Discussions

 Tomorrow is 6 weeks since my simple mastectomy with implant reconstruction for DCIS.  I am still experiencing what I call a hypersensitivity of my skin.  The areas affected are the top and side of my breast.  It hurts, kills at times to have anything on my skin.  It's difficult finding a bra or anything else to wear.  I also feel occasional electric shocks and a vibration sensation, very uncomfortable.  My doctor says this will eventually disappear.  I found a few people on the internet who have had this for years.

Has anyone heard of this before? 

Help!

 I am so sorry that you are going through such discomfort.  I have a question.  Did you receive a special bra when they did the surgery?   I ask because my sister in law just had a mastectomy recently and they put her in this special bra and told her not to remove it.  She told me that she could not remove it.  Find out from your doctor what you can use.  There must be something you can do to get more comfortable.  I had a lumpectomy and slept with my sports bra so the breast in question would not jiggle.  It felt more comfortable for me to wear it and I was told to keep it on.

I am sure some of the other ladies will come by and tell you their experiences. 

Blessings and I hope you find some comfort.

Zena

 Thanks so much for your support.  I wore the surgical bra for the 1at 4 weeks.  I even slept with it on.  Good thing I asked for a second one while I was still in the hospital.

I have tried, heat, cold and massage with no relief.  My doctor suggested a pain clinic, but I don't want to take anymore medication than I am already taking.  Sometimes, doctors think a pill solves all.

I found a bra at Walmart for $12 that is  quite soft.  Wearing that and an ABD pad underneath make it tolerable for a while.  By the end of the day, I can't wait to get home and rip my shirt off.

I hope this goes away soon.

Did they remove any lymph nodes?  I just had bilateral and they removed 18 lymph nodes on 1 side and 8 on the other.  I have this same thing and asked my doc about it today.  He said it would take 6-9 months.  I never got a surgical bra.  But JC Penney has sports bras that zip up in the front.  I have found that sitting with a pillow between my arm and stomach helps me.  I also felt ice packs helped a little.

HUGS! Karen R.

 Ok ladies, it sounds like you have desensitization issues. I am a therapist and haved worked with many post surgery patients and can only tell you how I handle my own issue with sensitization. The scar and the area around the scar become overly sensitive, hence the need for me to  desensitization myself. What I typically started with with me is light wt material, such as cotten balls. I gently rub that against my skin for at least a minute or so, if it becomes annoying I try to stand it as long as I possibly can. Once that material no longer bothers me I move on to another material, maybe a washcloth and do the same thing. When I am in the shower I may use my hand first over my scar and the entire breast and then use a washcloth etc. I do this over my whole breast because I am sensitive in different areas. Some people are bothered by light touch and other harder touch. You can also ask you doctor for a prescription for an Occupational therapy prescription that can further address this sensitivity. I am not prescribing or giving advise, I am simply saying this is what I do to myself as I am familiar with desensitization methods. Good luck and don't suffer unnecessarily when there are professionals out there that can help you.

God Bless,

DonnaU

What great advice Donna!!! My pain, numbness is in my armpit where they took the nodes.It has been over a year, I have tried everything, I am finally starting to see a little improvement, but not much. I just try not to let it get me down, but some days are worst than others. Cancer sucks, it screws up your mind and your body.

Cajun Lady 

Hi Julia-

So sorry that you have these symptoms, they are VERY bothersome. Do you feel like the symptoms have improved at at all?

A cool ice pack did help me, but as soon as the ice pack was removed it did come back; Atleast there was some relief? I wore a zip up cardigan and upened up it up to let my chest be free. My guess having an expander didn't help either?

I have read and know from experience that just a bit of Alprazolam (Xanax) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alprazolam helped. I guess it calms the nervous system. The big thing is this is addicting, but I suppose no more than some of the drugs we recieved for pain?

My Dr. did say touching is good where you are numb because it will help the nerves to meet once again:). I'd slab my chest with lotion and massage the area and i belive that helped som.

Good luck to you and BIG cyber (((H U G S))).

-Cathy :)