How soon after Mastectomy /reconstruction can you have sex ?

Live4them

just had surgery last week . Had a bilateral masectomy and direct to implants reconstruction. Needless to say the weeks before surgery were filled with nerves and planning and no desire to be intimate . So now after surgery , still not feeling it but want to take advantage before I start taking any tamoxifen ( the enemy ) and God forbid chemo .. So what's the norm . Although I know it won't be earth shattering I feel it might help me feel more connected ...

Englishmummy

Hello Live - I was told 4 weeks by my PS but I had expanders and also no chemo, you many want to give them a call - perhaps you will be able to be sooner?? Being intimate is a great stress relief IMHO and certainly makes me feel more connected. I also have no problems with Tamoxifen, no SE's after 5 mths - I think of it as my saviour - putting it in a positive light seems to help, even though I hate taking it ....TMI, but things are definitely getting back to normal in the bedroom Good Luck.

sbelizabeth

Four weeks? I wonder why. There was no surgery "down there," I'm assuming, so the only concern would be horsing around too much and squashing the new girls, yanking out a drain, or putting pressure on a suture line or something.

I wouldn't recommend jumping anyone's bones in the recovery room, but as soon as the anesthesia wears off and you're sure you can pee...why not? Great stress relief, and a great way to re-connect to being a woman, not a patient.

inks

4 weeks? that is very cruel. I agree with sbelizabeth ASAP is OK as long as you are not too frisky.

leftduetostupidmods

As soon as you feel like it, but be careful and don't move much from the waist up. Also great care about the drains.

Englishmummy

yep! It was cruel and it was because of drains and the risk of the incisions opening, if it got a little 'jagged' was the term he used ????.....I didn't say I stuck to it mind you but that was the recommendation.