Post Mastectomy/reco.. feels like long road ahead

oops, lost the rest of the message...but just wanted to reassure you that taking the rest is the best thing you can do for yourself and to recommend some binge-watching of any DVDs / TV series on your list! Best wishes, Jane xx

Hi pink_pen, I had a DIEP recon back in 2014 I had some wound healing issues with a small area (around 3cm on my abdomen and under my new breast along the fold) that took a good few weeks to heal and I remember feeling fed up with myself and very frustrated at about the one month post-op mark. Thankfully things started to really heal after that time and some good friends got me out and about for coffee / lunch dates, gentle walks which made a big difference to my state of mind :) It's hard, when you're usually very active to take it easy but, as I  

Hello Pink
There is a group on this site that may help you with questions and understanding of time to heal. 
http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/1-choosing-breast-reconstruction

As to how to pass time it is what hobbies you may have. I found the time went very quickly. 

Take care 

Thankyou so much for your feedback ladies, just got to ride the time. Puzzles so far for me have been great, ill give all the other ideas a go. 

Hi pink_pen, I didn't have diep reconstruction I had immediate reconstruction using a silicon implant, so nowhere near as many stitches etc but I did carry a drain around for 8 weeks which was sitting under the implant at the front of the breast and certainly limited the amount I was able to do. So for those eight weeks I sat outside at my table in the garden and read, did crosswords, listened to music, coloured in (excellent colouring in books available). I also gardened but initially overdid it by just bending down to some plants - soon learnt to garden from a chair to limit bending and limit movement of my drain :s. You could also do embroidery, tapestry, hook a rug (kits available), do a jigsaw, play cards, don't know if you have an ipad but play games etc. I look back now and don't know where that 8 weeks went. Wishing you all the best. Xx Cath

I had a bilateral mastectomy and tissue expander reconstruction almost fully infkated at first surgery. It did take the full 6 weeks to fully recover and be pain free. My wound took about 3 weeks. So things to help that. ..really hood nutrition, stop smoking if you do, and that's about it until closed over then you can start vit E cream or oil. It's a bugger when there are bits not healing...I had an internal stitch holding my wound apart and once snipped off it finally closed up.

As to occupying yourself, I got netflex connected. You could take up some artwork or the new colouring book craze. Jigsaw puzzles was one way a lady occupied herself. 

Hope things improve quickly for you soon Kath x.