Post-OP surgery-related poll and questions (hospital, procedure, pain etc)

[caliyr]

I have had a double incision bilateral mastectomy, I stayed 2 days at the hospital. I felt almost no pain during my hospital stay apart from where the drains went in and the drain removal. After being discharged I did not take any painkillers and the only pain I had was on my back/ribs from the binder. Almost no pain, 1/10 at most. It was the crazy itching that killed me.

• What procedure did you have?
• How much pain did you have?
• How long did you stay in hospital
• Where and who with did you have your surgery?
• Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
• What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

etc.

[AleksiJason]

DI.... none the first 5 days, very minimal amount for 2 weeks after that but was more of a soreness/tightness than pain, didnt even take one painkiller they gave me...but i've had multiple major surgeries including 2 emergency one where they removed 2 feet of intestines (had to cut through flesh, muscle and inner organs) and i didnt have any pain for them either, i dont feel pain as much as most people do i guess

was out of the hospital as soon as i woke up from anesthesia.. garramone florida

popped stitches left a few gaping holes on my incision line, stitches not dissolving and rejecting by pushing their way through the skin....one nipple never "popped" out (im a year and 1/2 post op)  so im getting the one that did pop shaved down flat to be even with the areola like hte other one

Ace wrap for 3 weeks i think but i removed it after 2 cause it gave me a rash, xeroform, neosporin and gauze on nipples,  forgot how long

[MacG]

• What procedure did you have?

DI with nipple grafts (extra long incisions) and oophorectomy.

• How much pain did you have?

I was freaking out so much right out of surgery that they offered me acupuncture. I've never had that, but apparently it calmed me the ef down.
At home, I was in my oxycodone for a good 10 days.

• How long did you stay in hospital

2 nights. 1 night was planned due my higher risk for blood clots. The 2nd night was because I couldn't pee enough on my own.

• Where and who with did you have your surgery?

Oregon health & science university ooph/Shaffer (very highly recommend) and top/Hansen (highly recommend)

• Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?

took longer than expected for both procedures (was under anesthesia for 7 hours)

• What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

I was to bind using my own binder. But it was too uncomfortable, so I was instructed to wrap with the ace I came home in. Lift no more than 10 lbs. Don't stretch too much. There were other instructions more specific to my surgeons and surgeries.
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[JandJ]

I have had a double incision bilateral mastectomy, I stayed 2 days at the hospital. I felt almost no pain during my hospital stay apart from where the drains went in and the drain removal. After being discharged I did not take any painkillers and the only pain I had was on my back/ribs from the binder. Almost no pain, 1/10 at most. It was the crazy itching that killed me.

• What procedure did you have?
• How much pain did you have?
• How long did you stay in hospital
• Where and who with did you have your surgery?
• Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
• What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

etc.

I had DI with Grafts.
I had very little pain.
I was in the hospital about 4 hours.
I had my surgery at the Women's Hospital in Albuquerque, NM by Dr. Jeffrey Morehouse
I had no complications at all.
Immediately after leaving the hospital my only instructions was to empty the drains.  The first week I applied A&D ointment to the incisions with dressing optional.  Drains were removed Friday (Surgery was Monday).  After the nipple dressings were removed I was instructed to keep them moist with either A&D ointment or lotion - again bandages optional.  I wore the provided 'vest' (its really a bra) for about one week or so. Dr. Morehouse is big on massaging the incisions.  I began massaging about 1 week post-op and still do every day (I'm 2 months post-op at this writing.  After about 10 days I was told no restrictions at all. 

[caliyr]

I wanted to add this to my OP, but I cant edit it anymore.

It baffles me to see how the majority of people's experiences I've read here on this forum say that they were let go home on the day of their surgery.

This is a major surgery and it's crazy that you'd be let home so soon. I was in hospital for 2 days, I couldnt even go to the toilet without help and I dont think I would have been able to make it to a car, let alone make the trip home without throwing up everywhere. Even after going home after 2 days in the hospital, I found it very hard to get around and missed the hospital's adjustable bed and could barely sleep. I was told to wear the binder for around 6 weeks and do the massage thing, keeping my scars and nipples moist with ointments and cremes etc. My drains were removed when leaving the hospital and the surgery bandages along with nipple dressings were first removed 8 days after surgery and I was told to reapply a jelonet dressing every day, although I can shower without bandages on.

[AleksiJason]

its not really a major surgery, surgery on internal organs are major....this is just removing breast tissue and fat tissue and is external, u cant drive but someone else driving is fine....i didnt need much help at all after surgery either....the only thing i can think of i couldnt do was wash my hair so i buzzed it off

[Bimmer Guy]

I have had a double incision bilateral mastectomy, I stayed 2 days at the hospital. I felt almost no pain during my hospital stay apart from where the drains went in and the drain removal. After being discharged I did not take any painkillers and the only pain I had was on my back/ribs from the binder. Almost no pain, 1/10 at most. It was the crazy itching that killed me.

• What procedure did you have?
• How much pain did you have?
• How long did you stay in hospital
• Where and who with did you have your surgery?
• Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
• What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

etc.

