Hi Silverdays,

Don't let these scary posts upset you. If you are worried about managing post-op pain, changing dressings, sleeping, managing stairs and sitting, why not phone your breast care nurse for advice? I suspect that you will be prescribed pain meds when you leave the hospital and that they will probably arrange for a district nurse to change your dessings and drains. This certainly happened with me when I had a double mastectomy, but I haven't had reconstruction. 

It might also be worth asking what pain meds the hospital advise, as it might be worth asking your GP for some before you have your procedure. The hospital usually only give you enough for a few days and you won't want to be bothered looking for medication immediately after you've had your surgery.

I hope that you hear some positive stories soon, because there definitely are some around.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine, always positive.

it is difficult when you read posts about what terrible times people have had courtesy of Dr Google and I always tell others not to read too much!

im sure I will have pain meds it's the tummy healing Im more worried about.

Also I have to go back to the hospital with any problems which is a specialist plastic surgery one and quite a journey rather than my own hospital where I had masectomy and treatment.

No doubt I will survive it all, I'll let you know!

Thanks

Silver x 

HI Silverdays,

When are you due to have your surgery now? Try to steer clear of Dr Google - he only sets our imaginations into overdrive!

Did you heal well after your mastectomyy? If you had no problems then, the chances are that you will be fine this time too. The main thing to watch when you get home, is that everything you use to dress and then wash the area is as clean as it can possibly be, as you don't want to introduce any infection to the wound.

I'm sorrry to hear that the new hospital is so much further away, but here's hoping that you won't have to go back too often.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I'm hoping to find out at my pre assessment on Tuesday, Valentines Day! I've already had scans and tests and the doctors think I am a good candidate. I did heal well after masectomy but was nauseous I remember from the anaesthesia. I have been not thinking about cancer too much over the last year or so but this op has taken over my life as it's on my mind a lot. Cancer just seems to go on and on...

Have you heard anything from Billygoat? He was always replying to me and now he's quiet...

Best wishes Jolamine I am sure you are a big comfort to a lot of people on here x 

Hi Silverdays,

I was commenting about this with someone else recently. I haven't heard anything from Billy since November - I hope that he is ok. If you're about pal, please let us know how you're both doing.

It is understandable that you get more nervous as your time draws near. I'm sure that your care team wouldn't consider doing this operation if they didn't feel that you are a suitable candidate. Yep, Cancer just keeps on giving - but there is an end in sight for you now!

Thank you for your kind comment.

Stay strong.

Jolamine xx

Hi Silverdays, Is Diep reconstruction on NHS ? As my surgeon said he did not do this or tram something. Just curious  I had lumpectomy & mamoplasty didn't fancy flip of back fat as thought that would ooze lots & irritate make me sensitive skin itch which I would scratch then probably get infected. I wish you well, stand with back to water in shower try not to wet dressings and pat dry. Important to keep dressings dry. 

Yes it is on NHS. My local hospital doesn't do Diep so am going to a specialist plastic surgery hospital. The doctors are trained in micro surgery. I am sure they will give me instructions to keep dressings clean and dry. Anxious about op but looking forward to feeling whole again.

Thank you for reply

Silver 

Thankyou for replying, I must have miss heard, perhaps a diep might have been on  offer. Sure you'll  be fine.

Hi Silverdays

I'm new to this forum but had mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction two weeks ago. I may have been lucky but honestly I have had minimal pain and discomfort so far.

Day 1 is tricky as you can barely move and should be woken hourly to check the flap has survived the microsurgery. This is done with a Doppler - like when you are pregnant! You will still have general anaesthetic drugs in you so it actually isn't as awful as it sounds.

Day 2 you are shown how to roll to the side and sit up and you can usually stand and walk a tiny bit. You will be hunched over for a bit (nowhere near as bad as for a TRAM procedure). I am now fully upright and have been for about a week. You will have a catheter and I had three drains - one breast and two abdomen.

I was lucky enough to not need pain meds and to get drains out on day 4 when I was discharged - a day earlier than expected due to good progress. However, I wouldn't have stayed off the pain meds if I hadn't been pain free without them. Most people do need them for a while. For me the most painful thing was getting the abdomen drains out and even that wasn't too bad.

I put a lot of my good progress down to having no expectations of pain/no pain and keeping as positive as possible. I wasn't super fit before the op but pleased to be having it done, like you.

I'm mindful I'm in the early stage of recovery but wanted you to know that it really doesn't have to be awful. My scars are healing and my tummy tight and breast a bit sore and bruised but I'm coping fine - if anything I'm a bit bored!! I'm based in New Zealand and my surgery happened during major floods and now we have a cyclone hitting and a second state of emergency.  I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to!!!

I hope this gives you some comfort. I am getting my daughter to take photos each week so I can map progress. They are not pretty right now but I do plan on sharing at some point to give others some idea of what to expect.

Hope it all goes well and your recover starts as well as mine!

DaisyBlossie

Thank you very much for replying. It helps to have a positive post and I shall try and stay that way. I am hoping to have a date for surgery when I have my pre assessment on Tuesday. The waiting is the worst as my mind is taken over again as when I was first diagnosed. Mine is a delayed recon as I had a masectomy followed by chemo and radiotherapy. It took me a year to decide on Diep going forward. Having lived with one breast and prothesis Im sure you will be glad to have both at the same time. Hope the weather improves in NZ and your healing carries on so well.

Best Wishes 

Silver