Hi @laineyb73 Glad you got through your surgery OK and pain better than expected. I had my lumpectomy and SNLB yesterday. All went well. Much less scary than I anticipated. Never had a general before so it was fear of the unknown. Surgeon had to do a chest flap to fill the tumour bed as I have small boobs. That wound seeped a fair bit of blood yesterday but seems to be OK today. I’ve had minimal discomfort. Have been taking paracetamol regularly and not needed the dihydrocodeine they prescribed yet. Have started the exercises in the Breast Cancer Now booklet this morning but am only doing 1 - 4 at the moment as 5-6 are pulling on the SNLB & flap wounds. I sympathise with you re difficulty sleeping on back. I found it virtually impossible last night, particularly as had to be partly propped up. (Normally sleep on surgery side) Couldn’t get comfortable at all and only managed a few hours. If anyone has any additional tips on back sleeping, I would be glad to hear them. Take care x
Great you’re doing well. Fear of the unknown is a big part of this journey but at least surgery has been less scary than we thought!
I saw the plastic surgery nurse yesterday to check everything. She said that I can sleep on my side if I want to…….. I was day 11 post surgery yesterday.
Hi @alpacagirl popped over from May Starters and saw your Post.
Re BACK SLEEPING
I am a side/tummy sleeper, so having a PICC for chemo, and Mastectomy was huge as I had to back sleep. I have a bad lower back and back sleeping is a real “pain” for me.
My saviour was an old recliner bed which props me up at different levels. But if you havent option for these then you can get wedges from Mobility Sites that help with raising you up, without pillows squashing down all the time. You can either place these under the mattress or ontop. Then use pillows for comfort.
Lots on Amazon called… wedge pillows…post surgery..
The other game changer was “V” shaped pillows. Ive had different ones over the year and all have been useful. I can wedge myself into a comfortable position. I normally put my arms ontop of the pillow, with pillow tucked right next to me..
Dunelm sell them. One is very firm. Another, less so. I have both to mix and match.
Dunelm also have a settee cushion with arms and a back…looks like a mini chair but is a cushion, which may also be useful. Ive not used one of these because of my recliner bed. But Id consider trying one if I just had a normal flat bed.
I also got a woollen V shaped pillow from the Wool shop. This I can fill with extra wool to firm it up. Sadly its expensive, but I liked the flexibility with it..and it was a treat as I couldnt go out much anyway…so where I saved on one area, I treat myself in another.
I then use normal pillows to bulk up the sides if need be. I used extra pillows to rest my drain on, after my operation. I also used extra pillows to rest my arm on, after mastectomy, and rest my PICC arm on.
Some also recommend having a pillow under your knees.
Some ladies like cuddle cushions.
If you Search … back sleeping … on this site, you may find more ideas.
Hope you find what works for you.
Hope this helps abit. Back sleeping is awful, but I managed over most of this year. So it is doable.
Wishing you all the best on your operation recovery. 
Hi @poppy261 I pop in and out of other threads too. So many nuggets of useful advice to be found throughout this forum 
I’ve seen some of your other posts/responses, you seem an incredibly supportive lovely person. This malarkey is a real slog at times but selfless kind people like you make such a difference. Thanks so much for your very useful tips on back sleeping. It seems a bit pathetic to complain about it with everything else going on but I find lack of sleep on top of daytime fatigue makes me feel so much worse the next day. Ho hum, hopefully I can go back to my normal side sleeping in a few weeks 
Wishing you all the best
That is so very kind of you @alpacagirl I think it is such a wonderful Forum. Its lovely to share ideas and support each other. Its a tough call Cancer and all the treatments that follow. 
Youre definitely not being selfish re Back Sleeping. I think to cope with operations, and not sleep, is a huge problem. We seriously need rest. Without it our recovery can take longer.
Plus its painful after operations and we have to protect the damaged tissues. So being safe in bed is a high priority.
So make sure you completely pamper yourself in whatever way suits you best.
I never thought Id cope with back sleeping, but being slightly raised up, snuggled by my V Shaped pillows, then extra pillows around me, has made it all doable.
Pop over to May Starters anytime. Or just tag me in to any question you want to ask, if you think I may be able to come up with and idea.
Sending love and strength during your recovery.
Hope everyone is doing well. I saw the breast surgeon today, 2 weeks after my double mastectomy. I have no lymph node involvement and clear margins so I won’t need radiotherapy which is great. The tumour in my right breast which was only found after extensive investigations and was reported as being 7mm turned out to be 60mm so thank goodness I didn’t opt for a lumpectomy on that side.
Anyway, I should be feeling really happy and euphoric but I feel really flat and unemotional. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m thinking it’s because since the diagnosis in March, I have been trying to be strong and get on with things and have been suppressing my emotions. Plus there is still 1 year of Herceptin and 5 years of AI treatment to come so not over by a long shot.
You are right, it’s a long slog. I am almost 5 weeks post dmx with TUG flap recon. Amongst other stuff, I’ve to take Letrozole for 7 years. I’m only on day 2, so waiting for the side effects to kick in (and hoping that they won’t). I had my first bisphosphonates infusion on Wednesday, which hit me like a tonne of bricks the next day. I spent the day shivering in bed, but luckily I felt much better by Friday.
