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Mastectomy

23 replies

Chocolateismyfavourite · 16/12/2022 07:07

I found out yesterday I'm have mastectomy on 30th December ( had 12 weeks of chemo, it's reduced enough for surgery now rather than more chemo then surgery 🙂)
I'm having a pre op appointment next Thursday so obviously I will ask them, but, in the mean time, I was wondering if anyone else who had had a mastectomy, has had it as day surgery? That's all I know about it for now. Anything I look for online suggests two or three days in hospital but I was told day surgery for it. Also how was your recovery from it?
Thanks in advance for any info 🙂

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Santa01 · 16/12/2022 12:38

Hi had two two years ago, on the first I was kept in for 5 days as I had some lymph nodes removed at the same time and it was painful, on the second it was a prophylactic one and was kept in only two nights, was zero pain and I actually asked the surgeon had they done it at all as it was so different, hope you are ok, it's not too bad if you stay on your pain meds and just rest rest rest as much as you can after, any questions just shout x

Chocolateismyfavourite · 16/12/2022 13:18

Ah that's interesting to know, thank you, he definitely said day surgery, so will see what they say on Thursday. Don't worry, I'll be resting for sure 😊 I'm doing well, thank you for asking..x

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Somewhereoverthesea · 16/12/2022 13:41

I had a mastectomy and sentinel node removal as a day case in March 2021. I didn’t have any drains and was comfortable enough to to go home and just have paracetamol for pain relief. It was definitely sore, but not hugely painful if that makes sense. It was great to be home in my own bed and I made sure I had lots of pillows to prop me up to help me sleep. I couldn’t sleep on my non- surgical side for a week or two and even longer for the surgical side, but I was pretty comfortable otherwise. I made sure I did the gentle stretching exercises they give you, took plenty of rest as I needed through the day and I recovered well. I went on to have further Kadcyla treatment and radiotherapy.

I did develop a chronic seroma which then solidified, but that is by no means a given and has recently been removed during my DIEP flap reconstruction and other side reduction. That op had a 4 night stay and I am recovering very well from that one too now.

Good luck with your meeting on Thursday; I found it helpful to write a crib sheet of questions ahead of these things so you don’t forget to ask something. The conversation can often go at a pace and round the houses and suddenly you’re half way home when you realise you forgot to ask xyz!

I hope everything goes smoothly for the rest of your treatment and the most positive outcomes are achieved. Do shout if I can help any further xx

Silkierabbit · 16/12/2022 13:56

I had a mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy no reconstruction as day surgery this time last year. Had to go in day before for some dye to be injected and 3 days before for pre op covid test and weight etc, both those were quick.

Day surgery I had to arrive at 11am, was operated around 3pm, nothing much happened before just temp check, short chat with surgeon, pregnancy test if needed. Operated and then at 8pm sent home. Was in some pain but manageable and needed a week of pretty much nothing. Then pain a lot better. Needed to go back once to be drained. Otherwise fine. You do need to do the exercises they give you every day and get painkillers in, mine were paracetamol and ibuprofen and they gave me none. Also useful to have cushions and fleece things, soft things. Some people have a drain left in so best to get front opening tops which don't need to go over head. I had no drain and lived in a fleece onsie. It helps to be on a slope so I got reclining chair from IKEA but most people in UK use wedge pillows.

I needed further surgery a month later due to it being in lymph node and that was similar but more painful but within 2 weeks pain gone from that.

Chemo was about 10 times worse than either so you have done the worst part. Hope it goes fine for you.

realhousewifeofoc · 16/12/2022 14:02

Hi, I had mastectomy and full lymph mode clearance as a day case in 2018. I hope it goes well for you. I was sent home with a drain

Chocolateismyfavourite · 16/12/2022 18:47

Thanks for all the info, I really appreciate it🙂 I'd rather be home in my own bed than in hospital. I will definitely do any exercises they suggest, and will write a list of questions for Thursday, I've done that for every appointment because everything goes clear out my head once I'm in there and they're talking to me lol

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Chocolateismyfavourite · 01/01/2023 07:59

Just thought I'd post an update. Had the mastectomy on Friday lunchtime..was home by 730. All went well. Glad to be home. Feeling a bit achy but otherwise ok, very happy and relieved to have it gone.

