Scheduled date for sorgery

lh1357

Good evening all. I am just a couple of weeks away from surgery. It's hard for me to put into words what I am feeling. I have tried reaching out to others like me on other sites and no one responds. I feel alone in this thing. I'm quite scared. How long does surgery last when reconstruction is done. Is the pain afterwards manageable. Will I need some one to care fore me and for how long. Because I'm working up to the day of surgery I'm unable to go to any classes to prepare myself. Can some one please enlighten me...

Icietla

Hi Ih1357. I know this is an anxious, dreadful time for you. I have not had reconstruction, so I cannot help about that particular question. I believe the approximate time depends very much on the particular method of reconstruction planned. I am going to add a link to another BCO subject matter discussion area where you will be able to find good information as to that. I recommend reading through the Helpful Links material here, as well as looking through any of the longer monthly threads on members' surgeries.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics/773030?page=1#idx_1

As to your other questions -- Yes, it is going to hurt, especially just after your surgery. At your mastectomy sites you will likely feel frequent zaps of pain strikes in addition to a steady background pain from being wounded. You will be administered pain medication while you are in the hospital. When you leave the hospital, you will be given a prescription for pain medicine that you are to pick up on your way home. That pain medication should last at least until your first follow-up visit with your Surgeon. If you are going to have implants or tissue expanders put in, you will likely have some temporary swelling and also feel considerable tightness over -- and pressure against -- your chest for some lengthy time. The underarm area from which your lymph nodes are taken for biopsy may be an especially sore area, and for the longest time. Yes, in most cases, the pain is manageable. If it happens that your pain does not subside over time as expected, your Surgeon can help you out about it.

Yes, you will need a responsible, able-bodied adult to assist you. You will need that person to get you to your surgery; to wait through your surgery, keeping your ID, etc., safe for you; then before you leave the hospital, to take instruction on care of and recording output of the drains; to take you to have your prescription filled; and to get you home. Once home, you will need help for a time for even some of the smallest manual tasks. You will be very limited -- especially just after surgery -- in what you can do with your hands and arms. With each successive day following, though, you will find that you can do a little more with your hands and arms than the day before. Figure on having someone stay with you to assist you through at least your first few days and nights back home. Even if you are done with your pain medication, you will not be able to drive for as long as your drains are installed. So you will need your support person there to take you to your follow-up visit/s with your Surgeon until your drains have been removed and you have been given the OK to drive. You will have strict lifting limits and other arm use (reach) restrictions for a time.

Remind yourself often that your surgery is a huge step forward in your treatment, and that (given your circumstances) you truly wish for your surgery and the rest of your treatment to proceed, and that you are getting it done. You can do this! You can get through this! We are all pulling for you.

You are not alone in your situation, nor in your fears. You have come to the best place on the internet for information, support, and real understanding about all manner of breast cancer concerns. We are all Brothers and Sisters here. We care very much.

Here is a link to our Breast Reconstruction section, where you can read of others' experiences relating to all types of breast reconstruction procedures:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44

lh1357

Icietla thank you so much...