Driving after. BMX

Nulyte

Hi Ladies just trying to get all my ducks in a row preparing for surgery. Honestly how long after BMX with no recon did you feel like you were able to get back to doing things? Driving , going out in public etc . I have 4 kids and with the holiday season coming I want to be able to be at their programs/ recitals.
Also I'm struggling with how I will feel / look after surgery and really don't want recon. Did any of you try counseling to help? I just don't want the extra recon surgeries but I don't know if I'm ready for no breasts( guess really none of us are )
Thanks!

coraleliz

I was told not to drive for 1 week. I walked each day 4-5miles. The drains were uncomfortable but I found if I kept myself busy that helped. My drains were pulled 6 days after my BMX w/no recon. I went hiking the day after that. Hopefully things will go smoothly for you.

As for going out in public, I did that with my drains still in. I just wore a button down shirt.

I meant to ask my surgeon prior to my BMX if I would have horizontal scars or vertical scars. Not that I had a preference, just thought it would help me mentally prepare. I never did & planned on both possibilities(mentally). My dressings came loose after about 5 days, so I peeked.

I didn't try counseling. Perhaps someone will come along who did.

Hope all goes well with your upcoming surgery, you heal quickly & can get back to your family life.

Meow13

Atleast 1 week.

ravzari

My PS told me, "not until the drains are out and your prescribed narcotics are gone or you stop using them."

For me, that was about a week. I did find it difficult, until about the end of week 2, to do 'severe' steering (like anything where you have to stretch your arm UP to reach the top of the wheel), and I did put a small travel pillow between the seatbelt shoulder strap and my chest for the first week after my drains were out as the shoulder strap hit the edges of a couple of my BMX scars and it was uncomfortable.

Honestly, for me, I didn't need any counselling. I was kind of--inappropriately pleased at being able to have my breasts removed, as mine have always been fibrous and cystic since puberty and were always physically painful (but I had doctors tell me for years that chronic breast pain was 'normal' and to just 'deal with it with OTC painkillers' which did nothing), so when I found out I was at high risk for breast cancer due to family history (genetics test pending), I kind of jumped at the chance to say, "Just take them off!" due to the chronic pain I'd had from ages 8 to 36, when I had the BMX.

Not surprisingly, the chronic pain resolved itself once the fibrous, cystic breast tissue was removed.

It's one of those things that just didn't matter to me; I'm the same person I was with breasts as I was without breasts. Nothing about my personality changed, I'm no "less of a woman" without breasts, breasts do not define who or what I am, and anyone who thinks my attractiveness level changed can go do things that would probably get me censored by the moderators for saying.

My husband was supportive but, honestly, his choices were be supportive of my choices for my body or he could start divorce proceedings if he thought he had any right at all to disagree with medical choices I made for my own body; this is something he's always known though, and he hasn't been anything but supportive. I suppose I'm lucky that he's always been a 'small breast' guy, and I mean really small, like A cup small (mine were pretty big to, 34DD) so being flat isn't a problem for him.

And, in all honesty, if he'd been unsupportive, sure, it would have hurt short term, but in the long run I know I'd be better off on my own than with someone who thought they had any right at all to think they had a say in what I needed to do with my own body.

Nulyte

Thank you ladies. Ravzari thank you for your candid response! I wanted the honest raw feelings and you rock! I know my PS told me she will try to leave diagonal scars from armpit towards the belly button, but I honestly didn't think why if they are horizontal. I will be happy when the day comes that I am cancer free and breast free. If I need or want recon later I'll think on it ..... doubt it because I agree breasts don't make me! I will still be the best mom I can be!

Meow13

My plastic surgeon was able to fix my scar in the DIEP procedure. If you are doing implant may be more important.

mustlovepoodles

I also had BMX w/o recon. I felt that breasts didnt define me, so why put myself through multiple surgeries just to have fake boobs.

Well, my experience was not at all what i expected. I had drains for 2-3 weeks. I was taking a narcotic and sleeping pill for 4 weeks. A large part of my wound died and I ended up with a wound vac to speed healing. Oh, so fun. I didn't drive until 4-5 weeks post-op. I took 16 weeks to completely heal.