Happy new year to everyone😊

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Chocolateismyfavourite · 01/01/2023 08:00

Oh! And I have no drain. Little bit of swelling came up yesterday, nothing else so far x

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WhoopItUp · 01/01/2023 08:02

i hope the recovery goes well OP Flowers

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 01/01/2023 08:12

Can I ask, the chemo aspect, how were you throughout this? We’re you very sick and feel like shit?
What helped?
Got a dear friend just diagnosed and about to start chemo, prior to surgeries and I want to put a package of comfort together for her. Your advice would be great.

I was shocked at day case for mastectomy as it is such a big operation and takes time. But the women don’t seem phased.
As long as pain/nausea/sickness is under control then they seem to do fine. One of the things that the surgeon does do at the end of the operation is to inject a long acting numbing “block” which is a local anaesthetic to block pain signals so that there is no pain immediately post op. These work really well to give time for the oral pain killers to take over.
It’s really clever stuff.

Silkierabbit · 01/01/2023 09:18

Glad op went well and you are back home. Good to have no drain. Bit of swelling is normal but any concerns just ring the breast care nurse or the number they gave. Sometimes you need to go in to be drained, I did about a week later but it literally took a minute and was painless then back home again. Just take it very easy and pain relief as needed and the exercises they gave you. At least cancer is out that's the main thing and hope 2023 will be good to you.

Chocolateismyfavourite · 01/01/2023 09:19

WhoopItUp · 01/01/2023 08:02

i hope the recovery goes well OP Flowers

Thank you, so far all is good x

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talkingmorenonsense · 01/01/2023 09:26

I used to work on a day surgery unit. We did some quite complex surgery including a breast surgery list. Outcomes for day surgery are excellent, as there is less risk of picking up any hospital acquired infections. Patients also recover much better at home. If anyone was needing more care, after surgery, we admitted them to a ward.

All the best for your surgery and wishing you a full recovery. 💐

talkingmorenonsense · 01/01/2023 09:27

Note to self, read the thread! All good so far @Chocolateismyfavourite great news.

Chocolateismyfavourite · 01/01/2023 09:30

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 01/01/2023 08:12

Can I ask, the chemo aspect, how were you throughout this? We’re you very sick and feel like shit?
What helped?
Got a dear friend just diagnosed and about to start chemo, prior to surgeries and I want to put a package of comfort together for her. Your advice would be great.

I was shocked at day case for mastectomy as it is such a big operation and takes time. But the women don’t seem phased.
As long as pain/nausea/sickness is under control then they seem to do fine. One of the things that the surgeon does do at the end of the operation is to inject a long acting numbing “block” which is a local anaesthetic to block pain signals so that there is no pain immediately post op. These work really well to give time for the oral pain killers to take over.
It’s really clever stuff.

This makes sense as where the boob was still feels numb, getting some feeling back now though, it's my arm pit that's achy ( they took a few nodes to check ) yes I thought I'd be in at least a night, but when I saw the surgeon a few weeks before when I didn't know I was having it so soon, he said it was day surgery, and to be fair, apart from managing the pain, I'm not sure what else could be done staying in, so I was very glad to be home in my own bed. Regarding the chemo, I had 12 weekly sessions, was ok for until about week 4, when the fatigue really hit me, prior to this, it was the odd day or afternoon, I didn't have a pattern, it'd just be as and when. I didn't feel sick or have upset stomach or anything, just the fatigue but that was bad enough, and also for me, the chemo accumulated so the more I had, the more tired I got, so from week, 7/8 I was basically just tired the whole time, but not normal tired, hard to explain. The things that helped me was, taking to chemo, a blanket - in there a long time sometimes and you can get chilly sitting there. No books, I couldn't concentrate after two lines so used my head phones and listened instead. I did get a funny metallic taste in my mouth and also, greasy some times, so sparkling water, mints, chewing gum and lots of oranges helped me with that. Oh and lip balm, got dry lips. What was really useful was my mum doing freezer meals for me and friends picking up my kids from school when my husband couldn't. Apart from that, just be at the end of the phone/ what's app and listen, two of my friends were absolute angels and were there the whole time that way for me, checking in most days to ask how I was, I'll never forget that from them. X

