Lots of questions, learning lots.

@Kylie Burrows nz

Welcome! Certainly a wealth of knowledge and experience here and so many wonderful supportive ladies. What I love is how incredibly giving they all are and so so helpful!

Glad to hear youre traveling along so well! Great! I've had a recent left breast Mastectomy/Diep Flap reconstruction and I was told 6 weeks before I could drive, so I'd check with your surgeon. I had lymph nodes out in 2015 and still part of my armpit is numb, some of it will come back but some of it may not, I haven't found it to be a massive problem though, just weird really. 

If you have any questions or need a vent, just yell!!! We're all happy to help anyway we can. Hugs Melinda xo

Hi kylie healing greetings ..driving a manual with the surgery to  left side just be extra careful but hope you have auto! I waited two weeks but did not have lymph nodes removed. All the best Bright

Hi Kylie,
So good to hear you are recovering well! 
I waited until my drains came out before I drove. I was told that it's not so much the external but the internal stitches that are a problem if you bust one by pulling in an unexpected way - so I didn't risk it until I felt really comfortable.
With the shaving under your arm thing - it is totally weird isn't it! If you nick yourself when shaving it can increase your risk of lymphedema (as you've had your nodes out). I use an electric shaver now and even though it's a bit more annoying, I figure any risk reduction is worth it! Take care!

Hey Kylie

This is when your learning curve is at its steepest!

I also found the best part of the 'My Journey' kit was the diary - I wrote all my notes, questions, contacts, expenditure in there. It's been fantastic.

The other thing I found useful (there are lots of other things as well...) is the Zonta pillow. Ask your breastcare nurse to organise one for you - they help when using a seatbelt in the car, sleeping etc. They are made by volunteers through Zonta international and these wonderful ladies do a great job!

Take care. We will all be thinking of you

Nikki x

ps like @melclarity, I've taken to getting my underarms waxed 

Oh no, a long post just disappeared!
It sounds like you are doing really well.   This site is so valuable for all the support and information offered by the wonderful ladies. There is no instruction manual for breast cancer. For the most part we are all in the dark at first and need to figure it out as we go along. It's interesting to look back a few months later and realise how much we now understand and we can actually help others just starting out.
I started driving around 3 weeks post op. I had a left nipple sparing mastectomy with an immediate implant. There is a bit of trauma to the pec muscle so I wanted to be sure I could turn the wheel in a hurry if I needed to!
I'm almost 9 months post op and still have a partially numb arm. The real sensitivity inside my left arm passed after 2 months which was a relief.  My underarm has partial feeling which makes shaving interesting.  The nerves under my arm have joined a bit oddly - I can have the razor in my armpit but feel it halfway down my arm!
The diary in the My Journey kit was great. I also bought a clip folder (pink of course) with dividers.
This was really helpful for filing receipts, admission info, exercise sheets etc all in one place.
I hope you continue to recover well.  Take care and all the best with your upcoming treatment.
Jane xx

I too think I was told 3 weeks after mastectomy and they just recommend you have a little test drive first. Keep up those post surgery exercises. Have you a breast care nurse you can discuss with?