It's done..

Glad you're on the other side of surgery and great that very little pain. I had the same experience of having the area in between my two former breasts look raised. Most of that was swelling and went away fairly quickly. I've noticed that over time the area has become flatter and flatter.

Not only will you look better once your drains are removed but you will definitely be even more comfortable. Keep us posted on your progress.

Barbara 

Hi Kezzie62,

I'm glad everything went well for you. I had BMX no recon last July. I haven't regretted it. I like the peace of mind of being able to more easily spot any recurrence without breast tissue or other tissue or implants in the way. I have found that for my body type (I'm tall) sports bras with microbead breast forms work really well. Most sports bras have a soft and wide elastic around the bottom which keeps the forms from riding up too high. I got rid of my old underwire bras as they now hurt.And sometimes I just go flat. People really don't notice if you are otherwise nicely dressed. Good luck with your recovery. If you feel any warmth or see any swelling in either breast, get in to see the surgeon right away. I got an infection 8 days after surgery. Antibiotics cleared it up easily.

Kezzie62, I'm glad your surgery went well.  I had BMX almost 5 years ago and I remember the drains as being the worst part for me.  I think you'll feel more comfortable once yours are gone.

Rianne2580, it really does get better.  One thing that helped me adjust quickly, at least it seemed quick to me, was that I did look at my chest often.  It just seemed necessary to me.  We're all different and I'm not saying that you need to look at your scar, just that doing that seemed to help me.  And once again, it really does get better.

Kezzie62, I'm wishing you the best for your pathology report and hoping you get your drains out Friday.

Kezzie62, I'm glad that the additional nodes were negative.   Now I hope that you can relax and have a nice weekend and stay busy until you see your onc.

I had a left mx at the beginning of November 2010.  Almost no pain!  I did have the start of reconstruction with Alloderm and a tissue expander.  You can always opt for reconstruction at a later date if you wish to do that.  I have had 'fills' with no pain at all.  The drains are a pain but the time goes by fast and they are out before you know it.  Unfortunately, I had to have chemo but it hasn't been bad at all....I am lucky and have had minimal side effects.  With a mx....isn't it great to know that all that tissue is gone?  That is how I felt.  My original MRI showed a tumour of 3.5 so at first, a lumpectomy was recommended.  My second surgeon suggested a mx which I agreed to and thank god I did....the tumour turned out to be 6.5!  If I had had a lumpectomy, I would have had to have a mx anyway.  I was so glad I did it.  Having reconstruction is a very personal decision.  I went ahead with it although I still have to have the exchange.  It is nice to know you can always opt for it if you wish later down the line.  It just depends on how you feel.  But so far, the process has been painless.  Even if you don't have more surgery, ask your surgeon about scar management.  There are gel patches that help to minimize the scars so that you are just left with a fine white line.  That will make you forget about the surgery!

Yes, barbe1958, I am reminded too everday. In a way, it reminds me to appreciate each day of good health. For Riane2580 I say, YES it absolutely gets better and better. Give yourself time. I thought about it a lot in the months after my July 2010 BMX. But after treatment was finally done in November, life SLOWLY got better and better because I SLOWLY felt better and better. The breasts are gone, but I am enjoying life and health. I am feeling good that if it comes back I will be able to catch it earlier. I hope so anyway. I'm happy to know I could have reconstruction in the future. I would just like them to invent a method that doesn't require such long surgery! The good news is I look great in clothes and just different without them. My husband and 16-year-old daughter are totally used to it.