Hi all,

I'm Dylan and had a double mastectomy with Dr Crane in SF about 2 weeks ago. I still have tons of swelling on my right "breast" and slightly under my armpit. I understand that it's still quite early after surgery so I'm patiently waiting for that to go away. I've been searching all sorts of forums for the past few weeks but I can't find anything on what I'm about to discuss.

After my surgery, as I was in the hospital, there was a huge purple and red circular mark on my stomach, right in the center. The nurse saw this and said it was just my body bruised from the surgery and said it would be alright. I went back to the place I was staying, went to bed on my back. When I woke up the next morning, I found that there were red and purple marks (what i now know was dried blood falling) all over my front and right side... but there was no unusual color on my chest! It was all around my stomach and lower right side. Dr Crane looked at it and the look on his face was one of shock. He saw how swollen i was on my right side and attempted to try to drain some, but absolutely no fluid came out, which led him to believe that I had just had a "bleed" somewhere but it turned into dried blood and was going down my abdomen. He said that, while my right side would take significantly longer to heal, it would definitely heal. I didn't have any horrible pain or anything, just an annoying soreness and feeling tired, but honestly, I didn't even really use any pain meds other than Tylenol. I didn't feel like I had to because I wasn't in that much pain.

So now it's about 2 weeks after surgery. The skin on my stomach and lower right side is slowly going back to its normal color. I'm eating a plant-strong diet (vegan- no vegan junk food) and have been drinking about a gallon of water a day, every day. My right breast is still super swollen! It has gone down a tiny bit, but it's feeling sore and very uncomfortable. I don't feel like it's getting worse, but more like just staying the same.

Has anyone else had an experience like this at all? Any input would be appreciated. I trust that Dr Crane knows what he's doing and believe that i'll be alright, but it would be great to hear any personal experiences. Thanks!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/ea85.jpg/ <-- day 8 post op

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/71g7.jpg/ <-- day 13 post op (right lower side skin returning back to normal)

Big hug, Dylan! Hope your healing well. I had a pallet whack my knee once, and then my foot turned all purple and red with sharp lines. It was the same thing, falling blood. Probably more to worry about in the abdomen than a foot, though. Anyway, that was thirty years ago, and I'm <twitch> fine! 

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on October 08, 2013, 07:58:42 PM
Big hug, Dylan! Hope your healing well. I had a pallet whack my knee once, and then my foot turned all purple and red with sharp lines. It was the same thing, falling blood. Probably more to worry about in the abdomen than a foot, though. Anyway, that was thirty years ago, and I'm <twitch> fine! 

Hugs, Devlyn

Thank you! I guess it's good that it's slowly fading away, huh?

Yeah, I don't know if the body reabsorbs it  or how it disappears, but I remember it stuck around for awhile. As did the limp!

OMG you should have seem me after my bottom surgery. It looked like i was ran over from waist down. It took me almost 2 months before it went all away.

As long as it keeps going away you will be fine. If you do see a major change back then i would get a hold of your surgeon.

Izzy

Quote from: mind is quiet now on October 08, 2013, 08:40:25 PM
OMG you should have seem me after my bottom surgery. It looked like i was ran over from waist down. It took me almost 2 months before it went all away.

As long as it keeps going away you will be fine. If you do see a major change back then i would get a hold of your surgeon.

Izzy

Yeah it seems to be healing, just very, very slowly. I trust my doc but it's always kinda comforting to hear other experiences. Thanks for the response!