OP posts:
Somewhereoverthesea · 01/01/2023 09:32

Very glad to hear that everything went well, OP. Here’s to a smooth recovery 💐

Chocolateismyfavourite · 01/01/2023 09:33

Silkierabbit · 01/01/2023 09:18

Glad op went well and you are back home. Good to have no drain. Bit of swelling is normal but any concerns just ring the breast care nurse or the number they gave. Sometimes you need to go in to be drained, I did about a week later but it literally took a minute and was painless then back home again. Just take it very easy and pain relief as needed and the exercises they gave you. At least cancer is out that's the main thing and hope 2023 will be good to you.

Yes I was glad not to have one. Thanks good to know, I have three different info leaflets with different responses to the swelling on them, so not sure what was normal, I have been really careful with it so hopefully it's just post op swelling and not needing to be drained x

OP posts:
ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 01/01/2023 11:44

Thanks so much for the hints on what to put in the comfort pack.
So glad to hear that you are doing well, also glad to hear about your good friends supporting you x
Thanks again x

Chocolateismyfavourite · 05/01/2023 08:26

Just wondering, those of you who have had a mastectomy, can you recommend where to get some bras from please? I've not been wearing any since I had it done and realised I need some different ones lol. Thanks for any help. 🙂

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Silkierabbit · 05/01/2023 16:13

I got post surgery bras which open at the front and they take inserts - your hospital may supply the prosthesis - the bras I just got cheap ones from George at Asda but if you want nicer ones places like Ameona do them and they are good for breast forms if you haven't had reconstruction. I have 2 of their swimming ones which are good as they look similar to breasts and are OK in water whereas one hospital gave me if you got it wet it went wrinkly. Just google post surgery bra and lots of options come up. I just went for cheap ones.

Chocolateismyfavourite · 05/01/2023 21:01

Silkierabbit · 05/01/2023 16:13

I got post surgery bras which open at the front and they take inserts - your hospital may supply the prosthesis - the bras I just got cheap ones from George at Asda but if you want nicer ones places like Ameona do them and they are good for breast forms if you haven't had reconstruction. I have 2 of their swimming ones which are good as they look similar to breasts and are OK in water whereas one hospital gave me if you got it wet it went wrinkly. Just google post surgery bra and lots of options come up. I just went for cheap ones.

Yes they are supplying it for me. Thanks for the ideas, will have a look about. I think I need to ring the breast care nurses tomorrow, I have just hear a sort of sloshing sound, from where my boob was, I'm guessing fluid build up so best get it seen too

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Chocolateismyfavourite · 13/01/2023 20:21

I was just wondering if any of you had any nerve pain after the surgery? I have numbness above the scar, very achy arm pit and underside of the top of my arm, with intermittent twitching and a few little pains every now and then in the mastectomy area wich is fine and manageable. However, today, the stabbing pains I've been getting have been really really painful. Nothing is helping. Not sure what to do as everything I read just says it will go eventually.i can only take parachute and not ibruprofen as I'm on blood thinners.

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Chocolateismyfavourite · 13/01/2023 20:22

But the good news is the scar is actually amazing, very very neat and straight. So much better than I thought it'd be.

OP posts:
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