AJ's Cancer Journey & Chronic Illness: A week after double mastectomy

It's been a week since surgery and I'm still in pain, very swollen, tight and tender all over my chest and under my arms. Surgery went very well but I came out smaller than expected boob wise. This was due to me having a wide breast base, but my surgeon tells me there's still enough room to blow them up to the size I'd like over the next few months. I was told over the next few months my boobs would change a lot and would be lumpy, he wasn't wrong. Lumps are coming and going and shooting pains are agony. So much so that the last few nights I've had to try and fall asleep sat up in bed, because I can't lay down flat for the shooting pains. I can't wait till I'm fully healed.

Hotel hospital was better than expected, I love the adjustable beds, the food and the nurses and doctors are all wonderful. I think I've put another stone on though due to hospital food, too many steamed puddings and custard lol! I couldn't fasten my jeans up that I went in with oops! My operation was Wednesday 5th August at 14:30 which lasted just under 3 hours as I had 2 of the best surgeons at The Glenfield, one on each boob, lucky me eh ;-) I was allowed to go home on the Friday, I left my hotel with 4 drains, 2 on each side. Drains are required to stop the build up of fluid and stop seromas forming. They also help lessen bruising.

I was given home made bags to carry my drains in and heart shaped pillows to put under each arm for comfort, which I'm most grateful for. They tell me some lovely ladies make them who used to have cancer themselves, how wonderful. Thank up so much xx

I went back to hospital on Monday to have my drain bottles and dressings changed, it's now Wednesday and I still have them in. I have to phone in my drain readings every 24 hours and they have to be under 30ml a day before they'll take them out, so I'm hoping tomorrow is the day, fingers crossed. You're so limited with them in as to what you can do, I've forgot them a few times and nearly pulled them out. It's taken me all day to try and write this blog. My sides also feel very bruised due to the drains. I started off draining 130ml a day in 2 of the bottles and it's been getting less each day, today is 50ml and 30ml in the larger drains and 10ml in each of the smaller drains. They started off blood red and are now more orange due to the gold plasma, they'll eventually be clear.

Since Sunday my tongue has cracked and is very spotty, and everything I eat stings. I now have a course of mouth drops which taste awful, as you will see from the picture below. Thanks to my niece and her quick reaction she's took a couple of hilarious photos.

My mom and niece arrived on Saturday, as my mom is now on a walking stick, I knew she couldn't stay away hehe, love you mom. My one brother bought them here and my other brother is fetching them home on Friday. It's lovely having them here even though we still can't do much, Tim and Lauren walk the dogs while me and my mom recover from our surgeries. Love you all xxxx

I've had lots of lovely cards, flowers and presents, thank you all so much. Love you lots xxxx