cold drinks

Now that you mention it, I remember I used to have that problem too after a right mastectomy. I figured it had something to do with cut nerves. It was most noticable the first year and I haven't had a problem with it at all this year (year 5). I swear I could feel liquid going all the way down to to my stomach. Cold was worse than room temp or hot. Ice cream didn't do it but ice water did. By the end of two months, most of the weirdness had passed and by the end of the first year I didn't notice much of a problem at all. I've read somewhere that nerves take some time to regroup and be able to re-fire. That means that if you can get them to fire all at once, you won't experience pain for a period after that. I know that light massage made nerves on the surface fire quickly and then settle down, so to speak, for a period. Have you tried drinking something really cold and then continuing to see if the painful sensation stops? That might train the nerves to quit misbehaving faster than avoiding cold drinks forever would. But each body is different and suffering is definately not something I go for. Hot chocolate might go down better and I LOVE chocolate! Good luck!

Thanks for bringing this up. I had my double mastectomy Dec. 21. I have noticed the same thing. I think drinks do it more than Ice cream because they move faster...Ice cream has time to warm up on its way down...Maybe??? It is interesting. The "guzzling" theory may be worth experimenting with...see if the speed of intake affects the sensation. It reminds me of the sensation I had with chemo infusions at first...I would feel the fluid moving around my shoulders the next day. I stopped noticing it after a few sessions. Maybe the nerves just have to retrain themselves, or establish a new route, then we get used to it.

Thanks to all for sharing, best wishes, seof

grandmagail said:

This forum is great. I was almost feeling like an oddity from all the strange looks I was getting. Now I know that I'm not the only one! Seof...seriously..just take about four big gulps and then see what happens. I hope you are continuing to do well! I saw my oncologist today and will not have to do chemo for the breast cancer. Just on Arimidex for five years. Also they did another scan of my lungs and the spots or nodules are completely unchanged so they are just going to watch them to make sure they don't grow.She feels a biopsy isn't called for at this time. As I read through the messages here I feel totally blessed, and I just wish for all of you health for the New Year.

Gail thanks for the information. I see my Surgeon next week, the 9th and we are talking about bilateral surgery now...get it OFF I say, too lopsided and heavy. I will look for the cold drinking thing after my surgery, thanks for the warning.....lol
Dealing with lymphedema now but getting a good manual lymph massage to drain it....wearing a sleeve too....don't much like it...but