Hi all, due to my BRCA2 genetic mutation I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (this after 2 lumpectomys and 8 rounds of chemo). This was 3 weeks ago now on the 23rd July.
I feel like ive definitely turned a corner pain wise and general movement is ok. I seem to be healing ok. I started driving 2 days ago. I am still trying to sleep on my wedge pillow.
I thought id start a post here just to find others that have had a similar surgery hoping to swap notes on recovery, exercises and just the general feeling of how you are getting on. Are you further ahead of me? Any regrets or things you would do differently or strongley encourage me to do?
I am struggling a little bit with accepting my new breasts. It is not a boob job. And it is taking a lot of energy to keep processing whats happened and how I look and feel now. I am hoping in time and with some exercise things “fall into place” so to speak 
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Hi @foxgem
Glad to hear you are doing well. Its slow and steady now. Keep moving, do the physio and when allowed massage all around your new boobs not just the scars. I had the same op 5 years ago next month. Some.days I love them, can wear normal non wired bras and feel and look normal apart from a cord I have on the top of my left boob. Consultant said its a cord that can only be cut by surgery but I dont want an op. I concentrated.my massage on the scars and they are quite invisible now.
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Thank you @Ahbc21 Ive read a lot of posts that mention cording but I haven’t looked into this yet. My surgeon hasnt actually given me any details on massge yet. I have my pathology results with him on Monday so I will ask.
I am looking forward to feeling normal. Looking normal? Im not sure haha maybe I will think I look normal one day. I am 40 now, if I live till im 80 I will have had these new boobs in one form or another for as much time as my natural ones
Hi. I’m 2 weeks post DMX and immediate DIEP recon. I have the BRACA 1 gene which I didn’t know about until this happened. I also have to have radiotherapy in a couple of months cos the where the Tumour had spread too.
I know it’s a difficult path to be on and the surgery is major. I am generally happy with my foobs but have had days where I feel very down and tearful. I think all these feelings are very normal and I think you need to be kind to yourself and take it all one day at a time. Sending healing hugs your way. X
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Yes one day at a time
When all this happened I couldnt look at photos of me before. I lost so much weight and my hair was awful. No eyebrows and no lashes. It felt like I lost my whole self and it was so painful to look at myself from before and know how much everything had changed. But I had a conversation with my counsellor about it and she asked me if I felt the same loss when I look at photos of myself as a child? Obviously I dont. And I realised there’s nothing any of us can do to go back or be who we were last year, 5 years ago, 10 years ago. We cant even go back and be who we was yesterday. I was always going to change because we all do. Though I would have preferred a slower change 
it isnt hard to look at photos of before anymore. Infact I love them as I do baby photos of myself. I am different now but that’s not a bad thing.
If I think about the loss of my boobs too much, it does upset me. But I know that in time they could become as normal as my new hair cut. It will just take time. X
Big hugs
Does anyone do any massage for the implants or the scars? I forgot to ask my surgeon. My chest above the implants is so tight I wonder if some massage might help. It is so tender though even 4 weeks post op