Hi Karen,
Wow, what a crappy intro to planet breast cancer you have had. Sorry to hear you have had such a rough time.
Regarding your questions. I would've very surprised if your surgeon would undertake anything less than emergency/life saving surgery while you still have the thrombosis. It's a big risk. If you are serious about getting rid of the other breast--which I can totally understand as I made the same decision--i can't see them doing anything until it's safe for you.
The bloody dog ears are a trial. I have a beauty under my arm and some truly spectacular saddle bags below both mastectomy scars. Seems there is little that can be done but I don't have private health so can't seem to drum up much support for more purely cosmetic surgery in the public system.
I had bilateral implant reconstructions done at the same time as my mastectomy. Like you, my physical strength was a major consideration as was the recovery time. The implants haven't been a great success for me, mainly because I scar heavily and it's very possible that I didn't give myself adequate time to heal. Patience is not my strong point.
I should also have paid more attention to the way my body has always dealt with injury (pack a heap of scar tissue around it) all I can say is I am profoundly grateful that the surgeon who nearly had me talked into a team flap reconstruction pissed me off so badly I walked out of his office.
I was 43 when all that happened and looking back I would have gone flat chested for a couple of years if I'd known the dramas reconstruction would cause. That said, everyone's different and many women have no problems at all.
Cording is creepy and I hope it resolves for you.
Marg
