Hi Suziewong

Many thanks for your message, I'm doing good and trying to ignore the situation I'm in, it's how I cope best.......

Good luck for your appointment, please let us know how you get on!!

Rosie x

Hi CPPT

Glad you are feeling brighter already that's great news.  It's good they are keeping you in for a little while so that they can keep an eye on things.  I have to go back tomorrow for a check up (the nurse is coming into today to do a dressing change) and then see the nurse daily.  They are being cautious after the problems I had with the lumpectomy / lymph node removal.

The only issue I have is that I feel I have an elephant sitting on my chest at the moment but hopefully the breathing exercises will help that as each hour passes.

Really chuffed that you are now on the same recovery road as me............ Rosie x

Hi CCTP,

I am delighted to hear that you have had your operation. It is always good to be first on the list - saves all the waiting around. It won't do any harm to stay in for a few days. If nothing else, it will ensure that you rest up. I'm sorry to hear that you found it pretty painful yesterday, but glad to hear that you feel a little better today. If you continue to have pain, talk to one of the nurses. They have stronger painkillers that they can give you if you need them.

I presume that your remaining test is the analysis of your pathology sample. This usually takes about a week to come back, but you might get it a little quicker if you are an in patient.

I sincerely hope that your pain lessens soon and you can get back to normal.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Rosie,

I hope that you haven't missed the morphine since you arrived home. If the pain gets too much mention it to your breast care nurse. I am glad to hear that you are being looked after daily by the nurse - better safe than sorry is always my motto, as you don't want a repeat of the problems you had with the lumpectomy.

It is well worth perservering with the exercises and, hopefully that 'elephant' on your chest, will disappear soon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine

How you doing on this damp and "cool" Saturday morning?  Thank you for replying to my message, I was actually on here to look and see how long the "elephant" feeling lasts as it's definitely a full grown elephant and not a baby and certainly not shifting so far!!!!!!  You have to laugh about these things as it's the best way forward I think............  Since leaving hospital I've only taken paracetamol and trying to stick with that rather than go on the painkillers the hospital have given me.  I was doing really well until about 5am this morning, but struggling a bit now.  I've just got a hot water bottle to see if that helps relieve it at all!!

I really appreciate all you've contributed to this site, you are inspirational and I'm trying to follow in your footsteps.  Mind you, I'm not sure how you manage to do anything else in your life with all your help others here, you deserve a medal :D.......

I've managed to keep it all together and "clear" in my brain so far since I received the first re-call letter on 3rd May, but we've not told many people as I'm better keeping things like this to myself, I don't do the whole "how are you doing" scenario very well so if nobody knows they cannot ask and to date it has worked perfectly.

Can I just ask you one thing please, and it's something  [@CCPT]‍  metioned and that's looking at the "removal site".  How long did it take you to look?  I've not had an opportunity to and not sure I'm ready to yet but I know when they change the dressing today the opportunity will potential present itself.

Wishing you and any other people reading through this a lovely day.

Rosie xx

Hi Rosie,

It's a pretty miserable day here too, so have knuckled down to write my Christmas cards.

I am not sure how long the 'elephant' feeling lasts. I initially thought that this might be due to reconstruction more than anything else, but you haven't had your reconstruction yet, have you? I couldn't have reconstruction, and I never had this sensation, so I cannot help you with this. However I hope that it disappears soon for you. I think that I just felt overwhelming relief that I had removed as much as physically possible, as I had found 3 lumps in my breasts the previous year. This was for a cancer that was not supposed to be very aggressive.

With respect to looking at my breasts, I am a curious type of person, so I looked at the first dressing change. I must say that it didn't worry me. It did seem strange to be totally flat chested, as I had 44C breasts before this.

I have to wear elastic compression sleeves from my shoulders to the tip of my fingers, so couldn't really hide these. I frequently get asked what's wrong, so found it easier to be open with people and, discovered that the way I spoke about it myself made the biggest difference in how people reacted.

Thank you very much for your kind words about my input to this site. I got some fantastic help from others here when I first joined and, to be honest, it has always helped me to help others if I can.

You are doing well if you are managing with Paracetemol alone. I hope that you are resting up over the weekend and not trying to do too much.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

How are you now [@Rosie80]‍ I hope you're getting plenty of rest x

Morning Jolamine,

It's absolutely stunning here today, clear blue skies and sunshine and I feel great.  Took Senyta our 14 year old Husky out for a 3/4 hour walk this morning and brushed all the cobwebs away.

I won't have reconstruction until next year.  I was a 32D so feel a bit "deflated" on my right side but I have some padding to use when we go out at any point just to keep my confidence up.

I was a bit shocked last night as when washing before putting on my pj's found a lump in my left breast so when I go for dressing change tomorrow will ask the nurse to have a look / feel and make sure I'm not being paranoid.  My Husband can feel it easily so it's clearly not my imagination, just hoping it's something that showed on the mammogram or ultrasound I had before my first operation October that is "normal".  Suffice to say I'm not going to worry about it as no matter what it is, worrying doesn't help.

The elephant seems to have lost a bit of weight overnight!!  The Dr yesterday said it is normal and due to the pressure, apparently it can last up to a week but gradually diminishes during that time.  Still only taking paracetamol so feeling really chuffed.

Now to make a cottage pie for dinner..........

Have a lovely Sunday. Rosie x

Sounds like your recovery is going well for the most part. I ended up coming home yesterday, the difference a day made, I felt so much better. Just on mild painkillers too but still not out of my pjs. I haven't looked yet either. But going from an E to a slightly swollen B I can see a difference through the support bra I'm in. So get that deflated feeling. And the elephant on my chest feeling too! 
With regards to the new lump, I can't imagine that anything sinister would have been missed, of course impossible not to think about it. But you're up and about walking, that's amazing! 
Just waiting on the results of the tissue they took before I can relax. But taking it easy in the meantime.