On 25th Oct I had a mastectomy and reconstruction in r breast and a reduction in left breast after previously having a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy (3 operations all within 5 weeks).
I was in hospital for 5 days and had to go home with the drain in for 3 more days…I am now getting sharp pains in reduced breast (though the surgeon says it is because my nerve ends have been sliced to bits in the surgery so I have to expect this…I went back today and they found one of the wounds is weeping and they have put a honey dressing on it …to draw the wound I was told…Has anybody had this dressing before and did it work.
I have had support from my partner but no one except another breast cancer patient really knows what it feels like.
I have not really come top terms with what is happening to me yet and I was so unready for how incapacitated I was when I came out of hospital …I am thinking I may use some counselling of some sort to help me come to terms with things…
Hi Janbilly
While you are waiting for other forum members to come along and offer support, could I also suggest you give our Helpline a call to talk over how you are feeling. They can offer you information and support. The opening times are 9-5 on weekdays and 10-2 on Saturdays. The number is 0808 800 6000.
Take care
Very best wishes
Janet
BCC Moderator
Hi Janbilly , i am due to have this operation soon, i think if you have concerns speak to the breast care nurses , you know your own body and if you need reassurance etc they can be useful. Counselling can be useful too, give it a go and remenber to take lots of rest and allow yourself time to adjust to your situation. Hope you feel better soon take care
Sarah66 x
Honey dressings are great - I had to have dressings for weeks after my op and the honey worked a treat 
- Easy to apply - with great antibiotic properties as well as being good at drawing the slough out of the wound - I was started with iodine dressings but they did not have the drawing properties that honey dressings have so did not do the job - all started to heal much quicker once the honey dressings were used
Hope your wound heals well and you start to feel better about things soon.
Best wishes
Liz x
Hi there,
I am due to have a l mx on the 20th Nov, I hope it all goes well but as you said, its not easy for someone who has not experienced it to really fully understand how you will feel afterwards…that is my concern at the moment and also the amount of time it takes to recover!
I had a meeting today about the surgery and was very upset as I signed the consent form, it all made it so real and I was surprised at how upset I felt … I am sure with time it will be easier to deal with, but the initial thoughts must be hard to deal with… keep us posted on how you are; this site is good for support and advice…
mary x
Hi Jan,
I had a mastectomy and reconstruction on 23/10 so we are at about the same stage. There was another lady in the bed next to me in hospital who was being treated with honey and it worked a treat, considering it was her 3rd attempt at having a replacement breast her skin didnt heal well and rejected the implants each time.
The honey is Australian and our Aussie nurse confirmed they use it there as well as it’s really good. I am being dressed with iodine which is slowing down the recon weeping which happens when the mx skin breaks down.
It is a very disabling time, and I can definitely say I have not enjoyed falling back down when trying to get out of the bath or not being able to take my own clothes off, BUT… this is one of the major steps towards recovery and hopefully normality.
My new boobs kind of round with a kind of corner on it, it looks like I’ve had a chelsea bun stuck under my skin 
but I have had a psychological boost from having the offending breast removed- I just feel happier, and for me anything was better than the chemo I went through
Did you have any lymph nodes removed and do you have that weird stinging/numbness under your arm?
mfdoll & sarah66 it’s gonna be ok good luck for your op’s
Hi and thankyou to all who responded…great to know I am not alone in all this.
I go back for another check up tomorrow and to see how honey dressing has worked (or not)…I dread the thought that they may have to open me up again and take the implant out if it does not heal up soon… I have had 3 ops already. I had a sentinel lymph node op and lumpectomy before this…they took out 2 lymph nodes…I am still sore and swollen 3 weeks down the line and I am worried about getting lymphodema as I have seen some nightmare photos of it.
I have managed to dress myself this week so a small miestone.
I hope you all get some good news soon
Hi to everybody. Had mx & immediate reconstr. 13 weeks ago yesterday. Luckily had no treatment before or after op. Had LD back muscle reconstruction/ doing exercises 3 times a day which are helping, but still feel like I’m wearing a straight jacket due to the back muscle being brought around to the new boob, also still have slight stiffness under arm. Is there anybody that could give me an approx timescale of when/ this feeling will go. Also, when can I get back to doing digging in my garden!!! I’m 66 but usually very active. . Good luck to all you ladies xx