I am one of the lucky ones. Its a good idea to take another person with you the first time you drive after surgery. A preventive (prophylactic) or risk-reducing mastectomy Your surgeon may prescribe a pain medication to take after you leave the hospital. My surgeon advised against more ops as he felt It could cause more probs down the line He also said we are just seeing the true complications of TRAM surgery. It stimulates the main lymph drainage areas, in you tummy, back and groin. She has a direct line to the surgeons and the whole BC team. Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: Reconstruction, Recovery, and More. Pain management in breast surgery: Recommendations of a multidisciplinary expert panel the American Society of Breast Surgeons. "I had surgery Feb. 27, 2019 and had abdominal swelling. I felt lucky about their cancer assessment, but I couldn't get the information or education for lymphedema I requested. Lymphedema (pronounced LIMF-eh-DEE-ma) is a condition that can happen after breast cancer surgery. (2020). Does this sound normal? Her comment was "Mom maybe you just didn't notice how big your belly was when your boobs were hanging down over it." Unless you gain a tremendous amount of weight, the underlying tissue has been altered and will always have a new, tighter feel. Has anyone else had this? We mustnt just accept. (2020). WebA small amount of swelling, even in your arm, is normal for the first 4 to 6 weeks after breast cancer surgery. WebYou may have drainage tubes in place for a short time after your surgery to remove excess fluids that collect in the surgical site. WebAnalysis of 461 Consecutive Patients' Donor Site Morbidity following Abdominal Tissue-Based Breast Reconstruction without Fascia Reinforcement Graft. This feeling is due to nerve damage that can happen during the surgery. WebRe: Abdominal swelling after surgery - has anyone else had this? On the whole I manage quite well. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. The doctors kept telling me I wouldn't get lymphdema with just one node removed. WebHome. Janie x. Firstly, welcome to the Forum. I don't suppose that this has helped you a lot but I hope it has maybe pointed you in a direction that will help you to find a way out yourself. Stay vigilant. Rodis. I think age may play a big part in the process of deciding, I was sixty five at the time so cosmetically not too worried about appearances. today I am 10 weeks out from my DIEP surgery. The amount of stress on the intercostal nerves could be reduced with less invasive techniques such as the VATS technique. I had a lumpectomy 10 years ago and a double mastectomy 9 years ago and had a lot of fluid build up afterwards. Your surgeon can give you a more specific timeline for how long your recovery period may last. (if only). Benefits of the DIEP flap procedure over implant reconstruction include: No foreign objects. It can be chronic or acute. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. There's evanmarcus again appearing on the forum with slightly odd remarks.. I have no answer but mine was a seroma and had to be surgically remove as it was left so long. Eeeeek! She had me purchase an abdominal binder which I wear only during the day. Is there anything we can do to make the swelling go down? I am getting bilateral mastectomy/breast reconstruction (after finding out I have a genetic mutation) next month and am scared to death about my hospital experience. Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group. I have mild lymphedema in one arm after a bilateral mastectomy where seventeen lymph nodes were removed. Ugh. A distended abdomen is abnormally swollen outward. You will have a Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain after your surgery. We are always here for you should you need any information, suport or just space to rant. Its often accompanied by the feeling of being bloated with trapped gas or digestive contents. The hospital and my surgeon said", "I have mild lymphedema in one arm after a bilateral mastectomy where seventeen lymph nodes were", "@chamisa See my post below. But it doesnt worry me and although occasionally uncomfortable it doesnt hurt. Good luck. Dr. Harness comments on the degree of swelling a woman should expect after her double mastectomy. The hospital and my surgeon said the swelling was not swelling, they said my stomach appeared to me to be swollen because I did not have breasts. I 'thought' I was doing it right but I let one cut go and ended up in very bad shape with cellulitis. I am huge, I have had four children and I didn't get this big in my abdominal area. Mine went undiagnosed, even though they are very common, and meant I needed another operation to remove it. I am hoping not to have to get the fluid drained and that it will eventually be reabsorbed. Some women may also have redness or pain in the arm, which may be a I feel the same as janiepops10. I am just wondering what was the outcome for you? Your healthcare provider may recommend a hydrogen breath test to help determine the cause of excess intestinal gas. This can happen if you have a more extensive procedure, such as a radical mastectomy or if you have breast reconstruction during your mastectomy. The thought and the fear of the operation was horrendous, but i have come out the other side and don't regret anything. In severe cases, lymphedema can cause pain and limit movement. Try digestive enzymes and probiotics before meals. I then researched seroma after abdominal surgery and I found its a fairly common side effect. I was very concerned about lymphedema because I was trying to resolve my risks. I'm now 3 weeks post radioand notice every time iover exerting myself (walking for a length of time, running around with the kids, generallybeing more active than normal) my implantboob swells. A distended abdomen can be due to bloating from gas, or it can be due to accumulated fluid, tissue, or digestive contents. Hi Rodis and thanks for your reply. Eat smaller amounts more slowly. Can Breast Cancer Be Detected in a Complete Blood Count (CBC)? I bought them from Dick's Sporting Goods Store. @chamisa See my post below. (https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(20%2930433-X/fulltext). None of my clothes fit me and I know I haven't suddenly put on so much weight to make me look 6 months pregnant! Unfortunately, my reconstructed breast has changed shape - it has become square with the fluid which is building up all around