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Annie13's avatar
Annie13
Member
14 years ago

Day 18

Today is my last day at work...for a few weeks at least. I go in for my mastectomy on Monday, then have been told at least two weeks off work. I'm planning to work the third week from home, then be back on board in the fourth week.

Yesterday and today I am feeling incredibly anxious. Come Monday, my beautiful body will be very different. Still beautiful, but different.

I spoke with the Nurse yesterday who told me to expect some pain with the expander going in and adjusting. Even that's a little scary.

Work has very kindly loaned me and Ipad for the weeks I'm not here so I can watch the Olympic Games live......one of the positives I can take from this is that the two weeks I'm off perfectly coincides with the Olympics! Being a sports nut, I think that's pretty great!

My mum used to always joke that when she needed time off with her cancer treatment it always managed to coincide with some great sport on tv....the Ashes, the Aussie Open tennis, Footy Finals etc!

My next post will now be after my operation. Here we go.....

 

9 Replies

  • wendyb's avatar
    wendyb
    Member
    14 years ago

    good luck!  i had the same surgery in Dec 2011 and was off work for nearly 2 months.  I worked from home from about week 6.  The first month my plastic surgeon told me that I wasn't able to use my arms for anything so that pretty much limited me to do nothing. 

    Don't try and be brave with the pain if you do get any.  I was on panadol and nurofen on some days.

    I suffered from really bad neck and shoulder pain which prevented me from going to work.  I ended up getting physio massages which helped ease and relax the muscles. Heat packs only provided temporary relief.

    Enjoy the tv.  I read lots of books whilst sitting in the sun and went on daily walks for exercise.  These were sometimes a struggle as i was constantly left out of breath but i just took it slowly. 

  • Jennt28's avatar
    Jennt28
    Member
    14 years ago
    Good luck for tomorrow :-) I am on the path to double mastectomy and expanders then implants so will be watching for your experience and any tips you can give along the way. I did a lumpectomy back in December and then chemo. Was supposed to do radiotherapy but for a couple of reasons (not more cancer) the plan has changed and I will hopefully be getting the mastectomies and recon before the end of September :-) Jenn
  • Jennt28's avatar
    Jennt28
    Member
    14 years ago
    Good luck for tomorrow :-) I am on the path to double mastectomy and expanders then implants so will be watching for your experience and any tips you can give along the way. I did a lumpectomy back in December and then chemo. Was supposed to do radiotherapy but for a couple of reasons (not more cancer) the plan has changed and I will hopefully be getting the mastectomies and recon before the end of September :-) Jenn
  • FD's avatar
    FD
    Member
    14 years ago

    Good luck for Monday Annie I had bilateral mastectomies with expanders on 30 May and found the first day the worst. By the second day I was up walking around and overwhelmed with relief it was over. Not long now, take care Lara x

  • FD's avatar
    FD
    Member
    14 years ago

    Good luck for Monday Annie I had bilateral mastectomies with expanders on 30 May and found the first day the worst. By the second day I was up walking around and overwhelmed with relief it was over. Not long now, take care Lara x

  • magicmum's avatar
    magicmum
    Member
    14 years ago

    My very best wishes for a succesful surgery. Don't overdo anything, lie about, be spoiled, take a rest.  And take whatever you need to get through pain free.

    magicmum

  • magicmum's avatar
    magicmum
    Member
    14 years ago

    My very best wishes for a succesful surgery. Don't overdo anything, lie about, be spoiled, take a rest.  And take whatever you need to get through pain free.

    magicmum

  • Cheryl_D's avatar
    Cheryl_D
    Member
    14 years ago

    Just had my other boob operated on yesterday, looking forward to the Olympics just like yourself, quite nice to sit / lay down and watch soem geat moments of spoting endeaver, helps to take our minds off what is going on alittle bit.

    Hope all goes well for you and don't forget to take drugs for pain, no one gets a medal for being a martyr!

    Cheers

    Cheryl