hi everyone I’m having double mastectomy and diep reconstruction in about 3 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could give some insight into recovery and how they managed once at home from hospital ? Are you able to move around the house yourself and do small things like make a sandwich ? They have said to expect to be in hospital for 7 nights Thanks!!

Yes thank you @Sister. It slowly righted itself a day and a half ago. I'm back to my normal low readings!The problem then segued into a dreadful headache and a lot of retching nausea but 5mg of Endone fixed that yesterday afternoon. They're a result of my body processing the long general, all the other drugs, and the coming down of the physiological response to extensive surgery (the end of the endorphin release caused by all the 'cutting'). As the pain meds slowly reduce it's all a bit of a balancing act. They're both back today but not too bad so far so we'll see.However best of all... drumroll please... motions!!! After six days, what a relief :s :)

Stay tuned @Jen79x! Will be going home from my double mx & DIEP recon some time in the next few days. I'll let you know how I get on... ;)

@iserbrown @tigerbeth @mum2jj @Finch Thank you ladies.You're right Beth, the 'I'll just do this' syndrome would rear its head for sure.I'm feeling a bit better today. Had a good night's sleep which definitely helped. I'm ever so slightly less sore in my abdomen but slightly more round my foob sutures.Everyday round 4pm I hit the wall and have to lie down, exhausted. Otherwise, so far so good. K xox

@"Kiwi Angel" So far so good. They seem pretty good but there's a long way to go. They're still very swollen, and the skin is too, from lymphatic drainage issues. It takes a while for the fluid to work out where to go. My right foob is lumpier & harder and there's still bruising. At this point I'm OK with them but I'm reserving judgement.

@kmakm Hey Kate, @nikkid is right, I also had this, I replied on your other post in Breast Recon, sorry so many posts lol. It isnt fun, the weeping is alarming but my GP was fantastic, put steri strips on it after cleaning it and swabbing it. Mine wasnt an infection but just the healing process, the weeping stopped after about a week. So glad you got onto it, it will heal quickly so try not to panic. It is quite common big hugs xo Mine happened a few weeks after surgery. x

Diep surgery recovery | BCNA Online Network

kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@Sister Yep. Maybe a bit of fat necrosis too he said. That's two and a half hours of my life I won't get back.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
At least it's nothing worse but...really?
Anonymous
7 years ago
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kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @Joannie. One foot in front of the other. So dreary.
Anonymous
7 years ago
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kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@Joannie @Sister Suture abcesses he says. Common and could go on for a while. Keep squeezing them, applying Betadine and put gauze on them so they don't stain my clothing.

I am so fed up.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
Oh no - that's awful. And you so feel up to racing out to an appointment. Hope it's easily fixed.
Anonymous
7 years ago
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kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Well my plan to spend the afternoon working on a chores roster has been derailed by the ongoing saga of my abdominial incision infections.

After two weeks of doing as instructed by the PS, expressing the lesions at shower time and then applying Betadine, they are no better. In fact I think they're worse. There was a huge pus, blood & fluid explosion from one last Friday, and today, the other one has gooped all over my undies. Gross. There's a new dark spot, and the red areas are growing.

So I emailed photos to the PS. The receptionist calls me back & says come in at 3.45pm today. It's the only time he can see me until next week. At that time of day it's going to be a 2.5hr round trip. There are four kids coming home from school and dinner to prepare! So I said no. So the receptionist spoke to the nurse and relayed the message to go see a GP.

Can't get in for ages to see either of the two GPs I regularly see, so now my husband is heading home to spend the rest of the day working here and I'm slogging into the inner city.

I am so fed up with this healing problem. It hurts, it's messy and it's depressing. Garrgh :#
jackie_4
Member
7 years ago
kmakm They are such long surgeries and recovery time in hospital, guessing it takes a while to work through the every increasing (unfortunately) list.