Hi there SF73, I'm just about on my 12 month DMno REcon anniversary. My tip is to allow yourself to be. That is, you don't really know how you will feel afterwards. I went in cracking jokes and saying I really don't need my boobs theyr'e just useless appendages, but afterwards I was really sad, and it shocked me. I think you need to allow yourself to mourn if that's how you feel. DOn't hold it back. However, you may feel a lot of relief so just go with the flow.
IF you don't want to see anyone for a couple of weeks, allow yourself that time. We don't get a medal for doing too much and being everything everyone else wants and expects.
Listen to Charlotte Tottman's podcasts, and yes, looking in the mirror for 5 minutes a day does help.
I had this weird thing afterward where I could not stand anything touching my skin, I just wanted to be naked and couldn't be. Someone on here suggested putting on something completely counter intuitive - a tightish skivvy figure hugging. And wow, it was so relieving of that feeling.
Drink heaps of fluids.
Don't worry about your weight. I actually put on 8kg after without changing my diet at all which was super healthy as I also have MS. Your hormones will change, or maybe it was a coincidence of menopause for me, but eventually you will overcome any of that.
If you get swelling in your arm pits, or your upper arms, seek lymphodoema massage early. It really helps.
For encouragement I would say that although I felt like I had gone through a hedge backwards a few times, and I also got covid after my op, 6 weeks later I went on a trip to Europe with my husband and daughter and managed to enjoy myself most of the time, just had to rest up more than them. So you can look forward to recovering, it will happen.
Take care of your hands. If you get cuts then your arm pits seem to get swollen.
Go well.