I think emotionally I am maybe protecting myself. I am getting on with it all, but perhaps not thinking too much about what is happening to me as it’s a lot to cope with. Sad that I doubt life will ever be what it was before in terms of physical abilities, but hey! You never know. One step at a time. X
Hi @laineyb73 just popped over from May Starters and saw your Post.
I had a single mastectomy in February, with 5 lymphs removed.
It took me around 7weeks to feel OK after the operation.. which is major surgery.
You have had a double mastectomy and reconstruction. That is huge. Your body physically will be shattered still. Emotionally you will be exhausted..
I think all you ladies going through operations recently, need to really hold on to how strong and wonderful you all are.
Noone asked us if we wanted cancer. Everyones journey is slightly different to another persons, but each and everyone of us have been forced down a road we never thought we would be on.
Take comfort in the strength you have already shown you have, but also be kind to yourself, as your bodies need time to heal..
It is fine to have bad days. You will have them. But rest, and treat yourself at those times. Just nurture yourself.. If you need to talk to someone, join up with a BCNow Someone Like Me Volunteer, they are wonderful, or talk to MacMillan /BCN helplines. There is always someone to listen.
What you are feeling is totally understandable. After reconstruction, I would guess you need at least 3 months to really feel fitter and less tired. Your operation is huge.
I damaged my leg last year. It had a deep cut that needed over 20stitches. It took 10weeks before it fully healed over, but it took at least 6months before it stopped telling me it was there. A year on, I still feel its presence. Though not as much. All that was, was a deep gash. Not a DMX. Not a reconstruction.
Im not sure if you have hopped over to March Starters where ladies have just had operations… and are all willing to share experiences. Foxgem and Wibbles have just recently had operations and will share thoughts/experiences with anyone. Also theres a thread called …. Mastectomy. Flat and Fabulous or Reconstruction… where lots of ladies have discussed operations, thoughts, feelings.
You are certainly not alone. So jump across threads if you need to. You are all welcomed in any month. We in May starters are just finishing chemo, so still in early stages of Radiotherapy and waiting for operations. A number of us had operations pre chemotherapy.
2 weeks is seriously early days in your recovery. You will get there. You will get stronger. But it all takes time. I found it easier living each day. Our body simply needs time, and so do we emotionally need time.
If bad days happen, just let them wash over us. But dont worry about them. I call emotions our own personal Sat Navs/Road Maps. They let us know when we need to rest, or when we can have fun. A flat day will be when you need to rest. So rest and give yourselves lots of TLC. Tomorrow is another day.
Sending you love and strength. 
Goodness, you two have both been through huge operations @corriem .
Just wanting to send you some strength and love to get you through the next stage of healing, recovery and next stage of treatment. .
I hope you are also managing to rest and look after yourself.
Thinking of you.
Thanks for your lovely kind words, much appreciated. Having this forum is so helpful.
I am not very good at taking things slowly but recovery is going well. One step at a time, moving forwards to the new “normal “
You’re welcome @laineyb73
Yes, it all takes a lot of readjusting doesnt it. Glad to hear your operation generally, went well. That must be reassuring for you.
Keep watching those feelings though. They can be a bit mischievous sometimes when they suddenly spring on us and take us by surprise.
You take care. Love and strength sent your way.
Hi @laineyb73 I was just browsing the chats with a coffee this morning and I see your post and couldnt not reply. I am 9 weeks post double mastectomy and I remember those first few weeks very well. Its worth keeping in mind that we can experience mild depression, low mood and anxiety in the first couple of weeks after being under anesthetic. Especially as dmx would have been a good few hours.
The surgery we’ve had is life changing, its person changing. I feel different now. I literally mean physically as well. Sometimes I feel like ive woken up in the wrong body. And the image I see in the mirror looking back at me is weird and there’s no escaping it. It has taken me a long time to feel comfortable naked when bathing and getting dressed. Even now I have to brace myself before undressing. A gentle reminder of “remember things are different now” just so I don’t jump scare myself. And I am using the word comfortable lightly. I am very proud of my body and the sacrifice it made to save my life but it will take many months, maybe years to be fully comfortable.
But 9 weeks past and it really is a little easier I promise. I have low days of course after all thats happened this last year but keep taking 1 day at a time, keep doing your arm exercises as much as you can and soon enough there will be days you sit there and forget what’s under your tshirt. We get used to our new normal with time, patience and lots of love for ourselves
Thanks @foxgem . A week on from my post things are getting easier in some ways. I know what you mean about being physically different. Sometimes I forget that I’ve had dmx and reconstruction and wonder why I have white chocolate buttons instead of nipples now! It’s still early days and I know the bruising and swelling will go down.
You have been so brave and your words of wisdom have been really helpful. It is so helpful to know we are not alone in this journey.
I think when I got the all clear, I started thinking about when I would have to go back to work. People will think, well the worst is over now so she will get back to normal and come back to work soon. TBH, this made me panic slightly, I don’t feel in the slightest bit ready to go back to work yet. There is a lot of processing to be done and acceptance of the new me.
Keep being strong x