Returning to my 'Normal'?

Harleycat

After a BMX without reconstruction, how long will it take me to return to my 'normal'? Things like being on my riding mower, gardening, heavy lifting, etc. I have a desk job, so when I can, I try to be active at home.

I'm scheduled for a double mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy on both sides, without reconstruction on June 6th. I luckily have someone that's offered to mow my two acre yard for six weeks, but will that be enough? What about watering my flower beds and gardens?

Just for a little history, I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2015, had a lumpectomy only. In February of this year, they found more DCIS and my MRI showed additional areas of concern in both breasts. I have a widespread family history of cancer, but all the genetic testing returned negative.

I'd appreciate any input

ravzari

6-8 weeks on average, then you can start SLOWLY lifting, gardening, using full range of motion, and doing the things you used to do; if it hurts or you feel a lot of 'pulling' it's a sign to ease off an give yourself time to heal.

You won't be able to raise your arms above shoulder level for 5-6 weeks minimum, so be sure to move things you'll need (dishes, toiletries, clothes, etc..) to lower areas before your surgery unless you'll have someone staying with you for a few weeks to help out.

Showering depends on the doctor; some say 'no showering with drains' others are okay with it, but it may be worth planning for not being able to shower for 5-7 days and make sure you have items so you can wash in the sink and keeping unscented baby wipes around can help for 'baths' as well. Washing your hair in the sink may be difficult depending on how long your hair is, so if you won't have anyone to help you, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get some dry or spray shampoo.

Once you're able to shower again, you can just bend over to wash your hair so you don't have to raise your arms to do it.

I was on a 'nothing over 10lb' restriction for 6 weeks (It was "nothing over 5lb" for the first two weeks!), but I didn't have anything done with my lymph nodes so that may or may not make your healing time take a bit longer.

You can generally do light activity that doesn't require lifting things or lifting your arms above shoulder height, like taking walks, light stretching, or doing things that don't involve lifting or raising your arms above shoulder level pretty soon after surgery; I was taking walks with my drains in the day after as I hated being still.

I have a desk job as well and took 1 week off (as you won't want to be in the office with drains anyway and will probably want to nap a lot), worked 1 week from home (which was nice as I could sneak off to nap; it was hard to stay awake for a full 8 hours for me until about weeks 3-4), then was back in the office the third week.

Also, get bendy straws. You won't be able to fully lift glasses to drink for a few weeks, and having bendy straws is very helpful.

If you want 'practice' for how limited your range of motion will be for those 6-ish weeks, pin your elbows to your side and T-rex arm your way around the house to get an idea of what you will and won't be able to reach and do. If you can't reach it or do it with "T-rex arms", you probably won't be able to reach it after your mastectomy for a few weeks.

That sounds absolutely ridiculous, but I did find it helped prepare me for reduced range of motion as I had an idea of what to expect beyond 'can't lift arms above shoulders'.

Range of motion gets better with each week, but most surgeons recommend not trying to raise your arms above shoulder level for at least 6 weeks.

mustlovepoodles

For the first 6 weeks you will limited in what you can do. Some doctors impose a "no reaching above your head" limit for a few weeks. All of them impose a "no carrying anything over 5-10-lbs" limit. Incidentally, a gallon of milk weighs 8-lbs. You may not feel like bending over at the waist to dig in the dirt, but you may be able to plant flowers in pots at waist level (like on a table.)  You will be able to handle a water hose, I think.  Riding lawn mower? Nope. Too much jiggling.  It would be very fatiguing I would think, not to mention painful.

Speaking of pain, my BMX wasn't terribly painful but the drains were a royal PITA. THEY hurt at the insertion site and I had one for about 3 weeks. I had moderate-severe pain over the length of my sternum for several months, too.  I got by with Tylenol during the day, but I needed a narcotic at night for several weeks. After BMX you have to sleep on your back for a few weeks until it's all healed. I'm a stomach sleeper, so that was really hard for me. 

Harleycat

Thank you for sharing your experiences - it's disheartening to say the least. I've had both lumbar and cervical discectomies/fusions and it seems this recovery will be just as difficult. 2017 was to be the year I could do all the things I loved, but it's not really turning out that way. Not sure what to think about the back sleeping . . . I physical can't lay on my back today and even sitting in a recliner last no more than an hour - it's an actual PITA!!

lrwells50

I wasn't on any restriction for reaching, only for weight. They just said not to force it. I used the plastic mug with straw I brought home from the hospital because if had a handle and was easy to grab. I would say I had a problem reaching above my shoulders for maybe 3 weeks at the outside, I think everyone is different. I think the riding lawnmower is definitely a no-no for a while, at least it would be on our bumpy 1 1/2 acre lawn. I have tissue expanders which lengthens the recovery time, but I was working part time, at a desk job, 3 weeks out.

They used Exparel in my wound, which is a non-narcotic analgesic that lasts for days, and I highly recommend it.

Good luck

lrwells50

Forgot to comment on the back sleeping - I am lucky and we have a king size bed with each side that raises and lowers. Was great for getting out of bed at first when you can't push up with your arms. Absent that, you may need a nest of pillows, and possibly help getting out of bed for a few days. Try it now without using your arms to push up. If you have a recliner, you may find that more comfortable for a while

ravzari

The back sleeping/sleeping sitting up is mostly because with drains it'll be almost required (it'll be painful to lay on your sides, like, unbearably so, it won't be a physical possibility) but after that it's mostly that it's extremely uncomfortable to painful to lay on your sides as it 'scrunches' the incisions and causes pain; it may be possible to prop yourself up on your side with pillows to some degree so your ribcage isn't pressing against the mattress/so your weight isn't on your ribcage.

Since you have a little bit of time before surgery to try and work that out, it might be worth experimenting with different pillow arrangements both in a recliner and in a bed to see if you can find a way to arrange them that lets you be 'on your side' without putting pressure on your ribcage/chest area.

It took me about 4-5 weeks before sleeping on my sides WITH a compression vest was comfortable again (it was closer to 12 weeks before I could sleep on my sides comfortably without the compression vest), but do expect to wake up with the side you sleep on a little swollen for a few months.

Wearing a compression vest at night can help until that clears up and it's usually resolved by 12 weeks or so.

Some surgeons don't recommend compression at all, and some recommend it 24/7 (except for showering/bathing) for a minimum of 4 weeks. Mine recommended it for 4 weeks then, "if you feel you need it" after that.

I found it most comfortable to wear a compression vest 24/7--I got a gynecomastia post surgical vest from Underworks, they're front closing, so easy to get on and off--for about 8 weeks, then at night only for another 4 weeks after that. Compression really does help with the achy pain and helps with swelling.

Edit: And as others have said, practice getting in and out of chairs and bed without pushing up using your arms, as you won't be able to do that for a few weeks.