How Much Time Off for Bilateral Mastectomies?

I agree 6-8 weeks depending on your job. Also you don't mention if you are having reconstruction which is actually the more difficult part of the surgery. Good luck to you...

Give yourself 8 weeks,depending on what you do. I needed all of that, however I was in my late 50's. Rest, eat high protein, walk, hydrate.......Never stop. Let others take care of you. ((((Hugs))

I have to say that I had some pretty awful side effects from the oxy pain pills post surgery. For my second reconstruction surgery I got off pain pills as fast as I could. I felt that it really messed with my PBMX recovery. That being said I really was barely functional at 6 weeks when I started Chemo. I wish I had known to increase my protein as once I did that I healed significantly faster.

I took one day off, then had help covering my classes for two weeks, but I was able to do much of my non-classroom work from home. I'm not suggesting this, merely noting that in some cases it can be done.

I think it really depends on how physical your job is and how much pain medication you need. I had a unilateral mx & three lymph nodes removed without reconstruction (had rads after) and an oopharectomy and was back to working from home a little on my couch two days later. But, I only used Tylenol post-surgery, so I was clear headed enough to begin returning work emails, etc. but still was mostly lying around & resting.

I had BMX in Feb 2016, no reconstruction. Even though I had a lot of complications and had to go back to work with a wound vac, I was able to return at 4 weeks. If I had had more time off, I would have taken it, but I had run through every bit of my sick leave and vacation time for this stupid breast cancer. I still wasn't able to drive much at 4 weeks, due to the chest/underarm tightness and continued drains. Much of my job involves driving long distances (community health nurse), but I am fortunate that my DH is retired and was happy to drive me around.

Hello Scared67,

In my case I wanted to go to work as soon as possible. Five days after my BMX I was back at work - I have a desk job with my own office. I had colleagues who prepared a couch in my office so that if I'd get tired I'd lie down which I did very occasionally. When I had my reconstruction some months after it took me longer - the tissue expanders were painful and in my case they wanted to fill them quickly so I could proceed to radiotherapy. It took me about 10 - 11 to get back to work cause I remained with the drains for some 9 days. To me work was distracting. I worked even through chemo. It helped me forget about the pain. The more I had to concentrate on things, the more I would forget. Staying at home in bed just made me feel miserable.

I think you need to go by what you feel comfortable doing. We are all different. Colleagues who had been through it themselves could not understand why I was at work so quickly after my surgeries. But to me being able to continue with my life despite cancer was important, it made me feel in control to some degree. And I kept in touch with people. Plus my colleagues were very supportive - they gave me lifts to and from work. And granted my work is flexible - there were many days when I don't think I produced much at work. And other occasions where the thinking skills I used were different to the logical thinking I'm used to - leading to some surprising results to me - cause I had to rely more on intuitive thinking during chemo. 

I am having an oophorectomy soon and this time I don't feel like going to work quickly. I don't know why I feel different now. I'll follow that feeling though because listening to yourself is what'll make you feel better. 

See how you will feel and go by that.

Kathleen, I'm sorry I didn't see your question earlier. As far as I know my expanders are under the muscle. My surgeon initially was not particularly in favor of a BMX since I supposedly had DCIS on the right, but the surgical path report showed IDC on that side too so it was for sure the right choice for me. They didn't fill my expanders during surgery and my final fill is 280 cc per side, so they're not big. They're not painful (awkward, but not painful). I have to wait until the end of the year to exchange due to having radiation, but so far everything's holding up well.

Good luck with everything!

Wow! I am amazed by how little time many of you needed. I am 6 weeks post op today and have not returned to work, I'm an elementary school teacher, and except for things I can do from home for my sub, I won't go back this school year. My tissue expanders are so tight driving is a problem, and I commute 30 miles to my job. But the biggest reason I'm taking the time is I'm still soooooo tired! I sleep 11-12 hours a night (or night with a nap.) This is my fifth major surgery in 3 1/2 years, and I'm just not someone who bounces back quickly. I have done quite a bit on the computer starting at about 3 weeks out, but the thought of being up, on my feet with my thirty 8 year olds all day is just too much. (I'm 56.) I'm glad I was approved for 8 weeks off.