Hi there ..

It does take time and everyone is different .. I had a bruse from shoulderblade to hip .. and all down my arm .. and had to be drained and stitched a few more times too .. 

14 months on.. scar is a faint pink colour .. and it all feels like a dream ... it's only having a missing boob that reminds me it was real ... and only difference is get tired more easy .. and don't pick up anything heavy in that hand ..  there is internal bruising too .. as it's a massive shock to the body .. and I never bruse ... so give it time .. keep an eye out for swelling ... and take all the time you need to let your body heal ... it will happen .. but it needs lots of time ..

Chrissie x

Thankyou for your reply... I have seen my consultant and had an infection last week so just finished antibiotics.  She said that she's not concerned.  It's just so uncomfortable when my bra pushes against it. I'm just getting a bit fed up of the discomfort..x

Hi Omalley,

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and post-operative discomfort.

What sort of bra are you wearing? I have had a double mastectomy and was advised to avoid any underwired bras and to choose a soft bra, similar to a first bra. Just monitor the level of pain you are getting and if you feel that the infection is coming back, let your breast care nurse know.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine,

I was advised the same so I'm using the soft masectomy bras from marks and Spencer's. 

The infection seems to of gone (I finish abx tomorrow) but it's left me with a 3x2cm raised lump where the swelling was,  it rubs on everything,  it's not too bad in the mornings but by each tea time it becomes so tender I could cry, then it settles when I go to bed and have nothing touching it,  and I have the same the next day.  I see my consultant this Friday so I'll get her to check it out again but to get me from now to Friday I might try a loose piece of gauze over it and tape it on with surgical tape.  The consultant looked at it last week and said she wasn't  concerned,  which is fine that it's nothing wrong and just needs time to settle,  but it's making me an insufferable grump and my poor husband has to put up with me then.

Kind regards

OMalley 

Hi there ...

I had to have my scar reopened as there was a hole that leaked .. even after restitching the hole stayed and everyone told me not to worry, even though my gut told me it wasn't right, and leaked for the next 5 months ... then two lumps grew underneath ... which meant another trip to theatre .. thankfully those lumps were o.k .. and this time sowed up properly .. 

I wish I'd have gone with my gut instinct and insisted it was fixed earlier .. and I'm a pretty tough cooky .. so remember it's your body .. good luck ... not long to go now ..  Chrissie x 

Hi O'Malley,

I use M & S bras now, but even these would have been too much immediately after surgery. Did the hospital not give you a softie to pop in your bra until you heal? I have just discovered one advantage of having a double mastectomy - whe He! - I could go braless and not have to worry about the other side.

Have you tried taking off your bra at tea time, popping on a loose top and going braless at home? If the lump is still annoying you, it can always be covered with a gauze dressing. It is certainly worth letting your consultant see it on Friday, but if it gets any worse meanwhile give your breast care nurse a phone and ask her for advice.

Roll on Friday!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine, 

Weird but I'm actually doing exactly what you've advised and it's not been so bad today.. the last 2 nights I've wore my m and s bra with softie in just in the day and took it off and just a vest top in the evening,  it's still been rubbing on the lump so today I've just put a bit of gauze over it and it's so much better so I'm gonna leave the gauze on until bed time and where it every day until it settles... and i'll def get it checked when i see consultant on Friday.  Thank you so much for your advice.  With double masectomy at least makes u even when braless...i look proper lob sided if i don't have my bra and softie on lol.. never mind if we don't laugh about it we would cry.  

Kind regards

Omalley

Hi Chrissie,  so sorry to hear about your wound issues.. sounds ***! I hope this doesn't happen to me,  it does feel a bit better today,  so I hope it was just a little blip for me! I agree with us all listening to our bodies though,  I seem to pay alot more attention to every part of me since my diagnosis. When we look back, my husband said that I quite often mentioned how sensitive my left breast was, but at the time i just thought nothing of it.  Not any more,  the slightest twinge and i want to know why! Any way i hope you've made a good recovery. 

Kind regards

OMalley xxx

Hi Omalley,

I'm glad that things have been a little easier today. It's amazing how much better you can feel with just a little gauze to protect the sore area. If it continues to be tender, you could leave your gauze on day and night. If it's better with that, it may just be the irritation of your bra, which should improve as your scars heal.

Mention it to your consultant regardless, as I'm sure that you'd rather be reassured that everything is still ok.

Yes, I haven't found many advantages in having a double mastectomy, but not being lob-sided is definately one!

Regards,

Jolamine xx