Thank you for your response. I am now 5 weeks post-op and things have improved a lot!

Yes, my recliner has absolutely been a life-saver! I am trying to transition back to my bed, but not quite there yet. I am now able to drive, and I can move my arms alot more without much pain. My recommendation to others would be to get a "Grabber". It helps you reach a lot of things, especially when you are still not able to raise your arms much. It's been a huge help to me!

I am in the
"expansion" process and now understand the "iron bra" feeling. So everyday I pray, and try to gather up a little more patience to be able to get to the other side of this whole process. Barring anything unexpected, I think I am at least at a stage where I can tolerate the soreness and discomfort in order to see this process through. Prayers for all going through this.

Oh my gosh, I was most definitely not sleeping in my bed two weeks out, and I didn't have reconstruction! I was still having people help me out of a seated position for longer than two weeks.

Yeah, getting up hella hurts for a long time. My absolute best tip is to sleep in a comfy recliner, and to put things near you that you can kind of push/pull on if no one is available to help you get up, like a small table or a cane/walking stick.

It's quite unpleasant but your doctor is right, it is par for the course. Try the recliner. If you don't have one, I would honestly buy one. You can always get rid of it in six months, and I would seriously consider a power recliner if I had to buy one. They tilt forward to help you stand, and if I had known how much time I would spent trying to get up with as little pain as possible, I probably would have bought one even though we already own a recliner. It would have been a few hundred dollars well spent, lol.

I know it's several weeks now since you've posted this, and I certainly hope it's a lot better. I'm going to leave my answer in case it can help someone else.

Although my mastectomies were 3 years apart with no reconstruction, I remember the pain you are feeling. There is so much recovery and healing ahead. Tissue inside and surface incisions, nerves, muscles … all need time to calm down and begin healing. It’s normal to think something must be wrong but I found that healing takes more time and pain than the doctors prepare us for. Slow and steady.