Hi all I am new to this and was not even sure I wanted to post. Here goes I have read alot of the posts on here and they are all so positive. How do you get there I am having a mastectomy tomorrow and am horrified about it. I can not get the feeling of this being a mutilation of my body out of my head. I had even considered just not having it and rolling the dice. Any suggetions on how to get to that place where you are comfortable with this would be great.
Hi Erin,
Just some advice. When I had my drains removed one of them hurt a lot, so I suggest you ask for some serious painkillers an hour or so before removal in case of the same.
Good Luck
Julia
Hi Erin,
Glad to hear you are feeling reasonable after your surgery. If you want to, you can go home with your drain in - it is quite easy to manage, and can be taken out later. I went back a week afterwards, and it was quite painless to remove it. I agree, it is a pain, but only temporary.
Did the physio come to show you exercises for your arm and scar? They are very gentle, but make a big difference to your movement - wait till you have healed a little first! I did mine with the tape still on the chest, after about a week. I was only in hospital 4 days.
Let us know how you are going - thinking of you - love and hugs,
Michelle xx
Hi Erin, glad to hear that surgery is over for you and that you don't feel too bad. I don't know anything about drains because I had a Lumpectomy so I can't help you in that department. I am off today to do a CT Scan and some tatts in preparation for 6weeks of radiation. We are all at different points of this journey but we all know how you will feel from time to time so please keep us updated so that we can walk through this with you. Ann
Thanks for all the massive support girls. It's done and supprisingly I do not feel to bad. I have not left the hospital yet though. I will say they can keep this drain it is the most revoulting and uncomfortable thing in the world. Every time I move it bites me. It looks pretty gross, had a look at it before when I had a shower on the upside I guess it can only improve from here. Thanks again I will keep you updated on results and stuff as they happen
Cheers Erin
Hi Erin
Sorry to hear that you have joined our BC journey group. But you need to stay positive for tomorrow. Just remember that its not what you look like that counts... its what is made up of on the inside.
Boobs are just boobs, I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed and to be honest, I would have lost the boob if I had to in a heart beat. If I needed to have a mastectomy I would have had no hesitation in removal. Life is so important.
You will be positive and get through this. You will have good and bad days, we all have. But, that fighting spirit will kick in.
We all worried before we had surgery and what will we look like after surgery. We all worried about when we lost our hair. We all worried about chemo and the side-effects. Radiation etc. But, I think I can honestly say, from all of us, that when the time came, it wasn't as bad as we thought. And if it was, we dealt with it. As you will as well. When time came for the reality check, we stood upto the plate and took it on the chin. We weren't going to let this beat us.
So, just know that we will have that fighting spirit there for you tomorrow. And you just need to take one day at a time and you will be brave, courageous and strong. We all are.
Sending you big hugs love Julie XX
