Second fill and surgery healing

The second fill was quick and easy. After the first fill, I felt a decent amount of pain under my right breast for a few days. It was really annoying but it went away after a few days. After the second fill, I didn't have any pain, which was a nice surprise!

By 3.5 weeks after surgery, I feel totally normal. I even started lifting my toddler again. I don't think this would be the case if the surgeon cut my pecs, but luckily my expanders were placed pre-pectorally. The only adjustment is sleeping at night - I still feel like it's best to sleep on my back but I wake up halfway through the night uncomfortable. My surgeon said that technically I could sleep on my side, but when I try to, the weight of my expanders feels uncomfortable. Still, I'm not really in pain, so that's great.

I also went back to work between weeks 3 and 4 after surgery. I'm working from (as is everyone these days - coronavirus) which makes it even easier.

Drain Removal and First Fill

Was so excited to get my drains out 2 weeks after surgery. they had stopped bothering me mostly but it definitely feels better not to have them, not to mention having the bulky drains under my shirt. 

During the appointment, my plastic surgeon also filled my tissue expanders! During the surgery she filled them with air. Now she deflated them (I looked, it was really funny) and put in 300cc of saline per side. The needle didn't hurt at all because the area is totally numb. 

What to wear for a double mastectomy

Here are some items of clothing I found helpful after my double mastectomy:

RENOVA MEDICAL WEAR Mastectomy recovery shirt  - I changed into this while I was at the hospital and it made a huge difference. The hospital gown closed in the back, and it was really annoying for the nurses to access my drains, I had to keep on wrangling with the robe. The shirt is super soft and machine washable. I just put the drains into the pockets, I didn't thread them through the loops.

Yesito mastectomy drainage pouch and Shower Belt - I put this on as soon as I got home and have been wearing it day and night. I already used the shower pouch for a shower and it worked well - it can get wet and air dry.

A hoodie that's easy to get on, and/or a sleeveless vest

Slip on shoes without laces

Button down shirts

Pajamas with a button-down shirt

My Double Mastectomy

My mastectomy is done!! 

I arrived at the hospital at 8:30am. After changing into a gown and scrubs, I had radioactive dye injected into my breasts. They do this to identify the first draining lymph nodes - the ones that would get cancer cells first - so they know which to take during the surgery. The injections were bearable, not fun but definitely better than when I had tumors biopsied.

I thought i was going to be doing a lot of waiting around, but by the time that was done, they were rushing me to get ready for surgery. I saw my surgeon, she marked me up. Someone told me they were giving me something to relax me and I don't remember anything after that! 

When i woke up I was a bit foggy but in a great mood. My parents were there (husband was home with our kid). I was sore but overall I felt great. They wheeled me to my room and I was so excited to finally eat and drink after fasting since the night before. 

More on recovery in another post...