Just thought I'd pop a post on about my experience of the mastectomy operation and anaesthetic recovery - hopefully it'll help someone else.
I just had a single mastectomy 2 days ago. No choice of reconstruction as it's very likely I will be having radiotherapy although they won't know for certain til I get surgery results. Reconstruction will come further down the line for me if I choose it.
I went to hospital for 8am but was one of the last on the list so waited around til around 2ish before i was actually operated on. Thankfully the England Lionesses game was on the TV so I watched them win before eventually going to theatre and I think I was in for about 2.5 hours. It took a long time for me to completely come around and feel human after my op while the others in my surgery ward seemed to recover a lot quicker and were chatting away and going to the loo themselves while I had to rely on the lovely nurses to help me on the commode until late in the night when I eventually woke up for a few hours and got my independence back. I was told that everyone is different and I should try not to compare myself to anyone else.
The morning after (yesterday) I was still very groggy and sleepy so napped a lot. My Dr came and checked on everything and said I was good to go home after the breast nurses had seen me. When he went I looked down at myself and shed a few tears as I don't like my monoboob look, but having my breast removed has effectively saved my life. The breast nurse came to see me and I was measured up, given a bra and a softie prosthesis and feel much better about myself now. I went home with a chest drain in which you keep in for usually a maximum of 5 days, however my nurse rang me this morning and my levels were nicely low so I went back to hospital to get it taken out and I feel much more comfortable.
Hi Jolly Clasher
I'm glad to hear that your mastectomy went well and that you were able to get rid of the chest drain so quickly.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Daisy53
Well done! It’s not an easy transition, but you’ll get there! Sounds like a similar experience to mine; I arrived at 7.30am and had surgery at 5pm. Never thought I’d be so keen to have my boob off! 
. But almost 2 years on I’m coping well and happy to have rid of that pesky cancer. I’m 62 and so it’s not earth shattering for me at my time of life; I’d have been devastated had I been in my younger years. This disease certainly puts things in perspective; I’m just glad to be feeling well and enjoying the (hopefully) 20+ good years I have left. Enjoy every day however many boobs you have! xxxx
Hi Jolly Clasher
Sorry to hear that you have developed an infection. I hope it clears up soon.
Best wishes
Daisy53
Got the results from my op today that all my cancer is gone and the 3 lymph nodes removed are all clear too 
Now waiting for oncotype dx results to come back to see if I'll benefit from chemo xx
That's great news Jolly Clasher. I'm delighted for you. xx
Yeah it certainly is. I literally have a giant monoboob now, but for days before the op I was looking in the mirror and flattening the boob to "get used to the look" 
Good luck for Monday keze73 xx
