When the numbness fades

Fortunately I've not had any major surgery in my life.  Tonsilectomy, 3 c sections, and a cyst removed a few years back.   Now a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy.  For a bit of background, the sentinel node biopsy means they take out a few lymph nodes under the arm and then test to see if they have cancerous cells.   So, with the lumpectomy there's an incision on the breast and then sentinal node means an incision under the arm.

Breast incision wasn't bad.    Tenderness, swelling, and a world of colour from bruising.  Like something you might expect from a soccer game gone really wrong.  But it was pretty numb for the first week.  So thought that was about it.  Then my boob woke up.   Like something you might expect from a soccer game gone really wrong.    The incision under my arm however has driven me up the wall.  Redness, inflamed.  If I could wear men's sleeveless undershirts everywhere I would be fine, but that's not practical.  Once inflamed the only relief is lying down with my arm resting on pillow slightly raised and away from my body.  That's how I'd sleep.

So I thought that was about it.  Then my boob woke up and swelled up some more, so now it hurt to where my men's attire so I look for support - not emotional.  Anything I put on - aggravated the incision under my arm so by 2 pm I was ripping off clothes while in the car, eating dinner, in the office.  I can remove a sports bra with ease and not much of scene without removing a shirt/sweater.

Thank you, thank you to my wonder sisters for gifts of dresses with great built in support and shirts with wide arms.   They make my day tolerable.