Prepping for Surgery

I have no information to offer, but I do wish you a smooth experience and recovery. You sure do have a lot going on. Do you have someone to help support you during this time? I bet they wouldn’t mind at all. It’s no burden to help family and friends. I hope you get more input on this, before your procedure.

Hi! @healedme:

I am so sorry for all you've been through!

Unfortunately, I do not have any experience regarding oncoplastic surgery and I am not any expert in the healthcare profession that I can not offer any advice on this matter; however, I'll keep you and your young son in my thoughts and prayers, pray that everything goes well with the grace of God! Please consider accepting help from family and friends, @healedme; I truly believe that the gracious Lord shows His love via people around us all. I live in Connecticut, if we live within driving distance, I'd love to offer any physical assistance that you may need. Could you please let me know where you live?

Our praying spirits will be with you through this journey, my friend. Wishing you a successful surgery and full & speedy recovery!

@healedme

You may want to do following search and see other discussions on breast reductions:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/?search=reduction#discussion-listview
Remember, everyone's experience is different.

The key is to plan ahead. Yours is under week away, but do any shopping and prep this weekend so everything need in next few weeks is already in house. You do not have to be strong, you can ask for help. Also, take advantage of delivery services that are now available for grocery and meals.

Is there any one able to stay with you for few days after surgery to help?

I had this exact procedure - lumpectomy to remove tumors, reduction on other breast and bilateral lift.
Surgery took about 4 hours (yours may be shorter, I had 3 tumors removed) and it’s fuzzy, but I remember being wheeled out of the OR & taken to recovery. The nurse asked me to rate my pain on a scale of 1 - 10. I think I mumbled that I didn’t really have pain, but my shoulder muscles felt tight. She gave me a muscle relaxant, which helped.
I’m not sure how long I was in recovery, I was pretty groggy. Next they took me to a private area where my family was waiting & the nurse there checked in every few minutes, and said I should stay there until I felt ready to get up, get dressed & walk. I got some water & crackers, and I was there for about an hour - I was ready to leave sooner, but had to wait to get the pain med prescription filled. They gave me a pain pill before I left since it was about an hour’s drive to get home. It was about 6 hours from the start of surgery till I left the hospital.

I slept in a recliner the first 2 nights to help with swelling & be sure I wouldn’t roll to my side while sleeping.

I had a little to no pain, but a lot of discomfort, sweating under the dressings, itching, soreness. they did axillary nerve blocks in the OR and I think that made a big difference. I took the pain meds for 36 hours, then switched to Tylenol.

The day after surgery I started to get back into my normal walking routine. My first walk was only 1/2 mile so I could see how I felt, and it felt good to move! After that I was back to 2-3 miles a day, to be on the safe side I had someone with me the first week, and my pace was certainly slower.

I took 2 weeks off work (desk job), probably would have been fine at 10 days.

No shower for 48 hours after surgery, and for 2 weeks I tried to not lift my arms above shoulder height. For 6 weeks, no lifting over 5 pounds, and no vacuuming or anything that required repetitive arm movements.

A couple of things that surprised me …
How tight my breasts felt - just didn’t feel like mine! Took about 6 months till they loosened up.
Honestly, the incisions looked Frankenstein ish at first, after healing they’re fine, I just wasn’t prepared for how they would look right after surgery. My plastic surgeon recommended biodermis silicone scar sheets, which helped a lot.
https://www.biodermis.com/collections/epi-derm
This YouTube plastic surgery nurse video has a lot of good info.

You have so much going on, please take a breath.
I’m like you, I don’t like to burden others, and I have learned that there are times when letting someone else in on my struggles actually strengthens our relationship.

It is interesting to read about experiences. I did not have a lumpectomy, but a double mastectomy. What stood out for me was at prep. My first surgery had 1 breast removed with an expander put in. He drew all over my body area, so the right breast was noted and the other markings he needed for his job. I had a surgeon, and this doctor who was the plastics dr. My recover in the recovery room was in 30 minutes or so after the surgery. I woke up to my younger sister who said later i talked incessantly. No quiet wakeup for me!!!
I stayed overnight as i had another surgery the same day. I went home and slept on my couch that i had small wedge pillows ready to comfort by body. For me, 3 sentinel nodes came out and the nerves in that breast were numb or out of commission. Two years later I am feeling less numbness. Surgery is just that. Mastectomy or lumpectomy. I had both breasts done in late 2022. I was bound tight and given instructions for care. I had no one living with me for that surgery and did a good job myself. I had little pain, but i had a hematoma on one side develop. Side effects i kept my medical team informed on. Pictures too through our patient portal.

No matter, keep the team informed once you go home. I had an online portal or for big concerns I called the Triage line at the hospital. Each day it will get easier. No hands reaching above your shoulders. Follow instructions on what your team provides. A positive attitude, and has said, deep breaths to relax do help.

I had the same DCIS lumpectomy, oncoplastic surgery reduction and lift on both breasts. The nerve block lasted 3 days, no pain. They sent me home with tramadol, Tylenol and Advil. I did not like the effects of the tramadol and only took it for 2 days. Took the other OTC analgesics for about a week. Very little pain.
Surgery was 3 1/2 hours with about 1 hour in recovery. I was told I could go home, 3 1/2 drive, but I wanted to stay one night in the area just in case there was a problem. Stayed at the Marriott in the medical center, lots of pillows behind me and to support my arms. I walked quite a bit the evening after surgery - they said it would be good to get up and move around. Walked for over hour through the air conditioned hallways of connecting hospitals.
The stitches were quite Frankenstein-ish! But they do fade.
I slept in a recliner for a pretty long time. And we bought an inexpensive counter top microwave because I knew it would drive me crazy to not be able to use the built-in (really high) for 3 months!

You are VERY kind. Thank you so much. I'm in Philadelphia. I will have help my first three days post-op and from the sound of things, I should be okay to manage after that. If not, I will call-in the calvary! I appreciate your prayers. That's the MOST you can do.

Thank you -- I appreciate your thoughtful sharing.

Thanks for the insight. I didn't think about the microwave...just when I thought I was super thorough . . . one more thing!

I receive that! Thank you for your kindness and wisdom.