How soon can you...

JulieSim

My surgery is two weeks away.. I am scheduled for right mastectomy with tissue expander, there is still a chance that my surgery will be bmx, I will figure it out soon. When I had my kids, my major issue was going back to normal - driving, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. Here I am again, asking same questions.

I have already attended pre-op education sessions and did some reading. I do know what I will be allowed and encouraged to do vs what is restricted. I am looking though for a practical advice and would appreciate if you could share you personal experiences.

How long does it take to start cooking (make soup, cut veggies, make pancakes)? How soon you can iron - say not a full load, just a few items at a time? How soon you are able to go to the grocery store on your own? How long does it take to even get used to your purse?

Cpeachymom

Hi Julie-

A lot will depend on your physical condition before surgery, how fast you recover, etc. I know what you mean about wanting to get back to “normal” as soon as possible. I was in great shape before surgery, I’ll give you what I can remember about my timeline. I could drive once I got my drain out at one week, but short trips. I was also not on any pain meds. I could load the dishwasher at about two weeks. Not empty it. Four weeks for light lifting, and I mean light, less than 10 lbs. By about 5 weeks I felt ok and wanted to get back to normal.

Cooking- scrambled eggs around 2 weeks. Chopping- closer to 4 or 5. Draining a big pan of pasta- the full 6 weeks. Soup- well depends how much chopping and lifting is involved, you’d be surprised.

Grocery shopping alone- again around 5, steering a shopping cart is a lot of upper body work and shopping for a family of 5 is not easy. No cases of water. A quick trip for bread or fruit... maybe around 3 1/2 weeks.

I’d say at least 4 weeks for any ironing, even a couple pieces.

I hope this helps! I’m sure others will chime in with their experience as well.

Good luck to you!

BlueGirlRedState

JulieSim - the only restriction from my surgeon was no lifting anything more than (10?) pounds for several weeks (maybe 6?). It might have been no lifting the first few days. She also had given me stretching exercises to do to prevent the shoulders from freezing up - I did those religiously. I did not do any x-country ski for weeks maybe even a month or two, and then only resumed for gentle short skis. I walked/hiked/gentle treadmill. Alot will depend on your health now and how you feel after surgery. I did not do reconstruction which would probably increase recovery time and temporary restrictions - ask the surgeon. In restrospect, I should not have shoveled snow that winter, the right side did not heal as well as the left. Do not usually get any or much, but that winter was snowmagedon. If you are doing any chemo, that will also affect how you feel.

2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. – 1. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.

2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018

10/2018 noticed stiffness and some trigger finger again. Was eating meat a lot more (daily) than normal. Usually 1-2 /wk. Have cut way back on the meat, seems to help, but one finger still very prone to trigger finger. 2/2019, trigger finger and stiffness much better.

JulieSim

Thank you so much for your responses cpeachymom and bluegirlred, your input helps a lot! I will have my parents around for a couple of weeks, sounds like I will need some help for another 3 weeks or so.

By that I time I will know if I need chemo and will plan next steps.

Thank you!