Hi everyone. I go in for a right side mastectomy in the morning and to be honest I’m dreading it. Any advice on staying calm please feel free to throw at me.
Stay good peeps.
So sorry you are having to go through this.
The above suggestions relate to my experience after reconstruction and not my mastectomy but if it helps anyone not go through what I went through that is great:
I would ask about pain control, do the staff administer it or do you have a pump that you have to use independently. Perhaps get a family member to call and make sure your pain is being controlled. Make sure that they provide suitable snacks for after the op and eg not an egg sandwich which is impossible to eat after a long op.
All the best for a speedy recovery. Along the way through treatment we had lots of little party times and I found humour a great help along with tears too at times. xx
Had my surgery last week so still very fresh in my mind! Just some suggestions that worked for me - trust in your medical team - they are all highly trained and well practiced, accept that while surgery is worrying it is life saving and pretty amazing, let the nurses look after you (I was checked up on regularly from the moment I came round in recovery) and take as much pain relief as you need. Accept that it will take time to recover and don’t beat yourself up about not being your old self for a good while. If possible, find something absorbing to do (not doom scrolling!) to stop your mind from racing (puzzles, reading, anything). Remember that thousands of us have been through this and come out the other side and are here for you. Wishing you all the very best for tomorrow.