surgery and needs time to settle and begin to heal.

    Do you have a home care nurse coming to check on your stitches, wound dressings, drains, etc?

    As always, if you have concerns you should always consult your surgeon. I hope I've been able to help some. I wish you a speedy recovery. Keep us posted :)
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #4
    It has been a few years, but
    It has been a few years, but I came home with a drainage tube that was in for a week. The numbness got better with time, but I still have areas that are numb. I too was told not to shave but only until it was healed. As for the itching, I get that from Opium based pain meds as well as with any surgery when the wound is healing. Check with your doctor as he may advise you to take Benadryl or something for the itching. But it all gets better!
    Glad that the surgery went well for you.
    ~Carol
  • Mitzi333
    Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member
    #5
    butterflylvr said:

    Corrina,
    Hello my dear let me attack your questions one at a time.

    1. You will be numb for quite some time. I am still numb in some areas and my surgery was Feb. 28th (bilateral). I'm still numb around my armpit areas but each week I notice improvement. I can now say I can feel my fully inflated tissue expanders. The numbness will get better as the weeks/months/year goes by.

    2. Your body is adjusting from a traumatic surgery. While in surgery they use a flush to keep the surgical area clean. You are probably just retaining a lot of water from your surgery and being immobile. After the puffyness goes away.. that should subside. But keep an eye on things and if it persists too long make sure your doctor knows.

    3. The sternum hurting is probably from the tissue expanders being placed behind your chest wall (I am assuming you had expanders put in since you were home within a days time). That too is normal. I was lucky I didn't feel this pain... see your not as numb as you thought you are. When they took out my sentinel nodes it felt like a skin pucker under my armpit. This I am happy to say was the first area I noticed improvement once I was given the okay to start my arm exercises.

    4. Itching wasn't a problem with me.. but from what I remember itching is a sign of healing.

    5.Patchy bleeding is common for up to a few days after surgery. Keep changing the dressings and if it persists contact your doctor.

    So my dear, I'd say your symptoms are all normal. But if any of them become unbearable make sure you check in with your doctor.

    The healing has begun...
    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Thank YOU!!!
    Great info and questions. Lorrie Thanks... I had some of the same questions. I had surgery - bilateral/with expanders last Thurs so I know it's going to take time for healing. I see the doc tomorrow and was going to ask about the numbness, and range of motion.

    Thanks for the info.

    Mitzi ;0)
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #6
    Corinna
    I gained weight also but had no reconstruction. My sternum was sore for a while. I am almost one year out from surgery and still have numbness under arm area. I had no lymph nodes involved. I still get the occasional twinge and my surgeon said all of it is normal and can last a year or more. Hope you feel better soon. Take time to heal and be kind to yourself. Let others help and make sure you start exercising your arms as soon as you feel up to it.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • ender
    ender Member Posts: 167
    #7
    cahjah75 said:

    Corinna
    I gained weight also but had no reconstruction. My sternum was sore for a while. I am almost one year out from surgery and still have numbness under arm area. I had no lymph nodes involved. I still get the occasional twinge and my surgeon said all of it is normal and can last a year or more. Hope you feel better soon. Take time to heal and be kind to yourself. Let others help and make sure you start exercising your arms as soon as you feel up to it.
    {{hugs}} Char

    I had a lumpectomy with
    I had a lumpectomy with sentinal node removal and experienced the numbness. My doctor explained that this was because nerves had been "moved around" during surgery and that sensation comes back. And it has for me 2 months later. Can't remember now how long it took. Perhaps it will take longer for you as you had more invasive surgery. I hope you start feeling better soon!

    Eva
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #8
    Mast questions
    Agree with what all the ladies have said.

    I did have itching, yes it drove me nuts too.

    Also couldn't shave for some months later. Because numb it is kind of dangerous and infection is something we dont need.

    Numbness better.

    Bled like you also.

    Good luck to you.
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #9
    Mast questions
    Agree with what all the ladies have said.

    I did have itching, yes it drove me nuts too.

    Also couldn't shave for some months later. Because numb it is kind of dangerous and infection is something we dont need.

    Numbness better.

    Bled like you also.

    Good luck to you.
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #10
    pretty normal
    Corinna,
    That all sounds pretty normal.
    The itchy was better for me when I wore really soft shirts. Even flannel was too uncomfortable. Itching should go away soon.
    The bleeding is the only thing you need to watch. It shouldn't be too much.
    Weight gain is probably fluid + drainage tubes.
    The sternum may or may not be related to expanders. Mine is still tender and I don't have expanders.
    The numbness is still more prevalent in the side that had cancer not as bad on the prophylactic side. If you feel like you have to shave maybe ask your husband or someone you trust with sharp objects near your body, but I was told that until the tubes came out I could not raise my arms above a certain point.

    Take heart, this was a lot easier than chemo.....
    Cindy
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #11
    I had my masectomy......
    a year and a half ago and I am still numb under my arms. No hair has grown back there either so I don't have to shave there. Thanks to chemo for that. Your symptoms will get better with time. Hang in there sister in pink!!!

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • Corinna11
    Corinna11 Member Posts: 75
    #12
    Reikigemgirl said:

    I had my masectomy......
    a year and a half ago and I am still numb under my arms. No hair has grown back there either so I don't have to shave there. Thanks to chemo for that. Your symptoms will get better with time. Hang in there sister in pink!!!

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Thanks Everyone!
    Thanks all for your information on my surgery. I think my pain meds were most of the problem. Now I think I may have a sore throat from well meaning visitors. I don't think its from surgery since 2 of my kiddos have it too... Now I have to wait for path reports. Prob Monday. Im so nervous! I don't want to go back and have this all over again...
  • midnight10
    midnight10 Member Posts: 74
    #13
    6 months after surgery am
    6 months after surgery am still numb under the arm the lymph nodes were removed from but I've had some uncomfortable twinges the last week. No hair growth under that arm and very sparse under the other arm. On another note--no sweating under that arm, which my almost 8 year old granddaughter says is gross to talk about but cool that there's no sweat.....

Discussion Boards