Post surgery support

Hi there. I am new to this forum and was looking to see what other peoples follow up support had been because I dont seem to be getting much.

I am 48 and a nurse. I was diagnosed with oestrogen pos, her 2 neg in Nov and started chemo Dec. I was to get my 6th and final cycle end of March but due to covid that was cancelled and had surgery instead. Full mastectomy and lymph node clearance on the Friday, home on Sat.  That was 8 weeks ago and I am now 1/3 through 15 radiotherapy sessions.   

I have had 2 calls from breast care nurses in the fortnight post op, one of whom had to post out info books because I had got nothing on discharge......I had to Google post op exercises  or I would still have a T Rex arm. After feeling like I would never have my arm back again, I now have full range of movement but it still 'pulls' under my arm, it feels like a piano wire all along my arm to my wrist. Does this sensation ever go away? Some days are worse than others. 

I have been started on exemestane 1 month ago along with a belly jab I cant remember the name of right now (me a nurse too ) and since then I have aches and paint in my hands arms hips. I also get numbness in my fingers, both sides so not surgery related since starting these tablets. I feel like an old woman!! I am worried because I cant see me being able to work like this. Pain killers dont help much. 

  • Hi I too am new on here & I  am a nurse just diagnosed in the middle of covid with IDC er +VE her 2 neg & started on letrozole to await lumpectomy which is in 2 weeks - not gonna lie I'm absolutely bricking it & can't stop thinking it's curtains for me.

    I too have an odd sensation in both arms and get sudden jolts of pain. I've also had the jab in the belly to suppress ovaries so dunno what causes it and also put on high dose calcium and vit D. Sorry to read that your post op care hasn't been great I'm lucky when I went to be consented I was given all the info, excercises etc. 
    Hope you start to feel better soon 

  • Hi Nelly,

    Thanks for replying. I'm sure what I'm experiencing is normal, but I would just like a specialist to tell me so!! It was all done in such a rush cos of covid.

    I too was bricking it, but less so as the days go on. Though I wont lie and say all is rosy. There are still so many unknowns. I've never been so keen to speak to an oncologist!!! (July)

    Good luck with your future treatments!!