Double mastectomy and back to work- is this realistic?

Hi,

I had a double skin sparing mastectomy in April of 2015. I had expanders placed at that time too. I was in good physical shape, but it knocked me flat for several weeks. You will not be able to use your arms for a couple of weeks to do much. I hope you have help when you get home because you will need it. Try getting up and down and not using your arms at all! If lymph nodes are removed, you need to be really careful because you could get lymphodema. They have you wait about 5 weeks if you get chemo following the surgery just to recover. Everyone is different, but like I said, I have always been an exerciser and was in good condition, but I could not have gone back to any kind of work for at least 3 weeks. Travel is not recommended for awhile due to pressure changes in a plane and possibly causing lymphodema. Just what I know, for what it's worth. I had reconstruction in the fall and am good as new now. Teaching exercise classes! Good luck!

Physically, I think it is probably doable--I had a BMX with one step implants--but mentally, not sure. It is obviously an individual thing, but I know that all I wanted to do for the three weeks post surgery was sleep and watch TV. I did go out to dinner a couple of times in that period, and entertain visitors, but sitting or standing for more than an hour or two completely exhausted me. I can't imagine having the concentration for work at that point. I was still processing everything and very much needed to not be needed for anything requiring thought! I took 6 weeks off (including 1 pre-surgery week--so many appointments that I did not see the point of trying to pretend I was functional for the week prior.) There is a physical reckoning when you have something removed, and how we deal with that is a very individual thing. As for travel, the lymphedema thing is a concern, but if you have only a sentinel node or 2 removed, the odds are in your favor that you will avoid it (flying can be a trigger for lymphedema symptoms, but is usually more of a concern for those who have had multiple nodes removed.) You have had a big, massive thing happen and been an amazing trooper, but you do need some time to sit with all of this.

@meg2016 ... I'm also getting ready for a double mastectomy in July. And I'm traveling for it. So as far as the flying ... my surgeon at first said that it would probably not be recommended. However, after talking more to her ... it is because of the cabin pressurization that increases lymphedema risk. My flight home is not a long flight & we'll never reach an altitude that this would be an issue. So just food for thought. You might want to check that. I personally couldn't imagine driving the 4 hrs home a few days after surgery. We debated if we should just stay till the 2 week check up & hopefully drain removal. But as of right now we are planning on coming home a couple days later.

I had a UMX in January and a PMX of the right side three weeks ago. The recovery was fairly easy for me both times, but I agree with the others that it will be hard to concentrate on much. I went back to work after 3 and half weeks for the first MX and while it was good to take my mind off my dx, I found that I was on autopilot much of the time anyway. Also at 2 weeks you are going to find that your underarm becomes very sensitive, kind of like a bad razor burn. This pain decreases over the next week or two but might make it more painful to move your arm much, especially in the heat of the summer when your skin will be more sticky. Powder helps, but ask your PS if it's ok to use, especially if you still have drains in.

For my prophylactic MX of the right side, I thought I would be able to do computer work at home, but suffered from extreme shoulder pain from using the mouse (I'm right handed). I solved this issue by buying a roller ball mouse at Best Buy. I can keep it in my lap and just use my thumb and fingers to move the mouse, without having to move my arm. I still have a stiff shoulder but exercises I learned at PT after my first MX help a lot.