it. And contact the incontinence nurse for help with retaining the control I have. In: Suneja M, Szot JF, LeBlond RF, Brown DD. I've lost 2 inches off each thigh and can't keep my trousers up, but my upper tummy just stays distended. Try to have a loved one get the prescription filled when youre on your way home, so youll have it on hand if you need it. Usually a side-effect of liver scarring (cirrhosis), ascites occurs when pressure on the blood vessels in the liver (portal hypertension) forces fluid into the abdominal cavity. We are so lucky to live in a country with the NHS. As I'm 62, this would be impossible and I'm very definitely post menopausal. I started this thread back in 2013/4 so there have been lots of views and posts since then. I'm 48 and apparently not peri-menopausal. My, you have been in amongst it this year! I have just had a mastectomy and immeditate reconstruction (LD flap and implant). Sigh. Your surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment about 7 to 10 days after your mastectomy. I too, have been several times to the Plastics Nurses who drain it, it is quick and painless. Weberath county rant and rave; springfield, mo jail inmates; essex county hospital center jobs; blanching vs non blanching erythema; star trek next generation cast salaries abdominal swelling after mastectomy. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. Keep at your PT and massage and other care. So, yes, I have lymphedema and the massage moved a lot of fluid out. It then settled down and I had no need to return. Your surgeon will talk with you about when this may be possible. If your healthcare provider can feel any of them, theyll know immediately where the problem is. It is common however to become easi Read More What are some tips for mastectomy recovery? (https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2012/721820/), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). I am new on this site and have been trawling for information. For a nipple-sparing mastectomy, the surgeon removed the entire breast and left the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) in place. I hope I have give you some ideas. For example: Seek medical care if your abdominal distension: A distended abdomen is often a temporary problem linked to digestion, but it can be uncomfortable, and it can sometimes indicate a serious condition. These are typically removed during a follow-up visit. The bloating associated with chemotherapy is often referred to as chemo belly.. I am not a medic so dont know. I wondered also if it is because of being on the AI killing off all estrogen if that was having an effect. May I ask if you had reconstruction after your mx? Significant recent weight gain, which tends to be stored as intra-abdominal fat and may restrict digestion. WebSwelling or edema is a build-up of fluid in the tissues. Its like doctors sometimes you have to search for one who is a good fit for your personality) because I was going to be flying on a vacation and I knew sometimes flying can be a trigger. You may also experience tightness in the abdomen for the first 3 months the abdominal binder will help support this donor site. It is unfortunate that you have had an allergic reaction to the dressing used. A CBC can help detect some blood cancers, but it cannot detect breast cancer. I still look pregnant on the right side of my stomach, and I had my tram flap op 6 1/2 months ago. Yet another thing to add to the list of 'why don't they forewarn you about these things'?? Registered Office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 4247 Minories, London EC3N 1DY. One concern you may have is when you can go about daily activities, like household chores and running errands. so glad it's not just me!!!! Six years later I have a perfectly flat stomach but can still feel a pull. 1. Acute pain from a mastectomy will gradually go away as you heal. Other things to consider having on hand at home are: Its likely that youll need some help at home in the days and weeks after your mastectomy. Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery Time: How Long Does It Take? Research shows that about half of women who have breast cancer surgery have continuing pain problems a year or more after surgery. It might mean managing a disease, infection, growth, obstruction, or injury. My care team says they have never seen this but obviously others have had it. Its not uncommon to take several weeks off from work while recovering from surgery both physically and emotionally. prima facie duties pros and cons; guardian asset management notice on door; cary, nc political demographics; what is the oxidation state of sulfur in a disulfide; accenture cost of cybercrime 2021; abdominal swelling after mastectomy The surgeon may have done a biopsy of nearby lymph nodes to see if the cancer spread. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Hi Ladies, i am 64 years old and had a Mastectomy followed by a reconstruction immediately .six weeks ago. I am paying the price now and 'paying' includes pain, anxiety and huge bills from my hospital stay and follow ups (I'm just 62 now and so no medicare to soften the financial blow). Its important to take all pain medications exactly as prescribed. How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer: 10 Lifestyle Recommendations, a dressing or bandage to cover your incision and keep it clean, a surgical drain to help blood and fluid drain from the surgical site, how to care for your incision, including how to bathe or shower, which exercises to do to promote range of motion in your arm and shoulder and how often to do them, what you may expect as far as pain, numbness, or other sensations, how to recognize signs of complications, like infections or lymphedema, when you can start doing certain activities again, such as household chores, driving, and wearing a bra, experienced acute, severe postmastectomy pain, bleeding from the surgical site thats more than you were told to expect, redness, swelling, or pain around your incision, an area thats red, tender, or feels warm to the touch, unexplained swelling around the surgical site, which could be signs of a, persistent swelling in your arm or hand, which can be a sign of, a notebook for tracking medications or for writing down questions to ask your surgeon during your follow-up appointment, a wedge pillow to help keep you propped up in bed or on the couch. 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