Aa
what feels like a tightened violin string...
I have been asking for the purpose of advising women not to have their bloods drawn, and/or blood pressure taken on the side where they had a mastectomy.
Every response so far has been a guess. Since I only have one good vein in my right arm, and this is where I had the mastectomy, lab technicians have a hard time getting a vein on the left side. Sometimes I get stuck three times and then they end up on the other side anyway. So, this last time I withheld the information about not using my right arm, and the lab technician made the tourniquet so very tight that I immediately regretted my decision. sure enough, I developed this cord-like, tight string which goes starts under my arm and goes one third down my upper arm. (I had many lymph nodes removed.)
My question is twofold. What really is the purpose of advising about the blood drawing and BP? And my second question is what may have happened. Is this lymphadema, or a vein or a tendon or what else could it be. The skin is sore and this string like thing is very thin and very hard, but there is no infection or discoloration present, really, and very little swelling. much of the tissue under my arm feels otherwise like scar tissue. Should I be concerned? I asked my family doctor about this since I had to see her for something else, but she did not know what it was and also she did not know the reason for avoiding needles and BP cuffs on arm where you had the mastectomy. She felt maybe this advice was outdated? Nobody else I asked did anything but make wild guesses as well. i thought this may be of interest to others here as well. thank you in advance for reading my question.
Every response so far has been a guess. Since I only have one good vein in my right arm, and this is where I had the mastectomy, lab technicians have a hard time getting a vein on the left side. Sometimes I get stuck three times and then they end up on the other side anyway. So, this last time I withheld the information about not using my right arm, and the lab technician made the tourniquet so very tight that I immediately regretted my decision. sure enough, I developed this cord-like, tight string which goes starts under my arm and goes one third down my upper arm. (I had many lymph nodes removed.)
My question is twofold. What really is the purpose of advising about the blood drawing and BP? And my second question is what may have happened. Is this lymphadema, or a vein or a tendon or what else could it be. The skin is sore and this string like thing is very thin and very hard, but there is no infection or discoloration present, really, and very little swelling. much of the tissue under my arm feels otherwise like scar tissue. Should I be concerned? I asked my family doctor about this since I had to see her for something else, but she did not know what it was and also she did not know the reason for avoiding needles and BP cuffs on arm where you had the mastectomy. She felt maybe this advice was outdated? Nobody else I asked did anything but make wild guesses as well. i thought this may be of interest to others here as well. thank you in advance for reading my question.
My radiation oncologist called me today about something totally unrelated and then I asked her after that was taken care of, if I could ask her a question. I told her I had this tight string like cord in my arm originating under my arm..... She responded by saying: "OH, I just had a patient who presented with the same problem and I sent her to physical therapy. Would you like me to write you a prescription for physical therapy?"
I told her yes, if this was what she thought was best, but also that I didn't know what this was and if I should be worried about this, and if this was Lymphedema. She did not answer my question and told me the physical therapist could tell me more about what it was.
So, I told her that I just didn't know if this was a tendon, or a vein, or a muscle and if she thought it may be a tendon.
She said she thinks so, but that was all she offered. She said they would most likely call me on Monday and then bill my insurance.
So, i will keep you posted. yes, weird that nobody is answering to this, isn't it? Actally, one doctor on another forum said it was lymphedema related/ Specifically, he said it was the latter, when I suggested two options and in this case my second option was Lymphedema.
The website the doctor included her did not say anything about our symptoms.
I told her yes, if this was what she thought was best, but also that I didn't know what this was and if I should be worried about this, and if this was Lymphedema. She did not answer my question and told me the physical therapist could tell me more about what it was.
So, I told her that I just didn't know if this was a tendon, or a vein, or a muscle and if she thought it may be a tendon.
She said she thinks so, but that was all she offered. She said they would most likely call me on Monday and then bill my insurance.
So, i will keep you posted. yes, weird that nobody is answering to this, isn't it? Actally, one doctor on another forum said it was lymphedema related/ Specifically, he said it was the latter, when I suggested two options and in this case my second option was Lymphedema.
The website the doctor included her did not say anything about our symptoms.
I've seen 3 docs and none of them have even suggested lymphedema, the symptoms dont even match those of lymphedema, it almost feels like people arent listening to us!!
You too keep me posted. Then, it seems that Dr. Rowenta Santos thinks this is lymphedema. I had my surgery last December.
I had a left breast resection 4 weeks ago, and also have the stringy thing in my armpit working its way down to my elbow, in fact I now have 3 of them, with no answers from my doc's. I find it quite painful, and was hoping to find answers here. Keep us informed, and good luck.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
Better recovery occurs when lymphedema is discovered early, in your case, the feeling of tightness in the arm should be mentioned to your doctor. Lymphedema can be treated by physical methods and with medication. Physical methods include supporting the arm in a raised position, manual lymphatic drainage and cleaning the skin carefully to prevent infection. Here is a link that could be helpful: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/lymphedema/Patient/page3
Take care and regards.
Better recovery occurs when lymphedema is discovered early, in your case, the feeling of tightness in the arm should be mentioned to your doctor. Lymphedema can be treated by physical methods and with medication. Physical methods include supporting the arm in a raised position, manual lymphatic drainage and cleaning the skin carefully to prevent infection. Here is a link that could be helpful: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/lymphedema/Patient/page3
Take care and regards.
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