DMX Tuesday with immediate reconstruction

BrandyR

how do I figure out, in 2 days, how to say goodbye to my boobs; and what do I wear home? They are such different questions, but the two that stump me. Surgery snuck up (via cancellation).

dtad

Brandy. Sorry you are going through this. I know exactly how you feel. Your will mourn your boobs. For me it was more about the nurturing aspect than a sexual one, but that could be because of my age, 62. You should wear a button down shirt. I bought these surgical camies that I would definitely suggest. They had pockets in them for the drains and just kept everything in place. Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.....

Skittlegirl

My support group ladies recommended that I take pictures of my boobs even if I think I didn't want the pictures or shared them with my husband. Then at least I would have them if there ever came a time that I wanted a picture of them.

I wore sweatpants and a button down Hawaiian shirt that used to be my dad's home from the hospital. My surgeon put a binder on me while I was still under and I left that on while in the hospital. The nurse safety pinned the drains to my hospital gown and I just pinned them to my shirts at home.

farmerlucy

Brandy - It was very helpful to me to join the surgery sister group for the month I was having surgery. Even reading the one from the month before might be helpful. There was a list of supplies I needed on there too. I came home in a compression bra provided by the PS. I had a dressing station set up in our big bathroom. I slept in a lazy boy for about three weeks. I used zip up hoodies that had inside pockets for drains or I pinned drains to the bra and wore a man's dress shirt. Before surgery my husband and I took pictures and made a plaster bust of my bust. Which I later tossed. Some type of goodbye is helpful and cathartic. Losing my breasts was never an issue for me since I'd decided years ago if anything came up they were coming off. Best of luck with surgery. PM me if you want to talk.

BrandyR

thank you all for the responses. The practical, what to wear, suggestions help tremendously! I've had a couple of people say "you should have pictures taken!" But I think, why would I want a reminder of what I don't have any more? Because the surgery snuck up on us, I really haven't had the ability to go to support groups or talk to other women about this. I also wonder if I'm making it into a big deal (for me) because I feel like it should be. Part of me has started to hate them.

It's so helpful to know that this community is here and that no one is alone. Thank you, ladies.

Roopy

Hello dear, sorry to hear about your surgery. I m 31 years old. I had a unilateral skin sparing mastectomy 3 weeks ago. The night before my surgery I weeped my heart out, I didn't want to say good bye to my right boob. It's OK to cry, it's OK to feel sorry about yourself, it can help you feel relieved. After my surgery, I wore big comfy pjs with pockets for my drain. I did took pictures of my boob before the surgery, well to compare it with the reconstruction surgery coz I had an immediate one. Just remember that you are no less than a woman after your surgery. Best of luck!

LisaAlissa

Some women have a goodbye party or make a plaster cast of the soon-to-be-departed body part(s). You'll see some examples of breast casts on Pinterest "here." If you google something like "cast of breasts before mastectomy" you'll find newstories and more images.

HTH,

LisaAlissa