*Double Incision
*Mild/moderate pain.  I think I used 2-3 painkillers.  Otherwise, I used just Tylenol a couple of times a day.  The bigger issue is itching from the tape.  I hear everyone from Garramone complain about this.  It drove me nuts!  Also, I suspect that at least some of my pain was about how tight the adhesive bandage was, not the incision.
*No hospital.  I went to Garramone in FL.  I left after a few hours in recovery.  I stayed at New Beginnings Retreat where I had my own bedroom and bathroom.  My girlfriend was with me and helped me with everything.  I think it would have been definitely tougher on my own.  Garramone does require you have someone with you for 24 hours after surgery. 
*No problems during surgery or afterwards.  Drains removed 6/7 days post op.  Xeroform to areolas with bandage every day after shower.  You can use the ace wrap if you want for a couple of weeks, but not necessary.  The purpose of it is only to remind yourself not to stretch.

[FTMax]

• What procedure did you have?

- I had a bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy with nipple grafts.

• How much pain did you have?

- None really. Some general tightness across the chest and soreness around the drain sites.

• How long did you stay in hospital?

- My procedure was done outpatient. I came in at 11am, went into surgery at 12pm, and left at 3pm. I stayed locally in a hotel overnight and came in the next day to have the surgeon look at me one more time before I was allowed to go home.

• Where and who with did you have your surgery?

- Dr. Beverly Fischer in Timonium, Maryland.

• Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?

- The post-operative compression vest they have you wear made my skin break out and caused some stabbing pain in my shoulder blades. I got permission to take it off early. I also accidentally rolled onto my side the day before I got the drains removed and ended up pushing one side further in. That section of my incision line is wider than anywhere else and I had significant pain when they took that side out.

• What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

- No shower for a week, empty drains as needed. I went back 1 week after the procedure and had drains removed and bandages cut off. All the other dressings came off the next day. Originally I was supposed to wear the compression vest for 4 weeks but that turned into 2. No exercise for 4 weeks, no driving/going to work for 1 week post-op.

[Tossu-sama]

What procedure did you have?
Double incision without grafts. Nature at least did something right and it was nipple placement.

How much pain did you have?
In general, almost none at all. The worst was right after I woke up from the anesthesia but everything was manageable with pain killers. At home I actually forgot to take pain killers because I had no pain...

How long did you stay in hospital?
Got home day after the surgery.

Where and who with did you have your surgery?
The central hospital of my hometown (somewhere in Finland lulz), operating surgeon Minna Ristiniemi.

Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
None whatsoever.

What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?
Got home on Friday with drains so I was told get them taken off on Monday. I had those stitches that... melt on their own? Anywho, didn't have to do anything about them. I actually got a paper with instructions with me but it's most likely long gone by now and I don't remember what it said. But honestly I think I got pretty lacking instructions for incision/scar treatment in the end.

[JandJ]

its not really a major surgery, surgery on internal organs are major....this is just removing breast tissue and fat tissue and is external, u cant drive but someone else driving is fine....i didnt need much help at all after surgery either....the only thing i can think of i couldnt do was wash my hair so i buzzed it off

g

I have to agree with you.  I've had my share of major surgeries and this was NOT.  I checked in around 8am and was back at the house by noon.  I had dinner with the family at 5pm and was pretty much back to normal that night - other than not being able to shower and having to empty my drains very 12 hours for a few days.  Surgery was Monday and attended previously scheduled events Friday and Saturday.

[RaptorChops]

    Seeing a bunch of posts now for top surgery and feel kind of dumb for not posting my experience in one of the million that were already made lol.. anyways I'll try and get some pictures when I get my drains out.

*What procedure did you have?
I had a D.I with free nipple grafts
*How much pain did you have?
On a scale of 1-10 and 10 being the worst I've been between a 1-3 since my surgery (which was three days ago) I'm just a bit itchy and I feel a little sore where my drains are and a couple muscle spasm in my pecs. The only thing that REALLY sucks is being constipated but I've been taking a couple laxatives and that seems to clear it up some.
*How long did you stay in hospital?
I was in the clinic for a total of 2 1/2 hours. An hour and half to do the surgery and it took me about an hour to wake up from the anesthesia. I stayed in a hotel down the road the night before and stayed another night after the surgery just in case I had problems
*Where and who with did you have your surgery?
Dr.Beverly Fischer in Timonium, Maryland ($8,450)
*Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
I haven't had any complications so far. It's just hard trying not to do to much with your arms.
*What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?
I haven't really been given much VERBAL instructions besides coming back in a week to get the drains removed and that I will be wearing my compression vest for about 3 weeks after my drains are removed. Also I didn't get any antibiotics just pain and sleep meds.

[Xandr]

What procedure did you have?
Simple Subcutaneous Skin-sparing mastectomy (non-circum peri-areolar, aka 'keyhole')
Nipple reduction intended, but to be completed separately now.

How much pain did you have?
On a scale from 1-10, about 1-3.  3 the morning after when I didn't get painkillers, and a 1 every other time for the most part.

