Booked for mastectomy and reconstruction now what

Im 5 weeks post single mastectomy diep flap recon. Took 7hrs but different to what youre having as mine involved a tummy tuck. First 2 weeks was hard but now am loving it! I was a  mess leading into it so spoke with my psych from 3yrs ago. It was the best thing i could have done. I had so many emotions but honestly once i did it i havent thought about it since.

You have every reason to feel all those things. Don't forget the cancer council helpline might be able to assist with practical stuff like cleaners etc also. Worth calling them. You guy's deserve as much help as you can get. Take care. X

Thanks ladies , you sound so strong I really hope I can cope like you did .I am having the implants put in straight away .The slow release pellets sound great I will be asking by surgeon for them.I totally agree i feel more comfortable talking to people with cancer .I am trying to organise all my helpers I have 2 kids under 2 and my partner is having chemo and radiation at the moment so it's all happening . I'm very scared and stressed and want this to be over as soon as possible xxx

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

Depends on how it's done.

I had a bilateral reduction  skin sparing mastectomy with immediate tissue expanders inserted and filled to 300mls with a matrix sling. I've just had my changeover to permanent implants  (photos on breast reconstruction group) My nipples weren't saved. I had 1 x 100ml fill after chemo and prior surgery (each side)

I found it did take 6 weeks to recover from. I was quite weak in the arms, couldn't push or pull (or even turn handles for a few days ) due to weakness. By 6 weeks though it was good. The changeover was quite simple with minimal pain for me. Beeding a stay in 48 hours fir IV antibiotics only.

It can be done straight to implant it just depends on surgeon and possible treatment needs. 

I was very teary leading up to surgery but relieved to be rid of the cancer. The changeover lead up brought those feelings back up but feeling much more positive now and certainly comfortable with my appearance, which I was from the initial surgery. It looked much better than I imagined.

Anything else just ask. Kath x