I had BMX and immediate reconstruction with expanders and it was approximately 8 hours. My surgeons wanted me to stay in the hospital for two days but I wanted to go home the next day and they did allow me to go home in the evening. Take clothes that will be easy for you to get on. I took pajamas to wear home. Have someone who can be with you at home the first 24-48 hours. Most likely you will be referred a Physical Therapist who will help you gradually increase the range of motion. My surgery was longer because I had a sentinel node biopsy and dissection (removal of 31 lymph nodes on my left side).

First of all, know you can do it!

I was in surgery about 4 hours. I was released the next afternoon. I missed six weeks of school. I am a teacher. My surgeons insisted I lift my arms over my head before I was released. I was instructed to shower as soon as I could on my first day home to get hospital ick off of me. I showered 28 hours after my BMX! That blew my mind.

The biggest limitations for me were moving my arms behind me to put on shirts or reach for the lamp beside me AND lifting heavy things. My PS told me to limit it to nothing heavier than a gallon of milk.

I had a friend who split open her incisions exercising about eight years ago. I was overly cautious due to that memory!

I would try what I needed to do and if I could not I learned to ask. That was the hardest transition for me! I am fiercely independent. BC is humbling.

I had BMX and immediate reconstruction with expanders. My surgery was 8 hours. I was expecting 4-6, so when I woke up, I was surprised that it had been so long.

Typically they keep you in the hospital for 2 nights post surgery. However, I had a roomie that drove me BANANAS (extremely loud, called everyone under the sun to complain about everything at the hospital and was downright mean to the nurses), so I pushed to get released the day after surgery so I could actually get some sleep at home.

To get released, I think you usually have to do one walking lap around the floor, eat solid foods, urinate on your own (aka have catheter removed) and be below a certain level of pain killers. At least that is how I remember it...

You will be very sore after surgery and your ability to use your arms will be pretty limited. This is why many women recommend sleeping in a recliner, because getting up and out of bed unassisted can be difficult (if you don't have abs of steel). Ask your doctor what types of exercises you should do to maintain mobility in your arms. Such as walking your fingers up the wall to get to shoulder height, then a little higher... etc.

For 10-20 days post surgery, you will likely have in 2-3 drains. These are tubes that collect fluid from the surgery site. I found these to be the most surreal part of the surgery. It's disconcerting to have tubes hanging out of your body. You'll need to change the dressing on these at least 1x per day. I usually had my husband/mom help with this after my shower. Another helpful hint, use a shoelace to pin your drain bulbs to when you take a shower. Hang it around your neck. You can also use saran wrap (get the press n seal kind) if your doctor wants you to try to keep the drain sites dry.

Generally speaking, the doctors orders are: do not lift anything heavier than 5 lbs for up to 6 weeks after surgery and you are not allowed to drive for at least 2-3 weeks (until you get strength and range of motion back).

This is definitely one of the hardest surgeries I ever had, so good luck.