I had mastectomy and reconstruction last week friday. For me things that helped recovery mastectomy cushions from jens friend, drains  bag from drains dollies, very slouchy top and bottoms, i didn't need to resort to pj s with buttons as my arm was sufficiently mobile to get into my slouchy wear, cropped top or vest tops but i know some ladies would tell you they couldn't move their arm to dress other than shirts with buttons. Im in week one of my recovery gentle walks in nature is very healing and telling myself its ok if i dont do things that i m too tired to do. Good luck 

The breast cancer books and nurse will say recovery of 2 to 4 weeks but you really need to give yourself time to see how it works out for you. Ask if the surgeon will remove your drains before you leave hospital, they should also give you excercises published by breast cancer care on day after surgery so that you start movement after surgery. If you can try to plan nice thing's to do with friends family before your surgery...it ll take your mind off things and hopefully the mind stops worrying..

Hi there ...

Well the op itself is the easy part ... there's not much pain surprisingly... the little heart shaped soft cushion I was given by cancer nurse for under my arm pit was a god send ... as it does ache after ... have you got someone to help with your little one for the first couple of weeks ... don't worry you can't carry him much for a while .. you can still have cuddles though watch your scar ... put a soft blanket in between you .. 

Every one is different after .. age, fitness, and things come into play ... one lass was off out strait away , others took more time .. you will probly not feel like doing much ... listen to your body .. when it needs rest , listen ... build up slowly ... take any offers of help you can .. shopping , cleaning , washing and ironing ... don't feel scared to ask ... 

My scar filled with fluid a few days after comming home and needed draining at g ps ...which didn't hurt either .. so look out for it getting hot .. and swelling ... though hopefully you won't get that ...

Well you can do this .. lots of us breast lasses on here.... we've all been where you are now ... mine was nearly two years ago, can't believe how quick times gone ... so get your pink boxing gloves on .. get in the ring with all of us, and we'll kick cancers butt together ... 

Sending a vertual hug.... Chrissie xx

Hi,

I hope you don’t mind that I am replying to your old post, I have just came across it. I was hoping you could maybe give me some tips on post mastectomy, I am due to have a double mastectomy next Tuesday, I have a 10 year old and an 11 week old. Any tips on still being a mum and trying to recover from a mastectomy would be great. 

I hope you are recovering well.

Many thanks,

E xx

Hi ED29,

My, you have been through a lot recently. It sounds as if you are Superwoman! Only 11 weeks since you gave birth to a baby and now you're facing a bilateral mastectomy - poor you.

I am just butting in here as this is an old post and you may not get a reply. Not many people have had a double mastectomy. Most just have the one. I had a double mastectomy 9 years ago, having had a lumpectomy 10 years ago. I found that I had less problem with the mastectomies than I did with the lumpectomy. I found it helpful to have nightwear that opened at the front, as I found it difficult to lift clothes over my head to start with. This also made it easier to be examined in hospital.

I was advised to get 2 bags for my drains and made two open topped shoulder bags, but I didn't need them in the end, because my hospital provided some. I also bought 2 small heart-shaped pillows to place under my arms. In the event, 1 would have been sufficient, as I could only use 1 at a time.  I see that Chriss has mentioned that she had to have the build up of fluid drained at her GPs. I had this done twice while I was in hospital. Doctors don't like doing this unless the area is very swollen, as it can encourage further build up of fluid.

Recovery varies from one person to the next, depending upon age, stage of cancer, state of general health, general fitness, etc. I found that I was very tired after surgery and just had to give in to this. It took quite a few years before this began to improve. I still don't lift anything heavy. Although you can certainly cuddle your 10 year old, you won't be lifting him. However, you'll just need to play it by ear with the baby, who will be getting heavier with time. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to cope with a baby as young as yours immediately after surgery. I know that you don't have a choice, but I imagine that recovery may be harder for you as a result.

Do you have a relative or friend who could help you out for a while? Don't refuse any offers of help, as I'm sure that you will appreciate every one.

It is important to do your exercises religiously after surgery. I did this, but still ended up with the added complication of Lymphoedema in both arms.

You can certainly do this and, we are all right here with you. Please let us know how you get on. I shall be thinking of you on Tuesday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you for replying to my post. I am now one week post op, I’m doing ok. Really frustrated that I can’t do very much or lift the baby. My right arm were they removed some lymph nodes is in a lot more pain than my left arm. On a good day I feel like I’m able to get up and do anything but then I push a little to much, and I certainly suffer with more pain, when in reality it’s not that I’m doing much at all, I would describe it as doing as little as possible if I was fit and able.

The nurses have told me 3 weeks from the op is  when I’ll be able to start doing more, I should be able to lift the baby, hoover etc and even be able to drive. 

When I wake up in the mornings once I have finally fallen asleep I am so stiff, both my hands are like claws, I need to try open and close them to loosen them up.

Any tips on recovery would be more than welcome.

Many thanks,

ED x

Hi ED,

I had tissue removed from both arms, although fortunately, no lymph nodes were affected. I still have a tenderness under my right arm, whereas I've no bother with the left. It is frustrating to have to slow down so much, but you will only hamper your recovery if you try to do too much. The main thing to concentrate on at the moment is doing your exercises religiously. How are your wounds doing?

You don't need to do much to tire yourself out. Normally I would advise you to give in to the exhaustion and sleep as and when you need to, but I don't see how you can manage this with a new baby and a 10 year old. The best thing to do is to try and sleep when the baby sleeps.

If your hands continue to give you bother, there is a device called a sports grip which is a hand and finger exerciser. My hubby uses one to keep his fingers mobile for his guitar playing and he finds it quite helpful.  I think that it cost about £14 - £15. There are cheaper ones, but they're not as good.

You're lucky if you get back to driving, etc in 3 weeks. I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks and, was advised never to lift a hoover or an iron. That first Christmas my hubby bought me a robotic hoover, so I only use the big machine occasionally to get into the corners. Mind you, despite conforming with all the advice given, I still have Lymphoedema in both arms.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx