Hello El.mumof2, I had multifocal HER2+ and had a double mastectomy 2015.
What to expect, depends on your surgery and how the actual operation is done. My surgeon put slow release pain pellets in my operation sites; that way I didn't need to take any oral pain relief at all - fantastic for me, the pellets dissolved slowly over about 6 weeks, so I didn't have any pain at all, this also helped with recovery time, perhaps a little tingling and /or odd sensations in my upper arms when the pellets were wearing off.
After the drainage tubes were removed from both sides I did have to have a bit of drainage done with a syringe for a few weeks.
I felt at the time of the diagnosis of cancer (2nd time for me) was overwhelming, so much to take in all at once, so many thoughts/concerns going through your mind, sometimes keeping you awake at night, sometimes causing you to cry or get angry for no apparent reason; these things are all normal, we have all been through it at some stage in our journey. The option of the double mastectomy was my decision I had no second thoughts at all.
I found that taking 1 day at a time (easier to say than do), does really help. Accept as much help as anyone will offer you and don't feel bad about it. Be open & honest with anyone that asks if they ask you what they can do to help - tell them, if you want help say so, if you don't then also say so.
Also talking to anyone and everyone that has or is going through cancer treatment is also really really helpful, as the only people that truly understand are the people that are in the same boat as you.
As for little things that are tricky post surgery: drying/showering yourself with drainage tubes in; remembering to carry your drainage bags with you wherever you go
