Surgery Day
Mastectomy with Tissue Expanders
I find it extremely ironic that the first thing the nurse hands you the day of your mastectomy is a hair net. To put it into perspective, I had to draw on my eyebrows the day of surgery. I had no hair whatsoever. That little bit of makeup on my brows felt like all I had control of that day.
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Nurses in and out, change your clothes, put your glasses on, make sure all of your jewelry is off, next the anesthesiologist comes through and asks you all sorts of questions. It feels like a whirlwind of chaos. I forgot to mention, it was Valentine's Day out of all days for surgery.
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I had a nipple and skin sparring, bi-lateral mastectomy with delayed reconstruction. I chose to not do direct-to-implant because I was unsure if I was going to need radiation or not. It worked best for me to take this process slow and to do it in two separate surgeries. My tissue expanders were placed under the muscle and I am very happy with my results.
After much consideration, I ultimately chose to have a bi-lateral mastectomy because I carry the genetic mutation, BRCA 1. This mutation puts me at a much higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers throughout my lifetime. I felt comfortable eliminating any future risk of breast cancer by having a mastectomy and saying goodbye to this disease.
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Looking back on surgery, I feel empowered to have this weight off of my chest. I feel confident with the decision I chose and was blessed to have such a supportive surgical team!
My Must - Have Surgical Recovery Items
Having these items on-hand made my mastectomy recovery a lot easier:
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Hibi Cleanse surgical wash for use a few days before surgery. It prevents against infections.
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Button down tops, comfortable pajamas and sweats.
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This drain holder belt is AMAZING!
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Zip front sports bras. The hospital will send you home with one too!
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A neck travel/airplane pillow for when you sleep sitting up or in a recliner. It provides your neck with support.
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Smaller pillows under my arms took away pressure and relaxed my pectoral muscle. The breast center sometimes provides them in heart shape.
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Alcohol wipes, guaze, and medical tape for your drains. The alcohol wipes are a life hack for cleaning your drains. (You will know what I mean when you have them).
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A U-shaped pregnancy pillow for sleeping. IT SAVED ME. I zipped off one of the sides and still use it to support my chest when I sleep.
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A long charging cord for your phone.
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Definitely get a back scratcher if you don't have one. My surgical bra and bandages were itchy. With limited arm movement for a week or so, this was a game-changer.
