@Cate64 may I ask how long were u in surgery for is it relly 8 hours this is relly worrying me being under for so long thx tessy

Tessy, at my meeting with my Plastic Surgeon he told me its roughly 8hrs because its the reconstruction on top of the Mastectomy.

it depends on what you are having done, I am 4 weeks post bilateral mastectomy and tram recon, it was longer than 8 hours... my breast surgeon did the mastectomies first, then the plastic surgeon came in to do the recon.. I woke up very quickly after the op, and was back in the ward within the hour. Nurses kept a very close eye on me and were wonderful during my entire time in hospital.. I too was petrified when the surgeon told me how long, and nothing anyone can say will take that away from you, having confidence in the medical team treating you and let them know how you are feeling. all the best with the surgery, sending a big virtual hug

@tessytink I was in 10.5 hours but please don't let that put you off, I came out of it really, really well, I was up walking (upright & not hunched) & showering within 48 hours. The breast surgeon took my breast first then the plastic surgeon stepping in to do the reconstruction, it takes so long because of all the microsurgery involved in attaching blood vessels etc.I didn't suffer a great deal of pain at all, it was more discomfort, I went home on day 6 when my drains came out. I was back at full time work in 3 weeks.Let me know if you have any more questions. Good Luck :) you will blitz it :) us BC girls are tough, we can do anything <3Cate

Cate!!! That helps me too enormously, Im imagining the worst and hoping I come through it too quite well!

Hi I had a mastectomy with reconstruction, to be honest I'm not sure how long I was under, I know it was a long time. I had a tramflap reconstruction and the first 2 days were a blur. i did have lots of pain relief with the button to dose myself. i had to go back in for surgery after first 24 hours as I had a bleed. Before any of my surgeries I asked for some thing to ease the nerves, this helped take the edge off . I was in hospital for a week and had to wear a brace for 6 weeks. I found after the first few days things settled and drains were out before I went home. Trying to find a comfortable way to sleep was difficult, I used pillows to prop myself up. Good luck if there is anything else you want to ask, ask away

Reconstruction | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

primek
Member
9 years ago
@M Me too. But I've started swimming already...much much slower though. Expanders in 12 months now.
M_
Member
9 years ago
Hi, I am final stage of r breat reconstruction, tissue expander and seriously cannot wair to have the contraption removed from my body. I now have some edema in my armpit and breast is very very hard and sore in spots at the edge of the expander. Hopefully it will all be worthwhile and one day I will be baxk swimming at my local sports centre.
Indirus9
Member
9 years ago
Have a look on 'Preparing for surgery and recovery' .heaps of infos on the Reclaim your curves website.
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Oh Cate!!!! Im gobsmacked and you know what, THAT was exactly the vibe I got yesterday that its elective surgery and they'll let me know when. I was actually furious!!!! THIS ISNT ELECTIVE SURGERY! Ive had BC twice in 5yrs. I don't want to get rid of my breast and I dont want reconstruction, but here I am and I accept it and am grateful BUT OMG to treat people like I choose this?? GRRRRRR Im so sorry for your wait and ridiculous events!!! I imagine I too will face the same crap when I hit revisions! they need a separate list maybe then everyone is dealt with promptly. Feeling for you!!!
Cate64
Member
9 years ago
@melclarity I hear you girl!! Copped the exact same thing when I was following up on something that should have happened last year..

Its very hard isn't it?? & get this one....

On 12/1 I was rung & booked for surgery for 24/01. Cool I can work with that, rearranged my whole life to do it so quickly, then got a call to attend pre admission 4pm 17/01, ok I can do that as well. Then!! get a call on 16/1 from someone else saying please come to pre admission 9.30am less people & you will be in & out in quick time. Now that was fine as well, I had an appointment in Day Onc that day for my bone injection @ 9.30am which I had changed to 4pm to coincide with the pre admission SO I then had to change that AGAIN!! & this, this is the best bit I am sitting there in pre admission (no in & out record time as promised) & my phone rings its the booking nurse, surprised I am at pre admission & telling me surgery is postponed to 30/01 due to another surgery being booked in for 24/01. Now that is fine but now I can see a pattern because this is the third surgery with plastics this has happened, they book me, 3-4 days later ring & give me new date as another surgery has been booked to take place THEN they ring surgery morning to CANCEL as an emergency has come in. & if it happens again this time it will be the 3rd surgery in a row the exact same thing has happened & I then dont get a new date for months.. Pretty sure its their way of having me off the waiting list to make their reporting look better. I have been on this waiting list for over 980 days now...

Though @melclarity these are non urgent revision I have been having done but still, it doesnt only affect me when they do this, I rearrange my life, temps are called in to cover me at work, my husband arranges leave, its very very frustrating!!

BUT.... I am a BC woman I am TOUGH!!! & I will not be beaten!!
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Such great advice ladies, so very helful!! @Cate64 I havent been given my date yet, as eventhough I always go Private, both my Surgeon and Plastic are doing me through public to save the cost. So Im category 1 but of course Christmas got in the way lol, so he put category 2 which places me end of Feb. I did ring yesterday to get an idea of when to be greeted with this Nurse....Ive been away for 3 weeks and got back yesterday, I have no idea where the list is, can you call back next week!!!! Ummm I had alot to say but bit my tongue and Im trusting to go there??? Whoa!!!! breathe!!
gurneys
Member
9 years ago
My surgery - double mastectomy and TRAM flap recon - was roughly 10 hours. As the others said, I had more discomfort than actual pain afterwards. The most annoying thing was having obs done at what felt like everyone 5 mins (probably more like half hourly)!! All I wanted to do was sleep. My drains came out slowly over the course of 6 days and I was home within the week. I was hunched over for a few weeks, had the binder on for about 4ish weeks. Best advice I can give is be sure to do the exercises that you are given to stop your shoulders from freezing. I'm feeling the effects of a frozen shoulder.
It is a long surgery but I felt more sorry for the surgeon who had to stand and operate for all of that time! I felt the need to apologise to him afterwards. :-p
x-Sherril
Cate64
Member
9 years ago
you will do great @melclarity, when are you due for surgery??
rowdy
Member
9 years ago
Hi I had a mastectomy with reconstruction, to be honest I'm not sure how long I was under, I know it was a long time. I had a tramflap reconstruction and the first 2 days were a blur. i did have lots of pain relief with the button to dose myself. i had to go back in for surgery after first 24 hours as I had a bleed. Before any of my surgeries I asked for some thing to ease the nerves, this helped take the edge off . I was in hospital for a week and had to wear a brace for 6 weeks. I found after the first few days things settled and drains were out before I went home. Trying to find a comfortable way to sleep was difficult, I used pillows to prop myself up. Good luck if there is anything else you want to ask, ask away
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Cate!!! That helps me too enormously, Im imagining the worst and hoping I come through it too quite well!