My nipples were kept fully in tact bar a bit of trimming around the areola. Feels weird to say that my nipples got trimmed xD kept on a stalk of blood vessels and moved rather than grafted.

I certainly couldn't sleep on my side for a full night, but that hour this morning was a nice rest for my back.

I'm being naughty about everything xD I have my binder off for the moment, it was irritating me. I'll put it back on later but needed a break.

I noticed earlier while inspecting my bandages, I have a big honeycomb sticky bandage going over the whole area as you can see in the picture, underneath on either side is a bit of extra padding for the holes where my drains were....but on one side the nurse seems to have totally missed, it's sitting off to the side of the hole. I have a bunch of extra bandages, should I try and cover up the drain hole properly or just leave it alone? =/ I was told to just use the extra bandages on top if they started to peel rather than fully try to replace them. I wouldn't need to take the whole honeycomb bit off...just peel it back a bit on one side to put the padding on. It's itchy and sore with it sitting directly under the sticky bit rather than padding.

Appreciating all the tips and comparing experiences guys ^_^

Quote from: Jeatyn on December 14, 2013, 01:11:16 PM
My nipples were kept fully in tact bar a bit of trimming around the areola. Feels weird to say that my nipples got trimmed xD kept on a stalk of blood vessels and moved rather than grafted.

I certainly couldn't sleep on my side for a full night, but that hour this morning was a nice rest for my back.

I'm being naughty about everything xD I have my binder off for the moment, it was irritating me. I'll put it back on later but needed a break.

I noticed earlier while inspecting my bandages, I have a big honeycomb sticky bandage going over the whole area as you can see in the picture, underneath on either side is a bit of extra padding for the holes where my drains were....but on one side the nurse seems to have totally missed, it's sitting off to the side of the hole. I have a bunch of extra bandages, should I try and cover up the drain hole properly or just leave it alone? =/ I was told to just use the extra bandages on top if they started to peel rather than fully try to replace them. I wouldn't need to take the whole honeycomb bit off...just peel it back a bit on one side to put the padding on. It's itchy and sore with it sitting directly under the sticky bit rather than padding.

Appreciating all the tips and comparing experiences guys ^_^

Put your binder on and be a good boy! Geeze!
I could start sleeping on my side, but doesn't seem very comfortable yet. I've put some weight on my chest like hugging people. We were told to cover the drain hole for a week. It does end up healing itself though, I still (6 weeks) have a little hole there kind of. We just used band aids (or plasters?) with some antibiotic ointment on it.

Yeah strange array of bandages and all. I didn't have the anchor so maybe it is more typical for this procedure. After all I think  they want the grafts to keep hydrated.

The biggest complaint I've heard from anybody is not pain, but itching. It's not really healing itching, it's itching from the bandages and adhesives. You might try taking something like Benadryl (by mouth) or Zyrtec. I took Zyrtec as it is less drowsy producing. I think my worst week wasn't right after surgery but week 2. I had a lot of itching and even burning sensation. But when the bandages are off you are going to look amazing, so it's worth keeping your eyes on the prize, as they say.

--Jay

I would cover the drain hole, Jeatyn

I agree, re: the drain hole. That could get infected, I think. Also it oozes out, but it is only going to need to be covered another week or so. Nothing long.

--Jay

So it turns out on closer inspection, my drain hole is actually covered up - what I was looking at appears to be the very edge of my incision on that side. It's really hard for me to see with it being on my side and covered by stuff, I tried to get my partner to take a look at it but this sort of stuff really squicks him out. I got him to take some photos so I could look at it, I'm confident it's not the drain hole I can see. The only other explanation is that it's the edge of my incision....which is supposed to be underneath the honeycomb, I can't see it on the other side.

I'm pretty sure I was told in the hospital that I don't have any stitches, I just have glue. So I did a bit of research and all the sources I found say not to put bandaids or sticky things of any sort over the glue, because it might pull it off. This confuses me considering there is essentially a giant band aid over the entire thing xD I'm definitely just gonna leave it alone though, I have an appointment in 5 days I will ask what the deal is then.

This is a huge issue with the NHS - they don't tell you anything, it's all rushed and blurted and then you get shoved out the door like "wait I have questions...;__;" I literally only have one leaflet - it's A5 size and titled "breast reduction surgery" and is a generic list of things that might go wrong.

I woke up on my side this morning and the frame to prop me up had been abandoned. I'm trying to be good but my subconscious seems to be rebelling  nothing hurts though, feel great today, no back pain.

I have abandoned my binder in favour of the tube thing again, but I've cut the tube in half. Working way better now, not rolling or bunching and annoying the crap out of me, just sitting there supporting me like it's supposed to 

I have to take antihistamines anyway for my array of allergies. Sneezing really sucks at the moment haha, trying to keep as much distance as possible between me and my cats. The itching is definitely the worst part, very much looking forward to getting the bandages off.

