Prophylactic Bilateral Mastectomy Recovery: One Month Out, Part Three

Win a Dress from Shabby Apple!


I thought I'd do a monthly summary for anyone reading who might be considering expander surgery.  For those not interested in this, here's a pass: TL:DNR. This is the third of five summary posts.  The first and second posts are here and here. 

{Color blocking= distraction from booblessness?
@ three weeks post-op}

Getting closer: I had a moment for about a month where I decided that I wouldn't think about my breasts, my family history, or the surgery. And then I got my head out of my ass and scheduled it. About two weeks out from my surgery, I started to get VERY NERVOUS.  Not "I- shouldn't- do- this" nervous, but "what- if- I- hurt"/ "who's- going- to- cook- and- clean- and- walk- my- doggie"/"will- I- get- my- dissertation- done- this- semester"/"will- my- husband- and- my- mom- clash- during- her- long- stay" nervous. So I got hypnosis, basically so I could stay on top of pain and manage the anxious feelings creeping up. To prepare, I also bought stuff. (I used everything but the sippy cup- didn't need it.)

{side view- shit, I have a tummy now. Or, rather,

I have no boobs to convince me otherwise.}

I also had my pre-op appointment, during which my blood pressure was sky high.  The surgical oncologist recommended that I return to my primary care physician to see about blood pressure medication to regulate it before the surgery.  Given that I eat very few processed foods and was at that point exercising 3-4 hours per week for nearly a year, I panicked. I made the appointment for the following week.  

{I look tired. It is the biggest side effect of the surgery. More on that later, gator.}

In the meantime, I went to a Weight Watchers meeting thinking that I could use the structure to lose the final pounds more quickly. But when I went to my primary care physician, she applauded my weight loss for the year and noted that the pre-op reading was the only one that had been that high. No meds necessary, and she encouraged me to "keep doing what I was doing," which was basically eating mostly whole foods and amping up my exercise.  

*This summary is the third in a series of five posts on the subject.  For others, use the search function to search "prophylactic bilateral mastectomy."*

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Post- Op Day 4: Pain Management

I keep saying how little pain I'm having.  This, I'm sure, is far from accidental.  The surgical oncologist assigned to me stressed before my surgery how important it would be to continue to take medication for pain, even in the months following.  I didn't think about it much then-- my surgery was a month away-- but I have seen evidence of that particular urgency throughout my care.  Bottom line- don't hurt!

{tea, scripts, a model dissertation}

My current scripts have me taking percoset every 4 hours. (I can decide whether to take one or two.  Usually I take one, but at bedtime I take two.)  I also take a valium at bedtime, which relaxes the muscle beneath which my expander is placed. I take an antibiotic twice a day and a stool softener twice a day. 

One of my big questions was how much help to have following the surgery.  Here's my answer (again, based only on my own experience): you will need help. A savvy spouse could easily do it, or a trusted friend.  My mother was a nurse years ago and thus LOVES having a patient, haha, and has been fantastic.

{flowers}

The types of assistance I found I need the most are:

-preparing food-- and then actually eating it.  Mom cooked up a storm, but my appetite isn't so great (bet I'm staying within my weight watchers points now, lol). She's making sure I eat something.  My friends offered to bring food, but I declined because I thought I'd want more privacy after the surgery.  Also, the last thing I wanted was to get fat off of baked goods that people tend to bring!

-managing loved ones. I don't have kids, but can't imagine doing recovery solo with little ones. Again, a savvy spouse could get you through.  My "loved one" is my little dog, who gets a coupla walks per day. Mom and hubs are taking care of that for now, but I've been given the green light to walk with them (though since he's larger than 10 lbs- the upper limit of my restriction- someone else has to hold the leash).

-expressing my drains. I could do this myself, but I get the yucksies and my mom doesn't seem to mind...so I let her go for it.

-Cleaning. I have a dust allergy so my home is usually pretty clean.  I couldn't keep it that way without someone to help.

Bottom line: you could maybe do this alone, but it could be risky to.  My insurance covers a home health aide, but I haven't seen her just yet.

That's all I can think of for now.

xoxo,

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