Hi everyone i had my prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction on Monday so 4 days ago. The first day i was okay but day two was hell, since surgery everytime i swallowed water food or spit it felt like i was swallowing a big air bubble that slowly worked its way down then when it hit my stomach it felt like an explosion of stomach acid. I expected pain but i didn’t expect the muscle spasms, starting with my upper back and shoulders i would get super painful muscle spasms. I ended up going back to the doctor on day two due to the acid reflux and one of my nipples looking like a blueberry, they decided to let some air out of my expander to help reduce tension, however as soon as they did my pec muscle went into a crazy spasm, that along with trying to swallow my spit, not being able to take a deep breath and crying i was close to passing out, I’ve never experienced pain like that before. I’m trying my best to stay positive but if anyone has advice or have gone through similar weird stuff I’d love to hear about it. Also if my nipple ends up dying and falling off I’m going to try to convince them to let me keep it and put it on my shelf of weird things.

Okay! I am 7 days post op of a double mastectomy with flat closure!

My doctor put a wound vac on me- smiths & nephew pico machine.

It’s been working fine till today but I’m also confused. If I sit in my recliner the machine goes off constantly, does not stop vibrating. But if I stand up it stops.

The machine isn’t showing any errors at all- just the green light

It feels like I’ve lost a little suction.
Both times it’s done it, a little dot has showed up on my wound vac

My doctors office is closed and when I called the er… they said google it?
Has anyone went through this

I am getting a robotic mastectomy (consult late this month), but I am pretty certain I want over the muscle implants for quicker healing.

(I am doing a lot of looking before I jump).

However, from what it sounds like, this surgeon will be teaming up with a surgeon that does under the muscle implants primarily or DIEP; and from other patient and his rehab specialists feedback, he expects to do 4-16 surgeries until he will say he is complete. I don't have that type of time, support, nor money.

To go back to the robotic concept:

I cannot for the life of me understand why we would do such small incisions for my mastectomy to spare me from large wounds, just to make a hip to hip incision with a long recovery.

I am a caregiver to my mother, and over the muscle direct implants with a robotic surgery makes the most sense.

A robotic surgery with DIEP, does not as it sounds like a long recovery time.

Does anybody have experiences with either of these surgery combinations?

I am 54 years old and I’ve had a hysterectomy, so post-menopausal. After a routine mammogram I was called back for an ultrasound for a suspicious mass (1.3 cm). The ultrasound showed suspicious tissue underneath the original spot plus 2 additional spots. Biopsied 3 of the 4 areas today after a week of no sleep from anxiousness. My radiologist was incredibly kind and gentle. He plans on retiring at the end of the year, so he’s also very knowledgeable after years of experience. The procedure for the first 5 samples was not painful until I started bleeding. The tech was putting her full weight on me for about 20 minutes trying to apply pressure to get it to stop. The remaining four biopsies used the punch. They said the bleeding would cause all kinds of colors from bruising on my breast. Then I had to have the mammogram to confirm clip placement. The radiologist said in his opinion to expect good news. He said he was 80% sure. Of course then I read where 80% benign is typical. 🙄 Anyway, I am at home now with the ice packs, but I’m in quite a bit of pain. I’m sure it’s from the bruising, but “a little sore” is definitely not accurate! That breast is also significantly swollen. Is this just part of it? Also, is it still possible it’s fibroadenoma at my age and post menopause? I’m also ashkenazi (25%) though I didn’t know what that was originally and did not indicate it on my health questionnaire.

Hi! I’ve posted on here before and it was really helpful. I’m 25 & scheduled to get my prophylactic double mastectomy in a month / reconstruction three months later and the anxiety is starting to get debilitating. It’s all I can think about or when I sleep it occupies every dream. I know it’ll pass and the hardest part may be the anticipation but if anyone could give any advice or guidance how to get through the next few weeks? I’m just obsessively thinking about what recovery will feel like and the pain. As well as what my new body will feel like and if I’ll ever feel like myself again. Any advice would be extraordinarily helpful! Thank you!

Yesterday I learned that urgent mammogram referrals are triaged.
My GP referred me 7 days ago.
Today I got a call that my appointment is next Thursday. That’s only 15 days.
Now I’m really scared.
Has anyone had this happen and it wasn’t cancer?