DMX, Flat (no reconstruction) and Loving it

@Marycipk - you've been thru a lot, with your surgery, chemo & recovery & most of us go thru some level of depression sooner or later ..... the hospital you attended may have counsellors available to chat to, but in the mean time, Maybe give the Helpline a bell today .... 1800500258 ..... 

take care, all the best xx

I had a bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction and am loving being flat.  I'm slim and muscular and not look like a man! especially with the post chemo cropped hair.  I couldn't imagine having only one breast off and being unbalanced.  I am battling a bit with depression 9 months after diagnosis but I don't think it's because of the surgery.

I have discovered accidentally, because I was using my TENS machine for back soreness...  when I turned it off, suddenly I was having pain in my front again, and I realised that the TENS machine had actually stopped the discomfort in the front!
I had an electrode under each shoulder blade, but closer to the armpit than the spine, and two in the 'small of my back' . I can't wait to try it at bedtime. I wouldn't recommend actually putting electrodes on the front of your body after surgery personally, and I got complete relief from having them on the back. so good. Downside is you can't put it on all the time, or you feel like you've been kicked by a horse.

@Broccoli I think that is what I have now too. Fingers crossed the physio m works well for you!

I send you the links via PM.

Take care! 💫 

Sure that would be great thank you.  I have found out my ‘pain’ Is adhesions…. :-( waiting to see a Physio who specialises in these sorts of issues.
The tight t shirt did provide some relief for the skin sensitivity which is great 👍 

Hi @Broccoli, welcome to the flat side! 

I had seroma 3 or 4 times after drains came out. It takes time to heal, but I have been pretty comfortable. 

I have been going around flat from the get go, no prosthesis. I don’t care and no one else does either! 💞

So glad your husband is on board. I am on a few FB groups for flatties if you would like the link! 

In case you or others don't know of free knitted Knockers

http://knittedknockersaustralia.com/prothesis/

ALSO///. One of the BEST things about going flat is that before the op I had chronic neck pain and since the op I have had basically none. Its been like magic :-)

I have also elected to not have reconstruction following DMX. Its a whirlwind from diagnosis to surgery, so there isn’t much time to think and research. Although I was definite about not wanting recon, my surgeon left the sub mammary fold ‘incase I changed my mind later - they sit so much nicer’ and it does give a slight hint of form. (Most likely from my seromas though lol). I am anxious to see the final result when all the swelling and fluid has settled down, and I had set in my mind before surgery that would be 2 weeks after - but it seems it will be quite a bit longer….  I am not sure if I will bother getting proper prosthesis, as a crop top with a foam form and some cotton wool is actually nice and light and does the job. I cannot bear wearing tight clothing at the moment (including crop tops) be nice to know how long it takes before its comfortable and pain free. Something that isn’t really talked about before surgery.  
I don’t know how anyone has a recon, I simply cannot imagine being that uncomfortable. My husband is keen for me to join the flat and fabulous brigade, its his way of being fully supportive of my new body. 
Thanks for your post Fernweh I’d be interested to know how long it took to feel fully comfortable after surgery, and if you had seromas? How long did they last? 

That's so kind to share 💕