Robot-assisted Nipple Sparing Mastectomy (NSM): My recovery journey

I underwent a preventative mastectomy at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. I participated in the DaVinci clinical trial. I didn't find a lot of information on the recovery aspect of this surgery online. I thought I would start a post in case others are on the fence.
I'm a week out of surgery and all in all I feel overall better than I expected.
The advantage to this surgery is hidden scars, easier faster recovery and possible retention of nipple sensation. I haven't come up with many disadvantages other then the Fda has concerns of the method and if its able to remove adequate breast tissue to achieve cancer prevention, and there is a lack of information from patient perspective.
I qualified for Direct to Implant reconstruction and elected for that option. I will have to say that the only personal negative experience I had here was with the plastic surgery team. I had to really push back with them that I waited direct to implant. They are very against it and it is generally not performed there in Rochester. I'm really glad I was able to go with that option.
My whole team was really excellent. I am very grateful I was able to participate in the trial. I have from what I can see so far, (still wrapped up like I head to a bdsm nightclub) really, really good cosmetic results.
I struggled with anesthesia in prior surgeries and the anesthesiologist made a huge deal out of making sure I didn't get sick. It worked, I actually felt more rested than I have in years. I woke up like a (dishevelled) Disney princess. Getting up was pretty rough but not unbearable. My aftercare nurse undid my bra and said its time to look are you ready. I said no and looked anyway. I think I said I have boobs. My surgeon Dr Piltin held my hand as I was put under and was the second person to check on me when I woke up. The aftercare team let me take my time and assured that I wasn't felling nausea before they let me leave when I felt ready.
I traveled from Springfield Missouri to Rochester, Minnesota for the surgery. They require you to stay 24 hours after surgery in the area. My surgery was Wednesday and I left for home Friday morning around 10 am to drive home.
From the Surgery through Saturday I felt really pretty good all things considered, much better than expected. The Experale begain to wear off on the drive home Sunday. You have to get up and walk every two hours so we broke our drive up over two days.
The era of the post surgical Disney Princess died in Kcmo leaving a parking lot that had some kind of weird drainage ditch/speed control across the exit drive. I screamed and cried and had a panic attack. Worst pain of the whole experience.
Made the rest of the trip home tearfully but uneventfully.
Monday I felt pretty good. The pain isnt unbearable and mostly felt like someone had beaten on my collarbone and breastbone. Occasionally i expirence a ripping, tearing pain under my breast in the fold when I have to reach across my body. Mainly wiping after the bathroom or adjusting drains. I am not able to strip my drains myself. Partly pain, partly my boobs are in the way and the bra plus padding and tagaderm make them immobile.
Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty bad probably the worst days of recovery so far. We had a severe storm system roll through that probably contributed. I had full body muscle spasms and nightmares I was being squeezed.
I have felt alot better yesterday and today.
I have zero bruising and discoloration on my breast. I had small bruises on my arms from being moved and on my back ( probably from lying on the surgery table.
I did have some broken veins on the tops of my thighs but they are fading.
My overall impression is that its its mostly discomfort with some spots if sharp pain that's mostly bearable. From a comparative standpoint my discectomy recovery was overall more difficult. I would argue that Tylenol and Ibuprofen pain management only is unrealistic. I could have used an extra day of Oxycodone. I have a persciption for muscle relaxers because of my back and that really helped.
I'm currently rotating through feelings of sandblasted nipples, brusied feeling collarbone and breastbone, itching every where, heaviness and burning in my chest.
My implants kind of feel like dense bean bags sitting underneath my skin. I definitely have retained sensation in the skin if my breast. I can feel hot, cold, itch, and the tape. It may be duller then before surgery but definitely there. I think I have nipple sensation (could be post op Phantom pain) but my nipples are respond to stimulation. I took a cool/cold shower to help with the itching and got nerps.(yeah) I was undecided as to which camp I would be in perma hard nipples or camp flat.
Mentally I feel much much better. I had realized how much the high risk surveillance had amplified my anxiety. I woke up surgery and felt relief. Even though I'm bouncing between sleeping like the dead and insomnia I feel better rested then I have in four or five years. Since my mom died of cancer and I began my own screening journey (which was extremely traumatic) I pretty much thought of cancer and dying of cancer daily. Most days it was the last thing I thought about before bed and the first thing on my mind when I woke up. That weight has been lifted and replaced with a sense of release and peace.
I'm not as sad about loosing my breasts as I thought I would be. I think my breast might actually look better. Because of swelling can't be certain but I think I may have got a slight size upgrade. I've taken before and after photos that I can edit to make less NSFW and plan on taking more after they remove the dressing.
I still have my drains and hoping I can remove them this weekend. They are uncomfortable but not quite as terrible as I thought. They are annoying and people look at you weird in public. Very difficult to hide no matter how big the shirt is.
Thanks for reading I hope this can be helpful to someone.