Hello

That’s great you were given them pre op ! I showed my husband my scar yesterday . It’s 6 weeks on Monday since my op . Baby steps . Do everything in your own time . I slept in the spare room for the first 4 weeks as my husband was working and I was anxious about Covid . Looking back I think now a good excuse to avoid him seeing me . 

It is really difficult.  I  had my mastectomy cancelled due to covid in December and I am still waiting for another scheduled date for surgery.  I am hoping it is in March.   I have commenced letrozole which is keeping me busy with sore fingers sickness and hair loss.

I find the Cancer trust very good for online Zoom classes and the breast nurses are excellent if you have a bit of a wobble.  Also make sure you seek out your consultant for advice they don’t seem to mind a phone call.  I have found mine really helpful for alleviating any surgery or post surgery worries

 Some of the girls, men even on this site will be great for advice on bras and pillows for after surgery.  I hadn’t even thought about such things.  

my total sympathies are with you

Thank you I just don’t feel as if I’m coping at all at the moment. It really helps having a chat here though, didn’t think i would as so hard to even get the words out.

Thank you for your reply I too am so sorry for your cancelled surgery and hope it is rescheduled for March like mine.

Hi, I had a right mastectomy the beginning of january. Apart from the expected concerns i was also concerned on what my 10yr old daughter would think of me.

I went into hospital 8am, was in theatre at 9.30 and back in my bed by 11am. It was uncomfortable after the anaesthetic had worn off but had some painkillers and that worked. I was discharged the following morning and home by midday. I took a few painkillers over the following days but nothing crazy. 

I thought I would be freaked out with the drain but it was OK. Some have it taken out after 3 days but I had mine in for a week. I've had to go back a few times to have it drained but I'm pretty much back to normal doing what I did before the surgery. I tend to sleep on my side and was unable to do this comfortably for a couple of weeks. 

The nurse told me to take some paracetamol an hour before doing the exercises which seem to help.

The waiting is the worst part as your mind can absolutely work overtime. 

I didn't have reconstruction, was advised to wait a few years. Again, I thought I would freak when I looked in the mirror but I went down the line of the bad stuff has gone and that's the start of recovery. I saw a neighbour today that I haven't seen in a while. Its actually been sunny here today and just had a long sleeve t shirt on (well jeans as well lol) and when I told her she said she would never have noticed which was great for the confidence. For the first week after, I didn't wear a bra but weather was pants so just put a scarf on when I went out to even things out if you know what I mean.

Just remember it is OK to have a flood of emotions. I have found this group so helpful 

Take care

Del x xx

Thank you for your reply I too have found being on here helps calm me down with people that understand, xxx

Hi Gatkinson, I know exactly how you feel. In the space of a month had a mammogram, was told I had breast cancer in two places on my right breast, and was told I would have a mastectomy. I felt like I was living in a nightmare I couldn’t control - I just couldn’t believe it was happening to me! But I kept telling myself ‘one step at a time’. So after I had my mastectomy, I met up with the doctor and, thank God, I was told they had caught all the cancer and I wouldn’t need chemo or radiotherapy.  Just have to take anastrozole tablets - hormone receptor- tablets for the next 5 years.  So I must admit, like you, I was thinking the worse, and when they told me the cancer had gone, I cried tears of joy. But I don’t think the worry will ever leave me completely. Stupidly I’m almost scared to be happy!  I’m seeing the breast care nurse in 2 weeks to get a prosthetic breast fitted properly, and my mastectomy wound is healing well. You are not alone, it really helps to know there are others going through the same as you, and understand how you are feeling. Take care and take one day at a time. We are all here for you.xx

Hi cedance

Thank you for your reply, absolutely the same as myself, it’s Beyond overwhelming and puts your mental health into hell. I too will have a prosthetic made, xxx

Hi I’m so sorry u r going through this , I had a single mastectomy on the 15th January, i was like u very scared but plz u don’t need to be , just think of it as it’s getting rid of the tumour which is in there , it will b gone , I had no pain at all with mine , had no drains , it took a while to get used to it but now it was the best thing I ever did , I have had no reconstruction and won’t have 1 , but if u feel I can’t bare not having the boob there u can have reconstruction straight away , I’m not a confident person and suffer from anxiety but I put my big girl pants on I think right let’s do this , I promise u u will b just fine , xxxx

Hello and thank you for your lovely reply, I really need this support, I too suffer from anxiety. having a chat here is helping me get through the day at the moment. xxxxx