Hi there @Skinnylatte, as others have said, each person is different. People differ as regards to pain, perception of pain, expectation of pain and how they deal with it. I had a bilateral mastectomy with node clearance on the left and sentinal node on the right. No reconstruction. I can in all honesty say that I experienced very little pain as such. Discomfort, yes...especially when moving about the bed to turn from side to side, (can't sleep on my back at all), and sitting up for meals and so on. The drains with their tubes were a pain in the bum, but were not painful for me. I had one dose of endone at the nurse's insistance, which then made me vomit terribly. That caused me pain...the heaving and retching, but once they stopped that with an injection, the puking, the pain settled fast. Other than the occasional paracetemol thereafter, all was well pain wise. The more you move, the more you can move and the exercises you will be given are vital. Others experience a good deal of pain, but the nurses will keep you well covered if you need stronger meds. I expect you might fall somewhere in between in this regard. Don't try to be a hero and ask for help when you need it. Sending you the biggest cyber (((hug))) and hope you get some sleep tonight. Ally.
