June 2012 Mastectomy

I had my exchange last Tuesday. It was outpatient and late in the day. i was home that night eating soup and watching Christmas movies with my daughter. I dont remember that though. i was pretty loopy ;-/. I haven't needed pain meds since the end of last week. No drains, even though I had significant pocket work on the left. I have to wear a horrible surgical bra for at least another week, but it's a small price to pay. I noticed this morning that righty is lower, and a little more natural looking. I'm hoping that after the swelling on the left from the pocket work goes down, it will look a little more like righty. I am happy with the exchange though. I've had to go back to sleeping sitting-up but again, it's less than a week out so maybe in another week, I'll be back to sleeping on my side. It's definitely easier than the BMX. I was surprised at how real the implants feel. I still have little pains and twinges, especially around the incisions, but nothing terribly painful. There are lifting restrictions and I'm trying to adhere to them. It's hard with the holidays around the corner, but I'm so close to the finish line I don't want to screw anything up. Good luck to those with upcoming surgeries! Remember to take it easy!

Lori

Kathyhong, I was driving 10 days after this surgery.  (It took me three weeks after my BMX before I felt comfortable behind the wheel).  I probably could have done it even earlier this time, but my family was around and willing to be my chauffeur.  I still have lifting restrictions as far as weight goes-I know when I'm reaching the limit. I've been able to lift my arms to wash my hair, etc. since 5 days post exchange.  I'll think you will do just fine- remember to listen to PS-Wear the bra that is recommended, follow the restrictions.  You are so near the end of the process, it's okay to relax!!

im fine!  lol.  i had my exchange.  i went to sleep at 8am, and woke up at about 10:25.  it was definitely NOT as painful in the initial wake up this time. last time i was in SHOCK how much pain i was in. this time, not so bad.  i think i had major pain meds though, because day 2 at home was rough.  now im....five days out and im not even in need of tylenol.  didn't take any yesterday either.  the only part that sucks is that im allergic to latex, and the adhesive on the tape has latex. it melted off my skin, so i have like three itchy little skinned wounds on my right side.  so right now i have no bandaging on my stitches, just a pair of hospital undies the nurses at ER gave me.  oh yeah...ER.....i had a reaction to the pain meds. turns out i can't take codeine. any opiates really. i get mental issues. i had a breakdown and they were gonna send an ambulance to get me.  in all honesty im not sure if it was a breakdown because of a reaction to medicaton or if it was a breakdown because of the surgery and stuff. i just remember....i did not know my name....i didnt know how to work the telephone....and i was crying and screaming in a heap in my husbands arms...."i want my real boobs backkkk" i just kept screaming it and crying. actually i was more like, heaving and sobbing.  i haven't ever cried that hard.  it was awful.  but, i went to the hospital and they changed my prescription.  and gave me an ativan, and i slept for like a day and a half.   and then i felt like me again.  i think i may have delayed all my freaking out until i was safely on the other side of the gorge and then i let er rip so to speak.?  not sure...but, all i know is, i feel like a normal person now.  they gave me a scrip for oxycodone!  lol. i didn't take it. i was like...codeine made me feel like a maniac and you want to give me something STRONGER>!  wtf....ya right.  so i went down to tylenol regular strength and quit drinking coffee for a bit to see how that helps. it does.  

Juliaanna-

That's a relief to know. I'm sure my dad will be willing to be my chauffeur as well. Only a few more days till I find out my reconstruction date. I'm feeling anxious though.



Nang-

hope you're feeling better! it seems to be going smoother now so take care of yourself!!!



Merry Xmas eve everyone!!!! (:

i was suppossed to get a card about my TE but i never did. are you having a date for your exchange or TE placement?

I never got any info on my TEs. I did get a card for my implants about a week after my exchange. I also got my warranty info. That made me laugh. I have a file with warranty info for tvs, iPhones, computers, and my boobs.

Happy New Year to all the Junebugs!

Finally moving on to reconstruction!  I will be exchanging these TEs for impants on April 8th.  I am so excited! Have my pre-op on March 14th.

