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Hi Ladies. So, I just had my double mastectomy on 8-28. I also had expanders placed.
I'm still recovering from mastectomy. But how long after mastectomy did any of you just feel the discomfort from expanders? Did you wear any bras? How soon did you go back to work if at all with expanders?
Is there an estimate time of when reconstruction happens after surgery (mastectomy)and expanders are placed?
These expanders are uncomfortable at all times. I have to be 'reshaped' d/t my expanders are too far on the sides with a large space at the sternum. My ps instructed me that I would be exchanging the expanders with implants when I have completed my radiation for 1 month, ugh!!! I havent even started my chemo yet, and I understand that chemo is started/completed before the radiation is started.
@A MyBCTeam Member congrats for making it through this part at least! The expanders were so uncomfortable! I think the actual mastectomy pain was gone for me within a couple of weeks, though it's hard to know I guess. I wore sports bras for months after. I could not find any other kind that was comfortable. I went back to work 3 weeks after surgery, but I have a desk job. If I had a job where I had to lift anything it would have probably been longer. Closer to 6 weeks I would guess. There are a lot of factors that go into the reconstruction timeline. I did chemo first and did not have to have radiation so I was able to get the implants exactly 3 months after the expanders were put in. It will be longer than that if you need radiation or if you need to go slow on the fills for any reason.
Thank you so much ladies. I won't have to do radiation but from the looks of it chemo is in my future. 😔
I hope I'll be expander free by the new year. What a way to start a new year.
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