#boobpocalypse

[lockeyseven]

Day 26 ish: post surgery recovery.

Scars are still tight, but I managed to sleep flat out (as in: two pillows not a heap) without thinking about it and without discomfort.

I can sleep on my side! If it's a soft mattress it's not too uncomfortable and doesn't add to/exacerbate anything.

Energy levels are varied, I'm not needing to sleep as much during the day (handy) but I'm sleeping longer through the night.

The left hand side of my chest has what I can only call a "ledge" on the armpit end of the scar, which is a little uncomfortable. I applied bio oil tonight and twanged the little overhang of flesh, which was NOT FUN.

I know one side of my chest was smaller than the other which explains the scar difference.

Soluble sutures have yet to fall off the grafts, right side probably because they're stuck to part of scab (lovely).

Bonus: I have sensation across the grafts and the scars, as well as almost all of the chest are.

Less bonus: FUCKING OW SUTURES RUBBING ON SHIRT.

Bio oil is brilliant, it's meant to be good for acne scarring too if that's of use to anyone reading these. It does soak into clothing sooo soft tshirt layers are my friends. I'm using it two or three times a day, going by when the scars feel dry and tight.

I'm not having to use painkillers to get to a "normal" functionality; personally I prefer this so I can tell if I've really pushed it too hard. I have paracetamol or codeine to use if needed.

[lockeyseven]

Day 22 - ish, more recovery discoveries:

Pillows. It's much more comfortable to sleep propped up, both with drains in and beyond while the scars are healing. It probably puts less pressure on the scar tissue. I currently have five standard pillows as a ramp to sleep against.

Don't expect to be able to lie on your side especially if you have scars that run under the armpit. It's uncomfortable. My scars don't go that far round and I still sleep flat out.

I'm a little freaked out by the graft sites and being able to see them. Apparently this is normal. The stitches and the dried blood worry me a little. I have all the contact details for the surgical nurse team if I want to ask for reassurance.

REST IS IMPORTANT. Inactivity and sleep mean better and faster healing. I really don't want to overstretch my scar sites.

[lockeyseven]

Day 31: aside from all this, I've broken a bloody molar (again) and I have an evolving ear infection. And my hair dye has dyed part of my scalp BLUE. What a catch.

I'm able to reach up without significant discomfort, i.e. I can reach to unhook the shower head from it's rack. Still getting bouts of tiredness; sleep is good.

Not going to be able to see Endgame for a few days yet, which is ARGHH, but I didn't have enough energy to sit through the midnight showing and be able to pay the full attention required.

[lockeyseven]

Day 24: tried to hold onto own boobs whilst running up stairs.

Briefly confused as to why this wasn't working.

[lockeyseven]

Surgery hints!

Things what I learnt that have made my recent surgery (bilateral mastectomy) and hospital trip(s) so much easier:

Keep all your hospital letters in a box file. Take these with you to appointments.

Make digital backups of all your letters/contacts: scan them, save any emails, or if you’ve not got a scanner photograph the pages and put them somewhere on cloud storage.

Check the hospital map and make sure you have their general contact number written down, plus any specific ward/clinic numbers. Give a copy of this list to at least one friend.

Write yourself an itinerary for out-of-area trips, email/copy this to a friend. Make sure you write down any ticket collection references for trains, transport, etc.

Try and find out ahead of time if the hospital has ward phones for patients to use, and what visiting hours are (if staying in post-surgery).

Take a change of clothes that are easy to put on over any dressings/tubes that you anticipate having. Oversized zippy hoodies or button-up shirts are great for this. Similarly, lightweight shoes with easy fastenings are great.

Check if the hospital asks you to bring your own slippers and dressing gown. If yes, check the slippers have enough grip; don’t take ‘fashion’ ones that aren’t substantial. 

Ask whoever is with you to be in the ward when you wake up; you/they should be told the ward ahead of going into surgery prep. If they can’t be there for any reason, nurses are phenomenal human beings and will stay with you.

Listen to all aftercare instructions, write them down or ask for a print-out from the Dr/Nurse. Same goes for instructions around medication (should be printed on the box). 

For Home:

You won’t want to tidy anything when you’re recovering. If you think you’ll need A Thing post surgery, find it ahead of time and put it somewhere obvious.

Easy-cook meals are a blessing, so is making food in advance and freezing it. Take-out is never a ‘failure’. Save your physical Spoons for healing. 

Same with laundry. Wet laundry is kind of heavy and difficult to splat around over racks. 

Think you might need something from a high shelf/cupboard? Move it to a more accessible location ahead of time. 

ETA: Bus pass! I can’t drive yet (motorbike, not sure about cars) - look at public transport options, times, and prices, so you know what ticket combinations are worth it. Week-long passes are usually worth the money.

I’m on day ... 17 post-surgery and I’m SO. VERY. TIRED. My consultant surgeons (I got two!) and nurses have been brilliant and having all logistical ducks in a row has let me focus on actual recovery instead of panicking. Funky bruising and scars, mind.

[orangeskied]

What do you call a bra for gender disinterested but boobied?

'Brav/bruv.' 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️

#CurtainMercifullyFalls #EnbyMoods

[whatchyadowoon-blog1]

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[becca-archive]

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