As for my emotional state, I started off okay, but when the tissue died it was so massive and horrible that I fell into deep depression . I could hardly even get off the couch. I felt totally mutilated . Thankfully , my DH realized something was very wrong and got me to a doctor , who figured out that I had PTSD in about 10 min. A course of antidepressant fixed me right up.

Around 5 months post-op someone gave me some Knitted Knockers , soft knitted fake boobs. I couldn't believe how they made me feel! Within 24 hours my confidence returned. My clothes looks better and i no longer felt like I had to wear scarves. I could even wear t-shirt without feeling self-concious.

At 7 months post-op I decided to get real prostheses. I cannot describe how much better I feel. They feel very much like real breasts. I'm off the antidepressant and happy again.

I never expected to change my mind about living flat, but I have. I am actively ppursuing DIEP reconstruction. It's not for everyone and I know will require a long recovery, but I feel like it's the best option for me.

If you're still with me, I want to say I'm sorry if this sounds scary. My whole BMX experience was nothing like I thought it would be. Hopefully , yours will be easier and without complications .

ksusan

I used no narcotics. My surgeon released me to drive reasonably quickly after surgery, with the requirement that I not raise my arms above shoulder height. I didn't think I could drive safely with that restriction. I also felt physically vulnerable and being in a car heightened that. I worked from home from the day after surgery and went in to work for a few hours within the week.

I had 4 drains in for several weeks, though my output was always low. I tucked them into scrub vest pockets and wore a shawl.

Luna52

Hi Nulyte,

I had a BMX with no recon in early September. It went very well - one night in the hospital, drains out in 10 days, no complications except some adhesive cording under one arm which is resolving nicely with PT.

Compared to Coraleliz, I did have a slower recovery track. No 4 mile walks while the drains were in; no hiking the day after they were out! And no driving for about 2 weeks. My medical team stressed taking it easy for the first few weeks. And frankly, until the drains were out and bandages removed, I found that advice very easy to adher to!

FYI - I am 64 yo but (prior to surgery) very acive - cardio, strength training, etc. I resumed exercising with my personal trainer this month but with much lighter weights. Even though I only had one sentinal node removed, there is a lot of caution around developing lymphedema.

There are threads here on bras/camisoles even if planning to go flat. My surgeon told me it takes up to a year for your chest/scar/tissue to fully settle in. I will say I have seen a number of changes over the past 2 months as the swelling has gradually begun reducing. I usualy wear a light Coobie bra, camisole or yoga bra. I still have a few sensitive spots and wearing something feels better than a shirt rubbing against me.

Best of luck with your surgery. You'll be back in the swing of things before you know it.

Luna

Smurfette26

When I asked my surgeon about driving post surgery I was quite surprised by his answer. He said, "Check with your motor vehicle insurance company". Wasn't the reply I was expecting. While it was fine by him that I drive within a week or two; when I felt up to it and wasn't dopey from pain medication he said many insurance companies impose restrictions after surgeries. So although your surgeon may ok it your insurers policy might say no driving for 6 weeks after a C section for example. So if you were to have an incident or accident in that time, you may not be covered. It's not something I would have thought about.

ksusan

Or true in Australia but not the US? Interesting question.

Notmyself

I tried driving at 3 weeks (just a few miles) but it was really uncomfortable because of my limited range of motion of my arm. At just under 4 weeks, I drove again and felt like it was doable.

I had a mastectomy (only my left breast) and didn't want recon because honestly, I feel I couldn't hve my own boob, I didn't want a fake one surgically attatched. I have a knitted knocker and a prosthetic that I wear out and go flat at home. I am only 9 weeks post mastectomy and it's emotionally hard, but I just tryy to take one day at a t

Smurfette26

Interesting that things are so varied country to country.

I had vision problems from chemo and found I went longer without driving while having chemo than I did post mastectomy. Fortunately the eye issues resolved themselves eventually.

Notmyself I feel the same as you. I have both a knitted knocker and a silicone breast form but never wear them at home. Be gentle with yourself. It's early days for you.

Notmyself

thank you, smurfette26