mastectomy pain-advice please?
It was two weeks yesterday since my mastectomy (modified radical). My chest is very tight and it hurts to move most of the time. I have been trying to do the exercises as often as possible but I feel like my pectoral muscle is a steel band and this tightness goes all the way to my wrist sometimes. Any time I move from one position to another it hurts. I got my drains and staples out Wednesday and I mentioned the stiffness to my surgeon. He didn't seem to think it was out of the ordinary. He has ordered physical therapy for me but they are taking their time. I can't seem to find out if this is normal or how long I can expect it to last. I am worried. I have to get back to work and I can't raise my elbow higher than my shoulder. I am a very active person and this is driving me crazy, the uncertainty as much as the pain. Doing the exercises is like pulling cold taffy. And it seems to cramp up too. Am I expecting too much or am I not doing enough? I am miserable tonight. I am going to take something for pain and go to bed. Sorry I am so down tonight.
Leslie
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In the world of destiny, there are no statistics.
Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump
Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes
ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3
February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy.
March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle
May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy
June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy,
June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative
August 7th - Brain MRI-negative
August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative
January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07
July 2008-Finished Herceptin!
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