@Lyn, can you advise me about post surgery bra , how you managing and where you get some ? They already give me some bra  from NHS and plus breast form. How soon after surgery you can lift your arms up , i noticed i dont have any clothes with front  fastening. Thanks Lyn for your msg i find it so supportive. Lovely .XZ

[@Anna71]‍  Hi Z, I bought two post surgery bras from the surgical company ‘Macom’ and I am thrilled with them, no scratchy seams or itchy bits, they have two rows of hook and eye fastenings down the front, I put the bra on the widest hook and eyes after the surgery because of the swelling and when that settled a bit I swapped to the tighter row of fastenings. I chose the XL as a size 38e (I’m a size 16 in clothes) the size L is recommended for a 36 breast. The design is called ‘signature’ I spoke with the company, this is the design recommended for our type of surgery, don’t be tempted to go for another style, I think they were £37 each. I bought a black and a skin colour to go under lighter tops. They don’t have pockets in them for breast form, but I don’t think you would use that straight after surgery? Certainly not in the home. My front fastening tops are loose, I never liked wearing clingy things anyway, and in all honesty with my expander in after surgery which is 2/3 full already you have to look hard to tell there is a size difference in a looser top. No one that is not aware of my situation would notice the size difference. If you are on Ebay or maybe a friend is you could buy a couple of cheap front fastening looser tops, it’s economical that way, it’s a shame the charity shops are closed at the moment. I bought a couple of sleeveless front buttoning ones that I can pop a cardigan or zip front fleece over, good for blood tests and also for getting undressed quickly at your frequent visits to hospital after surgery. Pulling a top over your head is an absolute no no for a minimum of six weeks, everytime you raise that arm on the surgery side straight up (you will NOT physically be able to do this anyway for a while, it’s too painful because of the lymph node surgery), you are lifting the chest muscle that the expander or implant if you’re lucky sits under and causing stress to the area, it needs to 100% settle to give the best  result, plus you risk putting the under breast wound under strain. I was told to behave as if I am holding a folded newspaper under my arm, and I can’t let it fall onto the floor, all the arm exercises on the sheet you will be given when you leave hospital can be done by moving your arm mostly from the elbow only. Do not do things like lift a full kettle with the arm on the surgery side for a couple of weeks - use your other arm. If you do go for the Macom bras use the more expensive fast postage or you may not have them in time. Google ‘post surgery bras’ if you want to look at other makes. I tried M & S but I knew it would be torture to stay in them for weeks on end, they weren’t comfy at all, so I returned them and purchased Macom based on their excellent reviews, always a good sign. I hope this helps? Sending a hug, Lyn. X

@Lyn, thank you so much for your advice and time and nitty description, its very very helpful as i still thinking eh next day after surgery i will do this and that , after few days i will drive but I understand this is my imagination. XZ

[@Anna71]‍   Oh Z, you will not be able to do these things straight away sadly, do you have an job?  an employer? You need to level with them if you do, and tell them what you have been told, I would be asking for 5 to 6 weeks off, if an employer cannot be understanding towards you with such a devastating impact on your life, they are quite frankly not a good company to work for. You can’t drive, you can’t wear a seatbelt, my husband drives me to appoinments and I held the seatbelt slightly across myself so it looked fastened incase we got stopped by the Police, I am only just now wearing the seatbelt it took 3 to 4 weeks, it was really painful pulling down on the breast. I am lucky being only 20 minutes from the hospital, so not on motorways or major roads. Everything seems impossible at first, little things you don’t even think of.......bending down to put tights or socks on, fasten shoes, shaking our duvet to make the bed in a morning, bending down to put washing in the washing machine. For the first week or two it is all so difficult and painful. I hope this is not upsetting, it’s factual and it’s best if you know so you are aware of initial limitations. You need to really protect that boob recon you will have. You will be living with it for decades to come. Okay, lecture over. All the best, Lyn. X

@Lyn, i got now full picture of this surgery as i used to think its just small cut and go. Actually its very good to know what to expect and plan my life in a good time . Im thinking about breast reconstruction are you happy with it? I dont know for me seems it complicated , today i asked my hubby what if i leave flat or its crazy idea? Thank you for all your advice and lectures working wery well as iam good student . Lovely xZ

@Lyn, hi when i said leave flat i mean to not put expander at the same time as mastectomy, go true chemo and other treatment and then come back to the breast reconstruction. Surgeon told me that it's possible this way but iam not to sure everything what's happening its to much. Have a lovely evening.Zx

[@Anna71]‍ , ah, I get you. I was told it can be done that way but the result is not as good sometimes. You have a little while to think about it, sleep on it, a few nights....... too much going on at once can be overwhelming at times. Take care, Lyn. X

@Lyn, good morning . You are very right , at the moment iam very overwhelmed i can see it myself but its good you mentioned it to me. We was talking about to take time off from work , iam very lucky with my organisation-  i can have 3 months of sick leave with full pay and other 3 months with 50% pay it's really makes me happy that i will not loose my job . I been working for last 10 years in the same organisation and i just looking forward to come back even if its part time. Iam thinking of your chemotherapy how you will manage it as soon first treatment its done its another big step towards cancer free life . X Z

[@Anna71]‍ , good morning to you, That is fantastic news about your organisation. If i were in your shoes? I would ask them for one full month off from the day before your surgery, and that you may want to extend that by a an extra week or two, BUT you won’t know until between week three and four how the healing is progressing. I have had a managerial role in the past, and what I really appreciated was people not telling me what they thought I wanted to hear, but being 100% up front from the get go. If you do go with the recon with surgery, the next operation to swap to an implant will be far less traumatic to your body, you should only need 2 to 3 weeks off for that, and likewise possibly 3 weeks for the symmetry reduction on your other breast. If you book your month off from the start, your line manager at work can put things in place if he/she needs to cover your workload. Your return to work depends how manual your job is? If it’s office based and quite a sedentary role you may be fit to go back at week five. I had my op 5 weeks ago today, and I’m just starting to do more things, I am feeling a lot fitter. But I wouldn’t have gone back to work a week ago. If you work until just before your operation day it will divert your mind onto something else and keep any anxiety low. Then just have the day before off to prepare. I now have my MUGA scan appointment for tomorrow................take care Z, Lyn. X