I'm six weeks post surgery for correction to my bilateral mastectomy, and right after surgery had a second emergency surgery to stop bleeding. Original BMX was 6/18. You had much more reconstruction than I did (I went flat). Here is where I'm at..still tire out easily, and if I do too much I swell. Chest gets tight every day. At two weeks out I was at 0 weight for lifting. I think it was at 4 weeks I was moved up to 5 pounds, and am now at 10. Go slow. I first started out walking and only could get 1/2 way down the block and back. But it built me up and got me going. Physical therapy has been so good for me. I go once a week, and next week I start pool therapy as well. I had sleep issues if I took prescription pain meds, would only sleep for a few hours and wasn't a good sleep, lots of nightmares. Switched to OTC and much better now. I had no issues driving.
Lighten up on yourself 🙂 I think you are right where you are supposed to be.

Thanks inthegrey! How do you know if you're doing too much? My issue is that even very basic things seem like too much (after the fact). In my area, we don't have any PT experienced in breast rehabilitation, but I'm hopeful they at least can get me moving a bit without too much. I guess I'm afraid of inactivity making me even more inactive and setting me back. It's hard too to think that I'm supposed to be able to return to work in just over two weeks - that's not happening. Four is going to be hard enough!

How do you feel about driving at this point? Have you even tried?

Inthegrey - I don't think I realized what I was in for, or I might have made different choices! My PS positioned it to me as the best surgery for me. I think she was right, but I wasn't prepared for how difficult the back recovery would be.

pwkjg87 - I'm trying to modify my goals. By May 1 (six months post op) I want to be back to doing all daily activities normally. Gardening, active job, etc. By one year post op, I want to be able to be back where I was before surgery. That's the goal that scares me. I was routinely doing kick boxing, lifting 40 lb bags of soil, etc. The thought of not being able to do those things in a year scares me! But patience, patience!

I felt I wasn’t tough enough to want to do the surgery you had - you must be one tough lady!😊

Thanks Inthegrey! Realizing that I had 3 surgeries in one (mastectomy, lat flap, and TE) helps me to realize that I truly did have major surgery. It's just hard being up and moving and feeling OK, but then the next second being exhausted. I'm not cut out for this! But if I want to get back to everything I used to do, patient I must be. Have I mentioned that is a virtue I do not have?