How long did you stay in hospital
It was public/govt hospital so longer than I would've otherwise.  I stayed 2 nights.  1st day to get all the pre-op tests done, plus the night following my surgery.  I was released midday the day after the op.

Where and who with did you have your surgery?
South Africa, Helen Joseph Academic Hospital, with Dr. Grubnik.

Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
None at all, but they decided against doing the nipple resizing at the same time, which I knew might be a possibility going in.

What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?
I had to empty my drains and record the volume at the exact same time every day.  I was not allowed to remove my wrap/bandage for the first week, and I switched to a compression vest after my drains came out on day 7.  I went back weekly for 4 weeks to have my dressings changed for me (wasn't allowed to touch them myself until 3 weeks), and dressings consisted only of a big plaster with nipple holes cut in, with an antibiotic/antibacterial eye ointment on the incisions themselves. 
After the dressings came off (4 weeks, fully healed), I was to keep my incisions taped with paper tape and massage them with whatever I wanted twice a day for 20mins each.
I was forbidden from all exercise for 6 weeks, and had to wear my compression vest for that long as well.

[AleksiJason]

g

I have to agree with you.  I've had my share of major surgeries and this was NOT.  I checked in around 8am and was back at the house by noon.  I had dinner with the family at 5pm and was pretty much back to normal that night - other than not being able to shower and having to empty my drains very 12 hours for a few days.  Surgery was Monday and attended previously scheduled events Friday and Saturday.

yeah same here, top surgery was a cake walk compared with the others...was expecting it to be much more difficult....stripping and emptying the drains was a nuisance...worrying about losing a nipple in the shower was a nuisance, but thats about it

[Kreuzfidel]

• What procedure did you have?

Bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy with one free nipple graft, the other nipple had the pedicle technique.  Incisions across nipple line, not under the "shadow" of the original breasts.

How much pain did you have?

Quite a fair bit the first three days.  I was sore for the first three weeks or so. 

How long did you stay in hospital

Three days.

Where and who with did you have your surgery?

In Sydney, Australia with Dr. Megan Hassall.

Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?

I was meant to have had the pedicle technique on both nipples, but the blood supply to one was compromised in surgery so it meant a free graft.  No other complications during, but the free-grafted nipple was nearly lost - major issues with oozing and tissue necrosis, but it finally settled and left no serious scarring.

What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?

My surgeon had me wear the binder for (if I recall correctly) three weeks post-op and to change my dressings every few days (silver-infused dressings on the nipples).  I had to wear micropore tape on my incisions for three months (did NOT use any kind of scar gel/treatment whatsoever). 

[RaptorChops]

In case anyone is interested here are my before and after photos (Hopefully I did this correctly). I'm not sure what size my boobs were before but I think they were about a B cup. I'm definitely very happy with my results and Dr.Fischer and her crew are absolutely fantastic. This is 8 days post op and I just had my drains removed yesterday (wasn't painless but wasn't horrible, I just recommend taking your pain meds before getting them out )

before (I had a birth mark that was almost like a 3rd nipple)


after

[Rossiter]

What procedure did you have?
peri/keyhole (incision around the outer third of the areola) with lipo

How much pain did you have?
Not much. I didn't take any prescription painkillers. It was mostly just uncomfortable, with the drains and not being able to move normally. The evening after I had surgery I was kind of nauseous for like 30 minutes and then it went away and I felt fine. When I got my wisdom teeth out I got dry socket and that pain was way worse.

How long did you stay in hospital
I left the same day.

Where and who with did you have your surgery?
Dr Medalie at Metrohealth in Cleveland, Ohio

Did you have any complications during operation or post-op? Care to elaborate?
No.

What did your surgeon recommend you do after you left hospital? (Dressings, binding) How long?
I had drains for 5 days, and after that I still had to wear a binder (specific thing I had to order from a website beforehand) for...3 more weeks? Something like that, I don't really remember anymore. I wasn't supposed to lift anything heavy but I didn't exercise much at the time so I'm not sure when I would've restarted that. Probably about 2 months...I remember I was travelling 2 months after with my sister and by then I wasn't worrying about it at all, and when we went swimming my sister couldn't see where the scars were.

Additionally: I went on a long-haul flight alone 10 days after surgery and it was fine. I never even told my flatmates I had surgery (I was stealth) because I could basically do everything normally by then.

[RaptorChops]

SO just a little update:

I'm 11 days post op and my pain scale has gone from a 3 to about a 6 or 7. I guess being drugged up the first week helped. I'm trying to just not take the pain meds (Don't want to get an addiction) but now I have to because I'm so damn sore. It's like having a bad sun burn and then someone comes along, and whacks you with a stick. The more sore areas are from where the drains were removed.

I do have a fairly large bruise on my left side which is normal to happen. It was also the side that drained darker blood  until I got my drains out (my right side drained a more yellowy fluid after a few days). The plus side is that I still have my nipples but I can't really see the shape since they still have medical tape from the surgery still around them.