Mastectomy, DIEP Reconstruction and Lymph node removal operation in 2 weeks..... very nervous

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Cins
Cins Member Posts: 1 ✭
in General discussion

So I have been
through Chemotherapy and Radiation quite successfully and kept well emotionally
and mentally, remained working full time, running my child around to sport 5
days a week and still working out. Now I am faced with the part I am petrified
about and thus reaching out to others for some information and tips! Both my 12
year old son and I are on egg shells with my looming surgery in two weeks. I am
having a right breast Mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction, the left breast will
also be augmented and reduce to match, and the lymph nodes removed from my
right under arm.

 

Has anyone else
here had this all done at once? If so, please share you tips/stories/recovery
with me. My son has his Primary School Graduation on the 18th and some Specialists
have said I may make it, others have said I won't. I am a 'knowledge is power'
person so would like to hear any accounts, be them good or bad, to know what I may
or may not be faced with. Thank you in advance!

Comments

  • Rosie_BCNA
    Rosie_BCNA Member Posts: 217 ✭
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    Hi @Cins, there is a private group called Choosing breast reconstruction which has many women who could offer you support around your upcoming surgery. Just use the Groups tab and select join next to the Choosing breast reconstruction group. Introduce yourself and one of the group facilitators will approve your request.  @Chorsell, @alexinbrisbane, @Jane221, @LouiseTurner can one of you please assist @Cins?      
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974 ✭
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    You possibly could. You'll be very tired, but if everything goes well, you should be upright and walking OK.

    I had a double mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction at the end of April. I had a great deal of trouble with low blood pressure and was not able to stand up without starting to pass out for four days. This put me behind schedule and I was in hospital for 10 days. They like to have you up and moving the day after the operation.

    If you've been exercising regularly that will be a help for the speed of your recovery. Do the exercises the physio gives you religiously! Pace yourself, don't overdo it, and conserve your emotional and physical energy in order to spend it at the graduation. Keep visitors to a minimum. It is an exhausting operation, as is the post-operative monitoring.

    If you're having your operation on Tuesday 11/12 and the graduation is a week after that, with luck and assistance, you could just make it. It will be a stretch though. So if you don't make it, remember that most of all your son wants you well and happy and around for a long time. You can get someone to hold up a tablet or phone to FaceTime the whole thing, and there will be videos galore taken I'm sure.

    Good on you for being brave and going for this op. I have no regrets for mine. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat privately. My story's in the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group, in detail... bit of a long read! K xox
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960 ✭
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    I had my surgery the following week so that I could attend end of year things and in particular, my daughter's primary school graduation but then again, I didn't have reconstruction so not as big an operation to fit in.  I agree that it is an occasion and you'll want to be there but more important to get well. @kmakm has made a good suggestion about FaceTiming it.  I wonder if it's worthwhile having a conversation with whoever at the school is organising the grad?  If, come the day, you are up for it, maybe you could get someone to drive you there and slip in at the back, away from the crowds.  I say this from the point of view of someone who has never had that particular surgery.  It is a big op and your recovery will be the most important thing.
  • Caccal
    Caccal Member Posts: 12 ✭
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    Hi Cins, everyone is different but I have had a double mastectomy and clearance in my left arm. I would imagine you will be sore and not able to drive yourself but should be able to attend. You will probably still have drains in which you can put in little carry bags but I was out of hospital after 5 days. I found the clearance arm ongoing is the most "painful" and by that I mean really uncomfortable not unbearable pain. You may not be running around but you might still make it albeit a little uncomfortable and tired. You cam do this xx

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