I'm glad you got it all sorted, Jeatyn. It seems to me that you made some good decisions.

Eugh, I am now experiencing pain. The numbness is wearing off, it started yesterday as a mildly painful pins and needles feeling that got progressively worse. Now the entire area well...feels like I was cut open 

The hospital only provided me with regular strength paracetamol and ibuprofen, which do nothing.

Hey, Jeatlyn. I am surprised you are having that much pain at this point. I only took a couple of pain meds and a few Tylenol after my surgery. We all heal differently, though. Give your doctor a call and keep us updated. Hang in there.

My GP says I would have to make an appointment and actually go down there. I'm not really feeling up to going anywhere.

The pain isn't unbearable, just a bit of a surprise I think after feeling pretty much nothing until now. Nothing looks different, no swelling or bruises or anything, 3 days until bandage change!

I had minor surgery on my hand years ago, the co-codamol they gave me badly touched it, but you old definitely tell when you were due another one. I don't think there's anything over the counter which will completely take the pain away, but it's good in some ways, it stops you doing too much.

I was in more discomfort than pain (actually NEVER took anything at all-- even the Vicodin, not recommending this, just what I did). I think I EXPECTED more pain or discomfort the days after surgery than two weeks later, so I think expectation is a factor here. I wonder also that you had access to a morphine drip and so on, at some point  you don't have that anymore. But a lot of what you describe sounds like healing pains, esp. the pin prick sensations.

--Jay

So I'm pretty sure I was told at the start that today was a bandage change, and around a week into the new year I would get all the bandages off completely

I ended up getting all the bandages taking off today, they say it looks like it's healing fine and they have no concerns.

Pictures (don't click if scabby nipples and stuff will gross you out)

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m528/Jeatyn/WP_001028_zps392a8c26.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m528/Jeatyn/WP_001030_zps4b79de00.jpg

I'm pleased with it! It looks a bit lumpy in places but it's only been 10 days. I'm a little concerned about the part of my incision that seems to be coming apart a little bit...but the three nurses and one doctor I saw don't seem fussed so *shrug*

I now just have a layer of gauze and the tubey thing, and I'm allowed to *carefully* shower. I also got some stronger pain meds, so yay ^_^

The pain hasn't been that bad since that one day I complained about it on here more discomfort and itching now, my back however is killing me.

Looks good, Jeatyn.  Congrats!

ETA:  You never told us the name of your surgeon?

Quote from: Brett on December 20, 2013, 10:22:57 PM
Looks good, Jeatyn.  Congrats!

ETA:  You never told us the name of your surgeon?

I think I did a few pages back, it was Philip Ruben, an NHS surgeon

Sorry, I only scrolled back briefly to search.  What is the deal with NHS surgeons?  You just pick the one that you want?  Aren't about 6 of them?

Quote from: Brett on December 21, 2013, 03:38:33 PM
Sorry, I only scrolled back briefly to search.  What is the deal with NHS surgeons?  You just pick the one that you want?  Aren't about 6 of them?

Apparently we do have the "right" to pick whatever surgeon we want but with the NHS you generally just take what you're given to avoid making the waiting times longer than they already are. I was referred to Dr Rubin by my Gender Clinic, the hospital he works at is a 20 minute drive from my house and the waiting list was short so that was good enough for me I didn't even research any others.

Quote from: Jeatyn on December 22, 2013, 08:11:22 AM
Apparently we do have the "right" to pick whatever surgeon we want but with the NHS you generally just take what you're given to avoid making the waiting times longer than they already are. I was referred to Dr Rubin by my Gender Clinic, the hospital he works at is a 20 minute drive from my house and the waiting list was short so that was good enough for me I didn't even research any others.

Well that worked out great, then!  I know that there are a couple of NHS surgeons that people consistently say has poor results (I don't remember the names, though).  Clearly, your surgeon was not one of them!

So, have you found that you wake up every morning with a smile on your face?  It has been 9 weeks for me, and it still happens every day!

Totally! Especially now the bandages are off, I'm constantly looking down my shirt or just standing shirtless in front of the mirror 

I've already planned my outfit for the first day back at uni, I'm giddy at the prospect of just wearing a t-shirt, one layer! holy crap!

Quote from: Jeatyn on December 22, 2013, 12:04:57 PM
I've already planned my outfit for the first day back at uni, I'm giddy at the prospect of just wearing a t-shirt, one layer! holy crap!

I can't wait for that either! I'm excited! Congrats and I'm sure that's a great feeling!

I always wore button down shirts, went out and got a bunch of long sleeve t-shirts and so on. So happy, everything looks super.
Happy you're doing so well, Jeatyn (and Brett).

--Jay