Masectomy recovery and surgery based on cycle

I am 4 weeks out from a bilateral with tissue expanders put in. I was supposed to be in the hospital 2 days but stayed for 4 due to pain management etc... I switched to Tylenol at about day 9 because I hated the feeling of the pain meds. It took a couple weeks until I felt fairly normal, but now I feel great. I was in the middle of my cycle, unfortunately, I didn't really have a choice for surgery date. Are you having an expander put in? That can make recovery a bit more difficult due to it being placed under the muscles. Good luck. It's not as bad as you think.

Hi Mikim! I had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders placed and plastic surgeon used Allograft. I am 51 (but act like a 30 year old). I am in excellent health. I had my surgery 3 days ago, on Nov 12th at noon. I had worn a scopolamine patch behind my right ear the night before surgery to help with nausea and throwing up and dizzy spells. I was under anesthesia for about 7 hours. I woke up feeling okay, but when I tried to take oral pain meds, I would throw up. I tried a cracker, Jello and sips of water and still would throw up, but not a bad type of throwing up. I also burped a lot. I was given morphine for pain and Zofran for nausea by IV all night. Then next morning at the hospital, I was given Zofran (anti-nausea) by IV and waited for about half an hour and took oral pain meds, oxycodone. I had high BP for awhile because of the pain I was in. You rate pain on a 1-10 scale and I was always a 5 to 7 level. The oral pain meds worked with me not having to throw up by taking Zofran IV and then later was switched from IV Zofran to oral dissolving under the tongue Zofran. I took the Zofran a half hour before each oral medication to keep it down. I was given medications to buy before surgery: Oxycodone 1-2 pills every 4 hours for pain, and Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours for pain and inflammation, Colace twice a day for stool softener, Keflex 4 times a day as an antibiotic, my amlodopine 1 a day for high BP, Bactroban for the drain sites; I have 4 drains, Tylenol 1 pill added to the oxycodone to add a little more umph to my pain management, and Flexeril for muscle spasm. Never to take oxycodone with Flexeril at the same time because it could put you out and you would have a hard time waking up. I had surgery around noon on the 12th and then the next evening, went home. I had stress going home because schools were closed and roads were icy in areas. I made it home. the first time I had to go pee, my husband had to pull my PJs down and pull them up afterward. I was able to wipe myself though. I was uncomfortable at home. I stood, looking at my recliner, and thought how the heck am I going to get out of this contraption. I laid on the couch. The third day it gets easier all the way around, pain management is better and moving around more is better. I still walk a bit like I am an invalid. I had a hard time flushing the toilet, turning on the faucet to wash hands, etc. Basically anything that you have to use your muscles. I am so sorry you have to go through all this.