Recovery from one step reconstruction with Alloderm

Theda

Hello everybody,

First, thank you for this amazing forum and all the information sharing. This cancer and mastectomy thing is pretty scary, even "only" having DCIS.

I would be absolutely grateful for some real life information about the recovery from a double mastectomy with one step reconstruction with Alloderm and silicon implants. I live in Latin America and here, they send you home the next day. From what I was reading around here, I have the feeling I am going to need a lot of help for the first week at least. I live alone and thought of having someone coming 3 hours a day to cook, clean, help me bath and so on. Maybe it won' be enough? The doctors told me I would have 4 drains for 10 days.

Thanks!

Theda

DiveCat

I am almost 3 weeks out from my surgery (PBMX, direct to implant with Alloderm). I have had a very, very good recovery so realize everyone's experience is different. Some find it takes time to recover from the anaesthesia, some experience a lot more pain, etc. My recovery was not what I expected at all as I was prepared for the worst.

My surgery was a little under 4 hours and I was in hospital for 24 hours. That first day in hospital it took some time to get my pain and nausea under control but once it was it remained so. I was off narcotics by the end of Day 3, only on Robax, then Ibuprofen. I have some discomfort, or soreness, but not exactly any pain.

I had my husband, mum and stepfather with me around the first week, but honestly, when my husband went back to work 4 days after surgery I was okay to be pretty much on my own. My parents were there more for company and were helpful in making dinners, but I was able to handle myself - though I did not decline help. The first 3-4 days I had limited movement in arms and of course lifting restrictions so did need some help. My husband helped me sponge bathe, wash & brush my hair, get dressed, made me tea, fed the cat, brought me extra pillows and water, did laundry, etc.

I managed my own drains from the start (I had two, they came out a week after surgery) as it was easy enough for me to do.

*I* would have been and was okay with only 3 hours a day after Day 3 or 4 or so, but everyone is different. You can prepare ahead yourself with ready to go meals, putting things at counter height, filling prescriptions and stocking a supply kit (gauze, laxatives, etc)

I slept and still do sleep very well at night. After years of not getting enough sleep due to work and such, I am making up for it. I only napped during day the first few days.

I was very fit and healthy going into this (no cancer dx, either), and was raring to walk at least after surgery. I started walking on Day 4, 4-6 miles a day. I was cleared last Friday to also go on spin bike, elliptical (no arms) and do some leg workouts. I really credit good health and walking after to helping my recovery. 

I do feel really great.

I have only had a couple issues with healing, I yanked a drain or something while sleeping so had bleeding from incision site and had to go to ER to get them to clean it up and fix the issue. My left nipple looked scabbed and wounded for a while, but I have been doing moist wound management on it and it now is almost healed up. The adhesive of the steri-strips caused a blister injury on the delicate skin on underside of my left breast so I have had to do moist wound management on that as well...it is almost healed up as well. No infections or necrosis, fortunately.

Your implants will be very high and very tight at first...like in your collarbone and armpits. Do not judge them too soon. Mine have already dropped a lot and have a lot more to go. Some do say the direct to implant can have a more painful initial stage than TEs as it is stretching the pectoral a lot right away, and a lot of pocket work in there usually. I cannot compare as I have not had TEs and my experience has been very tolerable, but I have heard this from other women and PSs as well.

Theda

Hi Divacat,

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! This sounds indeed like a very speedy recovery. I usually recover very fast from surgery but since itwill be the third one within 3 months, maybe my body will bounce back a bit slower than usual. It sounds like staying 2 nights at the hospital should be more than enough.

 and that I can stick with someone 3 hours a day after that. There is an inhouse boyfriend as well but I am not sure about his nursing skills. ^^

And thanks fo the info about the implants being high at first, I guess it does feel weird!

Theda