I’m due to go for a bilateral mastectomy on Thursday 8th with immediate recostruction using stretcher implants. I will be also having my overies removed due to them looking abnormal on the CT scan which was followed by an ultra sound. They have told me that it will be an 8hr opp and that i will have drainage tupes and i will be allowed home when these are removed which will be approx 7 - 10 days.
how can i expect to feel after the opp, as its getting closer now i’m getting a little nervous.
Everyone feels different after the op, i were a little groggy and sick, but that is apparently a side affect of the GA. I had a bilateral mastectomy 8weeks ago now, and am being honest i spent 11days in hospital, and have had a few infections etc since.
I am now on the mend, still taking pain relief. Expect a lot of emotions as it is a major operation. You are not just having bilateral mastectomy, but also having ovaries removed. I were in theatre for just over 3hrs and ended up being in recovery for almost 2hrs!
My advice is talk to a friend, BN, or even your surgeon your fears, as they are better being spoken about now than when you wake up.
I wish you all the very best of luck with your operation
i keep trying to tell my self that everything be ok but then i start thinking that 8hrs is long time to be under. obviously my surgeon thinks that i’m fit enough. in a way i am looking forward to it to get the rest of the cancer out.
when i spoke to my breast nurse she said that i would be back to work within 3-4weeks.
Through all of my chemo my firends and family have been brilliant making me laugh, joking about my bald head etc… now its getting closer to the op they have all changed and have become very concerned and instead of the normal greeting like ’ hey up baldy’ they are now looking very sympathetic and saying things like’ how are you feeling’. may this is why i have started to get all nervous.
Glad to hear that you are now on the mend, how soon did you look at your scars after your surgery.
I to was very scared and I only had a simple masectomy and snb at the same time, went to theatre at four back in ward at 8.30 felt fine but had to look at wound immediately as I don’t think I really beleived that they were going to really take my boob away, so when I looked I was still a bit woosy, had cup of tea and chat with oh and two of my sons, then don’t remember anything until the next morning, when they removed my drip and gave me some pain killers, I am now five weeks post op, have movement back in arm and shoulder, but the area were the boob was is still very tender and has a numbeness to it bn says this will go with time. Am now awainting rads. Good luck and will be thinking of you
Thanks for your feedback it really does help. I Couldn’t sleep last night thinking about how i’m going to look with no boobs and was up out of bed at 6am. I’m all packed and ready to go, i have to be there at 3pm today so i’m ready for the morning. But I’ve now come to the conclusion that what has to be done has to be done. It’s a good job my oh isn’t a boob man hey so i don’t have to worry about that, he has been brilliant throughout all of this and has told me NOT to hide myself or he’ll shout at me, as its me he loves not my boobs. (ahhh bless)
Somehow i don’t think that i will be back to work 3-4 weeks after opp as my bn said as Tracey is still taking pain relief 8 weeks after and Heather is still very tender 5 weeks after, so. I think i’ll get my rads over and done with first then see how i feel. Will be nice to get back to normal though.after the rollercoaster ride.
How long were your drainage tubes in Heather, i don’t think i can be as brave as you and look straight away but watch this space i may even suprise myself. I’m glad to hear that everything went ok for you, did you have recon or will you be have it at a later date? Let me know houw you get on with your rads when you get your dates sorted.
Thanks again everyone for your support
Love
Karen xxx
I have opted not to have a reconstruction, and my drainage tubes were in for three days, and was in hospital for five days. Unfortunately when my gp saw my infection it was the same day as I needed a new certificate for work. He had a little chat about what I do and then gave me a certificate which takes me up the new year. As I am bar/resturant supervisor and do quite a bit of lifting he said that he was not going to let me back until my rads were complete. And he felt that i did quite long shifts and that I may need to go back part time to start with. To say the least I was surprised because I felt reasonable well although I had an infection I expected another two weeks and then to go back whilst having rads he would not think about it and told me I had to go and see him when this certificate runs out and he will review it then. I am now bored and have talked other half into decorating the front room hes not amused. oh well such a shame for him.
Anyway good luck and let us know how you are as soon as you can get on line again.
Good Luck for Thursday. I had 7 and half hour operation for mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. When I came round on the hdu I was sure that I had to count from 10 as you do before op, I could not believe that time had gone from 9am to 7.30pm, unbelievable and I did not feel a thing. Before hand I had been petrified.
I was very lucky I had little pain but did feel uncomfortable, four tubes and catheter, but we managed between nurses and hubby. It is ok to have down days and cry, I did but they did pass, probably being tired did not help, hospitals are busy at night or so they seemed. 7 weeks have gone by now and I am going out and about, lots of lunches with friend, went to Ireland for Jazz festival last week and managed.
Everyone is different and we all have different pain thresholds and recovery times, don’t rush yourself to get back to work. I decided to go back to work in November but now I am toying with the idea that after xmas would be a realistic time. My PS and breast surgeon keep saying enjoy your time off and don’t rush things. May just take their advice.
Like Heather I got my hubby decorating, he is not amused either. shame!!
Will be thinking of you tomorrow, let us know how you get on.
last time on here before i go. You both have made it sound not so bad and i thank you for that. i’m quite suprised with myself at the moment but i’m actually feeling quite calm.
Funny about the decorating i got my other half to do it while in hospital, he’s not amused either (he he)
Anyway i’m going now so i’ll speak to all when i get home.
Lots of Love and Best wishes
Love you all
Karen
xxxx