Mastectomy 30/07

[itchyhand]

Wondered if I could find anyone else having a mastectomy this week?

I have invasive breast cancer affecting the whole right breast. Reconstruction with an implant at the same time.

I'm 41, DD is 7, DH will be here to look after me.

Or if you’ve had one previously - any recovery tips, things to buy, ideas about recovery time etc

2+ years that would be terrible to wait that long. Glad you have a good surgeon who recognises this . This is my fear with my reconstruction if it looks terrible they will just put me on a very long waiting list
I might have to put my walk on hold as have the district nurse coming out to check on me now they have just rung but no time beyond today.
I am quite glad about it as I want her to check my drain to make sure it is working ok as there is not a lot in it
I have just tried doing my exercises. I had a YouTube video as well as the NHS sheet . The YouTube video had 8 exercises I only could manage 5 and started feeling light headed and had to lie down so the walk was probably not going to be very far by the looks of it anyway
Incredible when you think I comfortably ran 9k on Wednesday and now can't stand and lift my arms for more than 7 minutes ☹️

Hello both I hope you are doing ok. @Puravida23 wed been in touch on my other thread. Just to say thinking of you. My op is next week.

Hi @Espanila good luck on Monday . I hope it goes as well as mine. It all went really smoothly and I have had little pain.
I think you might struggle a little bit more as yours is both breasts I believe they are operating on so your mobility may be more limited as I know I have been relying on my good left side to do things but pain wise I am sat here 24 hours later with none at all and haven’t taken pain meds since this morning as don’t feel I need to
Make sure you have a good weekend with lots of sleep I struggled a bit last night as not used to sleeping on my back.
If possible try and arrange things like comfy clothes , pillows (I have lots on my bed including a v shaped one) water bottles, long cables for phone before you go so it’s all set up for you when you get back. I didn’t and had my DH doing a lot of running around after me yesterday to set everything up so it was in reach.
Also I was having to write down my meds and when I took them as was forgetting what I had taken and when (if you have drains you will also be on antibiotics)
let us know how it goes I will be thinking of you on Monday

How you feeling day 2 after mastectomy @itchyhand .I feel really good . If it wasn’t for the drains and feeling slightly bashed around . I would be back to normal. I think it helps I slept really well last night
New boob is still significantly higher than old boob but looks ok in a bra and I am trying to be more zen about it and keeping everything crossed it will eventually drop a little bit (lot!)

I feel like absolute shit, which isn’t like me at all. I can usually roll with things but this has knocked me sideways. I can’t sleep, I’ve got green diarrhoea from the antibiotics, my pain isn’t managed well with the basics paracetamol and ibuprofen. And I keep crying that I’m giving my 7 year old a shit summer holiday.

that’s a pity party isn’t it. I’ll buck up.

Oh no sorry to hear this. Don't worry about your 7 year old they will understand . Just concentrate on getting the pain under control and sleep , these are your priorities. And you deserve the pity party it sounds really tough
My battery pack for the drain has decided to freak me out by sounding an alarm every couple of minutes. . After messing around with it I have managed to shut it up but darent move incase it starts again. Hoping I haven't broken it already
Typically it is the weekend when I can't check.with the breast care nurse

Hi I'm two weeks ahead of you in the same process. Do you have codeine @itchyhand- the hospital gave me a supply. Also fitted with compression bra which I have to wear for 6 weeks to keep implant in place.
The pain definitely gets better and once the drains are out you feel so much more normal and able to do more.

@Makerlady how is your implant? Are you pleased with the result so far and your recovery overall

It has some rippling, which is apparently normal at this stage and will disappear. Its tear shaped so does match my other rather droopy one quite well. It still feels a bit odd tbh and I've some super sensitivity around the middle edge but BC nurse wasn't concerned. Im due back in two weeks for next check.

I can some rippling in mine too and the shape of the implant clearly under my skin . Mine is also tear shaped . Size wise though I think it is going to be a good match and I am hopeful it will look ok in the end (keeping everything crossed)

Good luck tomorrow @Espanila

Don't try to do to much at first, particularly whilst drains are in. Its all just so tiring. I feel so much better since mine came out. They were in for 2 weeks and I've now been 3 days without them.

Fanfare pls - I feel alright!

Sunday afternoon I walked 4 miles along the beach. It was slow but really enjoyable. Today I’ve walked less and done some chores and went out for lunch.

the drain is so annoying, but the pain is only slight discomfort now. I’m not lifting anything heavy or overreaching or anything which might compromise my recovery.

I’ll look at the exercises properly and start giving those a go.

@Puravida23 how is it going for you? How’s your pump? I’m still at 100mL output daily so I think the drain might be in for all of this week.

I’ve also been offered counselling, I put the phone down on my BC nurse a couple of weeks ago… I’ve got some anger to work through

I was discharged with no pain relief, quite a surprise really. My lovely friend went to boots and bought some paracetamol with codeine, I haven’t needed any today. I asked about bras and softy padding because my size difference is so significant that a bra that fits my J cup gapes around my reconstructed side, but I wasn’t given anything. I think maybe after the drain is out I’ll be fitted?

So different. Im in Wales. My bra fitting was morning after op. Its like this: www.lipoelastic.co.uk/ps-ideal-variant?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UK_PMAX_Performance-Max_General&utm_id=16617121637&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16608302818&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-MDTBhCgARIsAKAkdlTdOC2BeW8Q7bldAQ22nYoyxF4GjlkVG9O-VfclSNapz1yMkUXbt1gaAqp-EALw_wcB

Glad to hear you are feeling better @itchyhand . I can’t believe they gave you no pain relief I was given 14 days of codeine which I would have thought was bare minimum needed
i am well and in no pain at all now . I had another alarm incident with my drain so,I think there may be a leak slightly on one of my dressings but all quiet now for the moment
i am looking forward to seeing the nurse of Thursday though so she can look at my scars and check this drain out. I also have a bit of a rash on my non operated side which is a bit weird , not itchy but I have taken an antihistamine just in case. I think it may be from the surgical dressings used or possibly a sweat rash from wearing this really tight bra 24-7
@Makerlady i wasn’t given a bra and they didn’t check the one I am wearing which I thought was a bit strange . You would think the nurses would check it fitted ok and was giving the correct support given how important they are to recovery. I am just hoping the one I have is good enough to do the job
Was it your operation today @Espanila hope it went well

I’m in wales too, I’d be happy to buy my own but honestly haven’t found anything which could accommodate both sizes. The nurses will call me on Wednesday morning to log my drain output so I’ll ask again.

I’m sure the consultant said they removed 960mL and the implant was 400mL so I need a bra that has the ability to support and compress the small side and fit the big side. I’m comically lopsided.

I was offered some paracetamol but I stocked up so didn’t wait around for the pharmacy to give me the same as I can buy for 16p. I’m very jealous of your codeine!

the differences in bra help is astonishing, especially how important it is like you say.

Im so surprised. My BC nurses have all checked my bra is on correctly weekly and given me strict instructions on what I can/can't adjust. Why are things so different.

Ive also had a rash @Puravida23Nurse seemed to think it was heat related.