Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

Congrats Markat! So happy that this is now behind you. Now just heal.

UMX Ladies-  I just got back from a shopping trip to Marshall's.  There are some sports bras out that have removable inserts in the women's sports dept. ($12.99 each!)  Yep, I'm going to put one of my fiber fake boobs in the UMX side and not worry about possible slippage.  I also have camis with built in bras which I double stick taped the fake boob inside of the UMX side.  That worked okay.  Not ready to drop a lot of money for official masectomy bras just yet.  Good luck!!!! HUGS to all you gals!!!! 

Hey, thanks for reminding me about my insurance.... (chemo brain moment).  It does cover them but haven't had the time to go to the specialty shop to get fitted just yet. 

Welcome back Markat and Candy, YEA!!! I am on my way home from BS appointment. All went well. Interesting twist to pathology is that I had "columnar cell changes with atypia" in my " healthy breast. So, glad it's gone, too. Boob voyage to both of those old' gals! Still have my drains in...maybe out monday if I stop flowing. Question....what did your docs tell u about deodorant? I wish I could use some natural stiff tomde - stink me!!! Xxoo to all.

I went back to school today - three weeks post op.  It was good to see all my classmates but I only lasted about 3 hours (usually an 8 hour day) so I left early.  Fell asleep as soon as I got home.  I'm not sure if I am just used to being able to take naps or if my body is still so exhausted, but I am going to listen to my body and ease my way back in.  I had quite a bit of anxiety about going back because I was worried people would look at my "flatness", or bump into me.  I warned them ahead of time to please not hug me so I got lots of kisses on the cheek. It was difficult to sit up in a regular chair when I have been glued to my recliner for the last 3 weeks. 

Longislandmom - glad to hear all went well with your pathology!  I started wearing deodorant under one arm about 3 days after the drain was out.  The other one still has too many blisters so it has to stay stinky.  My girlfriend said she can't smell anything but man, it was stanky to me!  Shaving is still a delicate operation.

10 days post surgery. Doing well physically. Mentally it's been a tough day. Frankenboobs and deep numbness with a little claustrophobia stirred in.  Not a great mental cocktail. Sending love and prayers to the others who had this done recently. We are all pretty damn tough!

MELROSEMELROSE I don't know if you have a Nordstrom in your area, but they carry mastectomy bras camis etc , do fittings and accept insurance (I'm not sure if you need a script so might be good idea to call lingerie dept before you go). Sometimes its tough to find those specialty shops but 2 of our malls have Nordstroms.

Floridamomandwife-Thanks for telling me about Nordstroms.  There are two post op masectomy specialty shops near my house and Nordstroms is also close by.  I shopped at one of the specialty shops prior to my UMX.  I already have a script for the masectomy bras/etc from my breast surgeon and know that my insurance will cover. I'm a fairly active person and always looking for practical solutions for everyday run around bras that don't cost a fortune.  I'm fortunate that righty is healthy and a B/C cup so I can still go out without a bra if I want to.   

Sony

Sorry you have had a hard time, been looking for you! Hope you are resting and everything is ok! Sending all my best

Cindy

Markat great to see u ont the other side  

I am seriously thinking of having my TE's out .. I cannot take it . I must be the worst baby for pain . my mom left me today , in the last 2 days I have showerd and dressed myself and tried to cook and do dishes and drive today as she had to go to airpoty .. I am crying a lot ...this shit feels tight and sore and all kinds iof numb amd im so friggin emotional .. and now Alone .. thanks for listening ladies sorry I am such a pain in the asssssss

LisaMarie, I have an expander and get that tight feeling too.  I've been doing a bit of gentle self massage like suggested and taking a couple extra strength tylenol when it gets too much and I can't take it anymore and that seems to help.  You are doing a lot of movement is sounds like and this aggravates things.  We have to let our bodies heal a bit.  I know last weekend, I decided I could get outside and work a bit and I suffered for two days with rib cage pain and tightness/swelling in my upper chest area.  I knew I overdid and just lounged around for the next few days.  Our bodies have gone through a lot!  You are a week after my surgery so I can assure you that you will start to feel better but you got to take it easy on yourself!  Take care of yourself and know we are here sending hugs your way!  Today except for the remaining drain site, I'm not in any pain at all.

hi, lisamarie- sorry you are still having such a tough time.  first-- do not take advil-- only tylenol.  advil and other products like it slow healing and can increase bleeding.  in terms of incisions-- my stitches are blackish-- but not the skin.  if your skin is black, definitely talk to your doctor about it.  i have some small areas of dark purple, which i'm told is some skin necrosis.  doc says they will peel off at some point in the future.    in terms of tightness, i am right there with you gal.  my chest is quite tight from TE, and my skin aches-- but i mostly try to ignore it.  maybe your doc can prescribe a bit of valium to help if the tightness is unbearable for you.  also, ask him to check your TE placement-- i saw a girl on another board that was in pain because the TE was in wrong place and pushing against her rib.  she had it corrected and is much better now.  SO sorry.  i hope you feel better real soon!

I'm still draining.  going to be a two weeker plus on drains.  hopefully getting mine out on wednesday when i go to PS.  dreading my first fill.

Nightnurse , I am shaving numb and all with no cuts .. my mastectomy looks ugly and my left is bigger than right and they are very hard as I have TE's that are in . the TE's totally hurt me they feel like an elephant siting on me all day and night besides somehting else squeezing me constatntly .. I cry every day multiple times a day still deciding ti have TE's removed and have no boobs ..

Today is my first day off all pain meds . I had Tylenol 2 times so far today , I just want the nausea and constipation gone and I wanna feel more like me ..anyway I hope things are betterfor u 

Nightnurse- when I first dared to take a look after surgery all I could think of was that my chest looked like my mothers lumpy mashed potato's growing up. They are lumping and out of shape because they had to fit the expanders in there while deflated. Sort of like a rubber raft that you deflate and fold up after summer. It will be 4 weeks for me on Wednesday and to be honest during the day I don't harldy notice them. If I roll over wrong in the night it will pull and burn, but I just chang positions.

Lisamarie- sounds like you got a yeast infection from the antibiotics. I usually do, but started taking a pro-biotic a week before surgery and didn't get one. I feel for you.

vballmom- they made me have all of the scans before the bmx. I was terrified they were going to find something else. By the time I got to the PET scan I had to take 2 Xanax. I had full body. It's because you have a positive node. I had 4 with the lx and they wouldn't do the bmx if I didn't have all the scans. It's all very tiring and wears on you mentally.

I worked 8 hrs yesterday and 9 hrs today. I am feeling it now. I get my first fill tomorrow. Only on one side because the RO says if they do the other side it will be in his way for rads. I guess I better get used to the expanders. They are going to be a part of me for awhile.