Recovery has gone smoothly, all things considered! The pain has been very manageable (I haven't even taken anything for it since the first couple of days), the drains are very manageable (though I am still hoping to get them out soon, as having drains in means that any jostling is uncomfortable), and there's tightness in various places but it's something I'm getting used to. I have some cording, which is very normal for this surgery, and I've got an appointment with my occupational therapist this week and I know she'll have some exercises for me to do to help resolve it.
The armpit where the lymph nodes were removed is sore and also numb in various places, so I tend to try to keep my arm away from my body so I'm not putting pressure on that area. It's also swollen, which is to be expected. This is probably the most painful part of my body right now. My chest is doing pretty well (again, areas of numbness), I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow so hopefully things will be looking good and healing well. I can't see anything, since the incisions are covered with steristrips, which look like strips of duct tape.
Cording, for those who don't know, is a thing that happens to a lot of people who have breast surgery, particularly when lymph nodes are involved. It looks and feels like cords under the skin, and it can be painful and restrict movement. Basically there are stretches and exercises and specific massages that therapists can do to help break up the cords, which are then reabsorbed by the body. It's grosser to think about than it is to experience, honestly. When I read about cording back at the beginning of the whole cancer process, I though "oh no, that sounds super stressful and weird and hard to experience." At this point? It's just another thing. It's not a big deal, it's actually helpful for me to know that the pain from cording isn't important, if that makes sense. It doesn't mean anything is wrong, it doesn't mean that there's any damage being done, it's just this weird body thing!
Until I meet with my various medical specialists, I'm just continuing to stay active (but not too active). Lots of walking, moving within the range I'm allowed to protect healing, just continuing to live my life. There are some fleeting pains, but most of the time I feel pretty good. I feel like myself. My energy level is pretty much back to normal, which is a huge relief after all those months of chemo.
Edited to add 1/17/26: I forgot to mention that during the surgery they ended up removing 27 lymph nodes! Apparently in this case, they just scoop some out and they don't know how many they're getting, then they check to see if there's any cancer (there was not). This is not what I was told to expect (by someone not on the surgeon's team). I thought they'd somehow make the three affected lymph nodes stand out and only take those. No. That's not a thing in this case! This increases my risk of lymphedema, so I was happy to later do a lymphedema teach session with the OT who specializes in lymphatic massage. So far no problems but it's have compression gloves and a sleeve just in case that ever changes and I don't get shots or blood draws in that arm.
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