Lori-
Yeah, I'm just nervous to going back to school on the 22nd. My dad will be my driver for the time being.
Are you done with reconstruction? As for the nipple reconstruction, I had nipple sparring but somehow they look a bit funny now...

So~~who's ready for the summer with our new improved boobs?!?!?!?!?! XD

Loriio-such great news! I'm happy for you!  I am noticing how much nicer clothes look on me now, even with the TE's.  I was a DD+ before surgery and am a B/C with expanders.  It's such a nice change.  My brother is getting married in September and I will be in the wedding, so I am so happy to have those new, improved foobs for the wedding!

Kathy-yes, it will be here soon! I was originally planning on waiting until June, but April works so much better with my schedule.

Kathyhong,

Best wishes for an easy surgery and boring recovery.  Just remember to take it easy.  Even if you feel you can take on the world, don't do it. Mind those lifting restrictions.

Julianna-

Thanks! Haha I know and I will although I'm a bit stubborn my parents will stop me anyway!



Mmtomh-

Thank you!



I posted this in a different forum but I'll post it again here. I'm getting ready for my reconstruction and I'm still. really nervous and wanted to say wish me luck everyone! For some reason I'm not scared just anxious. I haven't slept and I'm getting hungry but luckily I think I'm the first person to have surgery or at least one of the first few today. I'll write again soon! Bye ladies!! *fingers crossed*!!

Melissa-

Well surgery was about 3 hours. Didn't need drains!

I was at te hospital at 6am and came home aroun 4:30pm. I wasn't in much pain when I woke up (my pain tolerance is pretty high) but I was very uncomfortable and the nurse had to inject something in my IV 4-5 times to make me feel comfortable. I didn't take pain meds at home till around 7:45 in case of anything. I think the anesthiologist gave me too much anesthesia, I felt really tired when I woke up compared to previous surgeries. I did vomit after eating porridge (very bad idea to eat rice porridge)..but otherwise I am fine. I woke up with a white umm Velcro bra? From what I can tell and peek into the bra...I'm not swelling but I definitely look smaller compared to the tissue expanders. I did a but of research and from what I can see is that the implants will "fluff & drop" and look bigger over a few wks. So I'm hopeful for that because I'm not happy with the projection right now. Not happy with the fact I have to sleep on my back (I'm a side sleeper but my incisions are on the sides). I doubt I'll sleep tonight since I went to sleep and rested at home again.



I'll definitely will update again when I see my surgeon in a week and also on my pain and such.

Right now I just feel "........" blank. Glad this process is over. Not ready for school wearing this Velcro bra though time to find loose shirts and/or order some.
Sorry it's a bit long! :[

Thanks Melissa!

I finally slept and now my back is acting all stiff. It's gonna be a long week I think.

Nang-

I'm so glad for you!

I wish I had that mentality. I'm 22 now. I was 21 when I had my mastectomy so scars are something I'm a bit scared of..but it's so silly of me to think that way when we all had gone through so much already so I really shouldn't feel that way.

I actually had nipple sparring so I was glad to keep my nipples but for an odd reason one seems flat.
I kinda wished I didn't though and opted to have them removed actually (kinda weird right?! xD) but actually I have a scar around my ugly nipple/areola from 2yrs ago when I had a lumpectomy there and so I will most likely if possible get that fixed.

I see my surgeon Thursday noon and I will know what my implant re and what cc's. I know they are silicone but other than that I'm a bit clueless since he said he would use a smaller implant than my 420cc tissue expander to get that natural "drop and fluff". I really hope he don't go too small for me.



I don't see that drop and fluff yet. I think I won't see what you mean about that till a few more days or weeks. my incisions are on the sides of my breasts than across like most. This whole implant breast massage is weird. I'm really really afraid of moving or touching towards the incisions. Even though I can't feel any sensation anymore..it's like my body is sensitive around it.



As for the weight loss..congrats!

The mental part...it hit me the first time a few days after I had the mastectomy. I almost had a mental semi crisis after the reconstruction.

But hey!! We can only move forward from here

Surprisingly...I didn't need the pain meds this morning!!! YAY! Hopefully I am drive tomorrow to school