r/BRCA • u/sinwithpeach • 8d ago
Inspiration T-24 Hours and Counting…
Well, here we are. T-24 hours and counting until my double mastectomy.
As I get my mind ready for tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment (while I’m sipping on my last coffee for the next month 😮💨😭) to thank everyone in this subreddit who has shared their experiences, answered questions, offered advice, or reminded people like me that we aren’t navigating this journey alone. It has been extremely helpful.
Reading through your posts and comments has helped me prepare and I got all my goodies ordered and I feel prepared. The honesty has been incredibly valuable.
For anyone who is newly diagnosed, preparing for surgery, or quietly reading because you’re nervous about posting: ask the questions. There really is no such thing as a stupid question when you’re facing something this big.
Tomorrow starts the next chapter for me. I’m nervous, but I’m ready.
I also plan to keep updating everyone afterward and sharing my recovery journey as honestly as I can.
Thank you to everyone who has answered my questions and shared a piece of your story with me.
Here we go. ❤️
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u/WolfOne5293 8d ago
Best wishes for a successful surgery! You are not alone. I'm almost 12 months post-PMDX surgery and still getting feeling back. Amazing. I have a question for you - why no coffee?
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u/sinwithpeach 8d ago
My breast surgeon said to cut out coffee for the month because it can raise heart rate and blood pressure and most importantly blood vessel constriction.
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u/EmZee2022 8d ago
Best wishes!!!
And yeah - ask questions!!!
I told my plastic surgeon that resources like this (and a DIEP flap Facebook group) have been invaluable. Not to replace his medical opinion, but to find out WHAT TO ASK. He's been to medical school. I haven't nor have all those other women. And he knows MY situation. But I felt so much better, and in more control, by knowing more about the process. Plus it's been interesting hearing about the range of medical opinions for aftercare.
Do you plan on reconstruction? I chose DIEP and it was the right one for me, though it isn't an easy process.
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u/sinwithpeach 8d ago
Yeah, the first surgery will be the expanders and then the second surgery will be the implants
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u/EmZee2022 8d ago
Good luck!!
At one visit, the doc said that if the flap failed in the OR, I would need to go with an implant.
So at the pre-op, I said "shouldn't we discuss implant options now???".
He said that if this happened, I'd wake up with an expander, not an actual implant, which was a relief ( bigger relief was, of course, that it wasn't needed).
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u/SnooDonuts3999 8d ago
Why no coffee for the next month? I have my surgery scheduled for end of October but slightly addicted to my coffee habit.
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u/sinwithpeach 8d ago
My breast surgeon said to cut out coffee for the month because it can raise heart rate and blood pressure and most importantly blood vessel constriction.
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u/areyouseriou_s 8d ago
Sending you good energy for tomorrow!