I wanted to send a reply as it will boost your post, meaning a few more people should see it, so if anyone has similar experience to share then hopefully they'll be along soon.
I can see you've had a lot of replies to your other post, and I hope that this has been helpful.
You can also try searching the forum (using the button in the blue bar above) for other potentially relevant discussions, if you haven't already.
My Op went really well! I woke up and was pleasantly surprised no bruising or anything and felt very natural. Symmetry very good with this technique and surgeon did very good job. I followed the post op advice religiously and think that helped recovery. Very little pain after but was hard to sleep I found. Didn't need much painkillers bar a few paracetamol. My arm where lymph nodes were taken was stiff and nb to do the excercises too. Generally I was delighted with the results. I felt that all the posts online were very negative compared to the result. I went on hols in July and no prob with wearing same bikini and didn't feel self conscious at all.
I was back working in four weeks after op, everyone is different but I was anxious to get back to myself. The hardest thing I found was the stress of waiting for results.
Thank you for getting back to me!!! Not much info at all online . Im having immediate reconstruction . Is that What you had Or did you have reconstruction at later date ? Im bit worried Cause my biopsy was grade 1 so They are Hoping i wont need additional traetments but can Only be sure after surgery when lymph nodes taken out and sent for biopsy . So Im worried If ill need radiotherapy there is risk of capsule contracture. Did you have radiotherapy at all , If yes was it before reconstruction ? I have zero info so would be most Greatful for any info
That's exactly what I had and it was so reassuring to wake up and feel like I was the same. Op was also same as me had lymph nodes removed (SNB) at the same time and even though risk of CC if you do have to have radiotherapy I still would prefer to do it that way around. In the end I didn't have to have radiotherapy as because I went for MX it was less likely, which might be same as you. I ended up having Grade 1 after they removed all but was so small I had no further treatment bar tamoxifen for 5 years so was lucky. I did get sent for Oncotype test but it was too small for a reading.
If I could look back on all of it I would say the surgery was the easy part and physically I felt not much different. There was all this talk online about the new breast being cold and stuff but I was so pleased with results (as my surgeon prepared me so that one boob would be way higher than the other but the mesh works so it hangs quite similarly). There was a few small bumps or ripples which only I would notice.
What was difficult was staying away from forums as I stressed so much about the wait for results and that for me was where all my worry was. In a way because I had the drains and was v careful about those it kept me busy.
The wait is long and luckily my Hubbie kept me positive as what I have noticed is the forums have less positive stories and I spent ages searching for good news results and when I didn't find them I got really down. But maybe if people get good results they prob just go on living and don't go on the forums.
I did find the US BC site very good for technical info and there is a person called Bessie who is worth checking out if you have medical questions. Also a lot more recon case studies there.
I put a bunch of emojis but not showing , it does mean a lot to hear you're ok!!! Thank you sooooo much for sharing your story, everyone is different i get that. Its good to hear you're happy with the results :) :) :) Im happy for you and it gives hope so thank you!
I will be thinking of you, the very best of luck and rest up and take your time on recovery. Get support and mind yourself those first few days as takes time to get used to the drains but the nurses are generally brilliant so ask for help when you need it! xxx
