Countdown to Reconstruction

Hiya TracyS....on my blog you will see photo of binder and the bra I wore. Megan does a fantastic job and the breast have fabulous shape, the bra help keep the so.

So wonderful to have breasts again after soooooo loooooong!

Kim

 

Hi Tracy

Megan likes you to wear the tummy binder for 6 weeks post surgery and an underwire bra (but you don't have to wear it 24/7). I found underwire too uncomfortable and wore the berlei bra that is supplied by BCNA, I also wore it 24/7 for a while as it gave me comfortable support. A friend of mine's mother makes pillows (like a crescent neck pillow) which I found really helpful afterwards to put under my arm. I found wearing the elastic tummy binder more comfortable to wear over a long singlet top. I am not tall so trimmed off one of the panels. I still wear it from time to time as the tummy is the thing that takes the longest to recover from. I thought I would never be able to stand up straight! Make sure you get good info on exercises to do after recovery. You should be seen by a breast care nurse and a physiotherapist after the surgery. If I can give you any further info or if you would like to see pictures of my surgery, happy to provide privately or have a chat on the phone

Linda

Hi Linda, I am having Megan Hassall and Mark Sywak as we'll. I am still at very early stages of researching recon and will be visiting these 2 doctors in January. I have seen Megan already and know that I will have a mastectomy and double tram recon. (Already have had a single mastectomy.) can you tell me does Megan like her patients to wear support on the tummy and breasts after surgery?

I had a bilateral DIEP flap reconstruction just over 3 weeks ago and have just updated my blog - search for diary of a DIEP flap bilateral reconstruction. I mention clothing in that. I have just been and bought a couple of extra pairs of yoga/track pants that have really soft waistbands as that is what I am wearing at home now. My surgeon has said no bras so I wear a cami top below a shirt and as of a couple of days ago I don't need button up tops I can move my arms well enough to take things off over my head. In hospital I was In a gown for a few days but after that I wish I had had a thigh length nightie with buttons at the front rather than pajama tops with bottoms I could not wear. I had a light weight dressing gown which was pretty good to have but I sometimes wished it was calf length. I was also living in the lovely elastic stockings. The hospital had all the tv channels and I left that on a lot. I read very little but I also had my I pad after a few days with a hub for Internet access and started my blog. On day 7 and 8 before I got out I was getting sick of being in hospital. Since coming home I have started to learn to crochet and maybe having crochet or knotting in hospital might have been good, craft is such a good way to take your mind off things. Once you are home then all I can say at this stage is be patient and have help, you will not be up for much activity for a while. Good luck

Hello,

I had this operation nearly 5 weeks ago.  It is definitely a major operation!!! I am now more mobile but still quite slow to get around and sore.

I packed a case for hospital but did not get dressed at all due to the drains,catheter  and constant checking.  My surgeon had me not wear a bra at all until two weeks later and now have to wear a non underwire sports bra(gone from DD to A-B LOL!)24 hours a day for 2 months.

So in car I just had a really soft loose top, if you have one that does up at front that is great and I wore some drawstring PJ pants, it's pretty hard when car goes around corners!

I took a book and magazines with me but mostly just lay there watching TV.

My stomach is now so flat but really tight which causes constant discomfort, so hopefully it will get better soon. both breasts were made differently....1 has a stitching strip a bit like the outside of a quarter orange shape and the other has stiches underneath with a circle of stitches around where the old areola was.  They also are not even and my surgeon said another op in 6 months.

I also had a new belly button which I was not expecting.

If you want to know anything else, just let me know.

Good Luck!

Julia