Mastectomy yesterday - feeling relieved

Well done, I can definitely relate to what you are saying, the build up to going in for surgery was awful. 

Really wise to keep taking the pain killers & rest up when you are home, although doing the exercises you will be given are really important. The drains are a pain but really key to recovery so try & bere with them !

Massive step to being cancer free ! Keep in touch with your support network & be kind to yourself, you will likely feel emotional for a while 

Best wishes x

I'm so pleased to hear you're over that hurdle!  Fortunately I was warned that the blue dye could do weird things - and I've still got a slightly blue nipple 6 months on.  Hopefully you've been discharged by now; nothing like your own bed after a stay in hospital.

Best wishes

Hi ELBread,  Glad that you are done with the mastectomy and implant.  That is a big operation and the emotional drain of everything you have been through kicks you in the butt.  I have noticed on this website that most women who have mastectomies also have their nipple removed.  I live in Florida and that is still done here too but nipple sparing mastectomies are more common.  Only reason can’t be done would be nipple involvement or cancer too close to nipple.  Have a friend who had bilateral mastectomy with implants and nipple removal and then got tattooed.  Looks good too.  
This is really the start of your journey to feeling well.  The relief is amazing.  Take it easy and big healing hugs to you. 
Barbara

Hi Barbara, I feel so overwhelmingly relieved I can't stop crying, I can cope with the tightness and the bruising. Everything is setting me off, the lovely messages, peoples help. There is so much good in the world and for such a long time I would focus on the negative. This is a bug wake up call.

I did have all tissue and nipple removed, the only thing they spared was my skin. My daughter (aged 8) said I now have a barbie boobie, the cutest thing to say and obviously set me off again. I was so worried the children would e upset but they themselves have been excellent.

I think I'll look at nipple tattoos next year when I'm fully healed, it'll be nice aesthetically to have something there I think, but I'll get rested and healed first before I think about the next steps.

Thank you for your kind messages and support, the road to recovery is exhilarating, I'm so happy the first big bit is done xx

The blue dye is really very odd! They dropped some on my middle finger, towards the nail and it's bright blue like a smurf! 

My urine has also been very bluey green for a couple of days, I'm sure it will all settle! 

Discharge was quite long winded but I'm home now. Heading back this afternoon to have drain checked and hopefully removed xx

Wishing you a speedy recovery I bet it’s a relief to have it done and can now concentrate on getting better ! I’m booked in for next week to have the same , just a thought I am also having the blue dye but I didn’t realise it was injected into the nipple ? In fact they never told me how they were doing it at all ! Is it painful ? X best wishes 

Well done, it's such an emotional journey, I cried for a few days after my mastectomy, with all the drugs in your system doesn't help either. I had a nipple-sparing mastectomy plus implant but then had to have the nipple removed a few weeks later when they got the pathology results in. Last week, I had nipple reconstruction plus fat transfer to help the implant look and feel a bit more normal. I'm really pleased with the results, saw the nipple for the first time yesterday. I'll eventually get it tattooed. 

Keep resting and do the exercises as they help a lot, although may not feel like that to start with!

Wishing you all the best for next week. The blue dye was injected into my nipple, stung a little bit but nothing major. I've still got some blue dye showing, 6 months down the line!

Thank you. Surprisingly 2 days in and I'm feeling quite well. It's very tight and the bruising is quite significant but paracetamol every 4hours is doing the trick and I can get up and walk around quite comfortably.

The blue dye was injected when I was asleep but they did inject a radioactive solution into my nipple about 3 hours before my op. This was a bit stingy because of the area and it was just under the skin, needle was tiny and it was over and done within about 10seconds. Just not overly comfortable.

My daughter saw me change this morning, she is 8 and said it looks like I have a Barbie boobie now. Such a sweet accepting way to describe what it looks like (I had implant reconstruction, so I do have a breast shape). Set me off crying, it's very overwhelming the relief when it's done xx

Best wishes with yours coming up, the anxiety beforehand is really awful but since having it done, it's not as bad as I'd built up in my head. Xx

Children say the most beautiful things as their hearts are so pure.  You are perfect to them and Barbie boobs are pretty awesome.  
cancer changes our perspective for sure and although I am a retired nurse this diagnosis shook me to the core.  Took me time to evaluate everything and although I always felt thankful for everything it is deeper now.  I am not as critical of people etc as never know what people are going through.  
Just take it easy and enjoy your children as they will keep your spirits high.

Barbara