Hi all, I can apparently have the drain out today, which is great. Nurse did say I could go home, but I've said I'm not ready. No one's talked to me about exercising,  although I have been doing some. No-one has talked to me about wearing a bra  and what I should pad reconstructed side with.Im not going anywhere until I'm  confident with everything.I haven't even managed to pass a bowel movement yet. I feel like I haven't had enough information to be confident hoing home. Hope everyone is doing OK. Xx

Hi Pippin

So glad to hear your surgery went well and you're healing nicely.  The Breast Cancer Now website has some good information around post surgery bras and also sells them (I bought one after mine and they are so comfortable!).  It's a shame you didn't have our original surgeon, but it sounds like it all worked out well for you.  Quite right about not wanting to go home until you feel comfortable about what you can/cannot do etc.  I'm surprised you didn't have an appointment with a physio prior to surgery - that's what they did with me, but I was only breast conserving surgery so it may be different (and it seems to differ considerably between NHS Trusts too!). 

Hope you feel well enough and confident enough to get home soon.  Keep recovering well :) 

Carol xxx

Hi Carol, just had the drain out, so feel much more comfortable. I also don't need the heat anymore, which feels wonderful. Hopefully if I get to ask all the questions I want answers to, will get home tomorrow. Will keep you posted. Xx

Hi Carol, just had the drain out, so feel much more comfortable. I also don't need the heat anymore, which feels wonderful. Hopefully if I get to ask all the questions I want answers to, will get home tomorrow. Will keep you posted. Xx

Hi Pippin,

I am glad to hear that your drain is now out and I hope that you're feeling more comfortable with that out of the way - I had mine on both sides and they had to be aspirated a few times, to get rid of excess fluid build up. It felt really great to see the back of them. You are quite right not to rush home, until you feel ready.

They usually give you a softie to place in your bra, They may not offer it to you, because you have had reconstruction, but make sure to ask, if you're not given one. I was just given a sheet of exercises and left to get on with them. I saw no sign of a physio after.

It sounds as if the hospital feel ready to discharge you soon. I hope that you get the chance to ask all of your questions, before you leave. I felt totally exhausted after surgery and have never fully recovered from that.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I do have a sheet of exercises that I asked breast nurse for a few weeks ago. I have been doing some of those. Have to be careful though not to overdo it , exercises can vary when reconstruction is involved. They had told me to bring a variety of bra sizes, but no-one hads looked at them yet. Think I'll need normal size for healthy breast, then as you say a softie or something similar. I said to the dr that I don't want to go home yet, as getting plenty of rest, he's happy for me to stay at the moment. I was getting a bit of irritation last night under the plaster. I was a bit concerned, as when I had port fitted, the plaster caused a few issues . He thinks it's iodine and blood irritating it and asked that someone clean it for me. That was a couple of hours ago, but hasn't been done yet. Don't like to bother them as they get so busy. Hope you enjoy your weekend. Xx