preparing for double mastectomy with reconstruction

tacichon

My DCIS came back this year after 10 years, I cannot have radiation again, so the I am getting a double mastectomy with reconstruction, I met with the surgeon today and and talked to me about the procedure, he scared me to death. 6 hour surgery. I need to quit smoking. ,, t

I need some advice on preparing for this surgery, the way he described it, I could not believe women recover.. I am scared to death!!

Need advice on quitting smoking how to, After I saw a picture today in the surgeons office of a woman who had nicotine in her body and reconstruction scared me to death! Thank you

WC3

tacichon:

I'm not a smoker but my cousin is and her doctor put her on Chantix which seemed to help her quit for a few months.

I had a BMX with pre pec expander placement. My surgery was about 5 hours, and I wasn't there for most of it. They put the mask on my face and I woke up in the recovery room a few hours later very sleepy, annoyed that the nurse would not let me go back to sleep, and feeling like the surgery didn't happen.

My pain was fairly minimal provided I did not move much. I had limited use of my arms for a few weeks and needed help dressing for the first two but managed on my own after that with some ingenuity.

My recovery went smoothly and was uneventful except for a leaking drain.

tacichon

Thank you so much. did your cousin have any bad side effects from Chantix? I read some bad side effects. I am going to look into it..

Thank you so much, I am scared to death!

MinusTwo

Tacichon - below is the link to a stop smoking thread that is sort of inactive now. Still, it has TONS of good advice and tips & tricks we all used to quit. No guilt - and everyone quits when they are personally ready.

From what I've read, many docs are now doing blood tests for nicotine in your system before they do surgery. It does cause healing problems & skin issues.

I used Chantix. It's my personal opinion (not a medical opinion) that the crazy dreams were side effects of nicotine deprivation and not the Chantix. As you'll see on this thread... I quit smoking in my house. Two weeks later I quit smoking in my car. So now I'm only smoking on the front porch. Two weeks later I started Chantix. By the time I finished the first prescription, I had quit. Oh - it wasn't that easy. I ate pounds & pounds of sunflower seeds for the hand to mouth action. I ran out of the house & walked the streets rain or shine when I wanted to smoke. I even kept 1/2 a pack in the freezer for 2 years - just in case ya know.

So I quit 7/11/07. Now 13 years. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. And stayed hard for quite a while. Even 13 years out, there are still times I think - oh I'd sure like a smoke. But I know I can't have just one, so....

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/152/topic...

If you have questions about surgery, there is a good thread that about getting prepared. Good luck.

MinusTwo

Here's the surgery thread

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics...

I would suggest that you join a thread with people going through surgery now. There's usually a new one each month or every quarter. Look for something Surgery Fall 2020 or Surgery November in the surgery section. I read the month before the one I joined just to gain more knowledge.

Oh - and look up the "Exchange" thread to learn all about reconstruction.

abigailj

hi Tacichon - I smoked for 45 years, had to quit before my BMX with immediate DIEP recon - the thread MinusTwo gave you the link to contains a post I made earlier today with details about what motivated me (essentially immediate recon was very important to me personally although totally get that’s not the case for everyone, and BS warned me risk of skin necrosis and wound healing complications was really high and that was sufficient for me to quit cold turkey. ) I went through a ton of hard candy and drank like a gallon of water a day too for a few weeks and gained a few pounds from eating more but managed. I didn’t really have time to take the cutting down route which would have been easier I think. Do read the thread for ideas from others who were in same situation as us also.I hope you find what works for you and have a good outcome.

tacichon

Thank you, for the information, I am scared to death of this surgery. I swear I will be nicotine free!

etnasgrl

I had a double mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction on August 20th. It was a long surgery, about 9 hours, which I was crazy fearful of, but all went fine. I'm a vaper and had a TERRIBLE time quitting. I ended up quitting about one week before the surgery, (which they say is not long enough time), but the surgery went perfectly and so did recovery. I am very grateful!
Yes, the surgery is long and the recovery even longer.....but it is VERY doable, I promise! I made sure to have drain shirts, drain aprons for the shower, pillows, and elastic pants. They were all crucial and much needed.
I was out of work for 6 weeks, then went to part-time for 1 week, then back to full time. I have my revision surgery the day before Thanksgiving and then I should be DONE with surgeries, yay!!
Anyway.....I know all of this is scary, but it will all be okay. You'll get through this! I wish you all the best on quitting smoking, I know it's hard. ((((Hugs))))

abigailj

I’m -a good deal older (62 a at surgery, 63 now) and had one additional procedure to revise the abdominal incision so I needed a total of 8 weeks short term disability and then did 2,weeks part time before going back to full time work (I’m an engineer/IT manager so desk job). I lived in loose house dresses, then yoga pants and oversized tie-front shirts to hold/cover the drains until they came out and good points re: shower apron etc too from Etnasgirl. The first few week are rough - don’t stretch your arms, baby your abdomen- hopefully your insurance like mine covers visiting nurse and in-home PT - hospital social worker can arrange. I stayed 5 days (that’s the norm in Canada and UK though not here) and was very glad I did. If you’re younger then maybe less time is fine but I was more comfortable with a longer stay. Let us know how you’re doing

JanetM

I am scheduled for BMX with DIEP reconstruction next Thursday 11/19. I am getting myself ready and planning on taking it day by day

tacichon

Thank you, made me feel better about the vape, I ordered allot of quit smoking stuff.. I have stopped smoking in my house during breaks at work, and in my car, HUGE steps for me. just have to kick the rest of it. don't have a surgery date yet, they should be calling me with a date. Just my luck I will be going through the holidays recovering. Did you Vape with nicotine or no nicotine. I was a pack a day smoke now down to about 5 a day.. but will definitely kick well before surgery, my Dr scared the shit out of me with some pictures he showed me of breasts that did not heal and skin died because there was not enough oxygen in the blood. Thank you again

WC3

tacichon:

Not that I'm aware of. I think she was only on it for a few weeks though.

MinusTwo

tacichon - sounds like you're already half way there. Down to 5 a day is great progress. I smoked 1-1/2 packs a day, and two if I was out drinking & dancing (oh how long ago). So when I decided to stop smoking (the last time) and started by cutting out my house and car - it was a BIG hit.

I never vaped. In fact if there was such a thing in 2007, I never heard of it. But we did have a Hookah when I was in my 20s. Again, a VERY long time ago.

I hear ya about the holidays. But with Covid ramping up again, certainly surgery's a good excuse to stay home & skip the large groups. I can't remember - will you have to have chemo or rads down the road? Or just the surgery for now?

tacichon

No Chemo or rads. It is non invasive. I am lucky I had this 9 years ago and had 3 lumpectonmies and 33 treatment of radiation double mastectomy because I cannot have radiation again.. Now I have a good goal, Dr ordered a nicotine test 12/1 and surgery scheduled for 12/16.

tacichon

that is awesome about your recovery I hope mine goes that easy..

tacichon

When you are able,, keep me posted on how you are doing!!