Well it’s all done … had my op 16 days ago and thought I would share my experience
BRCA 2 gene so opted for a preventative surgery , after 18 months or so of meeting appointments I decided to proceed and got my date
Surgery went well 9 hours went quite fast lol , woken up feeling not to bad at all no real aim but I guess that was high meds
Monitored during the night every half hour with the dropper to ensure the boob was getting enough blood supply
When I came round after a unsettled night I found I had 3 drains 2 in each breast and one in the tummy , catheters a large cotton wool pad covering my boobs , air floats bumping air around my legs and a pain quell administrating anistetic into my tummy
They got me up and moving the day after which was a laugh , even just sitting on the chair for ten mins until my blood pressure went low and next thing I remember I was back in bed
The 2 days after surgery where kind of ok really but day 3 omg it hit me like a bus , bruised, sore numb and pain everywhere , walking like a hunch back but I did it
Home after 6 days with some excel uses for my arms
Recovery at home I’m finding is the hard bit , on paracetamol and codine pretty much every 4 hours , managed now to keep my bowels going which after 13 days of laxatives was a bit like giving birth but it seems to have sorted self out
The only real problem is a hemotoma on my left boob which they say I have to let bleed (with a dressing on) as it’s my body’s way of getting rid of the junk -all drains came out on day 4 whilst in hospital , the area is very swollen as is the tummy and both boobs ,
I’m on to week 3 which everyone tells me should get drimatically easier to move and become more comfortable to do things on my own
I think I seriously underestimated the recovery time thinking it will be good be loving soon -big shock
A front fastening nightshirt is a must as is a front fastening bra
My stomach is lovely if not very swollen but am happy with that result and my boobs again apart from being swollen look fab
Any questions just ask , be kind to yourselves and take it easy it’s not a walk in the park like I thought but I have days where I can manage and some days where I think -what on Earth have I done , stay strong ?? x x
Hi Shopping_snowball
Thank you so much for sharing your story with everyone here. Even though you havent had any replies yet I can see that many people have read this. It sounds like you had preventative surgery, but you may find more support and response in the Surgery section of the Forum. I wonder if you would like to post there as well? Your experience will be relevant to many.
Best wishes
Anna
Digital Community Officer
I’m up for a DIEP on 23rd September and am stealing myself to read of other people’s experiences. It seems that you required a fair amount of recovery time and also, I’m guessing, a fair amount of help.
I will say that I’m getting nervous about the whole thing now although it seems that the majority of DIEPs are successful. I am wondering also, though, about ending up with the DIEP breast being coniderably higher than my remaining breast, also whether I will be left with ‘dog ears’ either side of my hip bones.
It’s different for all of us I know.