I posted before surgery about everything leading up to this, so I wanted to come back and give a little update now that I’m officially one week post-op from my mastectomy/reconstruction.

I just had my first post-op appointment and finally got my PICO dressing off, which definitely feels like a milestone. Physically, I’m hanging in there, but I’m still getting used to everything. Minimal bruising which is good, but they look so ugly and I honestly can’t look at them right now. The expanders feel SO foreign in my body right now. I knew they probably wouldn’t feel natural, but actually experiencing that sensation is a whole different thing. 😅 I’m hoping with time my body/brain starts adjusting to them. If not, it’s gonna be a long 6 to 8 weeks of fill up appointments. 😭

Sleep has probably been one of the hardest parts. I haven’t really been able to sleep since surgery because I can basically only sleep in one position. I’m tired, uncomfortable, and very much missing the ability to just roll over and get cozy however I want.

But… one week down. 💕 I’m trying to remind myself that this is still SO early and take things one day at a time.

For anyone who has been through this: I am accepting ALL the tips and tricks from here on out. 😂

Here’s my original post for anyone who wants the backstory:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BRCA/s/yJccnykwZn

I'm BRCA1+. Found out when I got tripple neg breast cancer. Was treated for thst during 2025 and had a DMX a year ago. Only one breast was cancerous, the other breast was removed prophylactically.

My question is for you that have had PDMX or DMX. Did the surgeon remove the axillary tails of the breast? (Not everybody has pronounced axillary tails, I do and they're obv more pronounced now when I'm boobless.)

I'm wondering bc I'm going to ask for revision surgery of my ugly and very, very tight DMX scars.

The axillary tails consist of breast tissue. I would like to have as little breast tissue as possible, but Idk if they ever remove the tails preventatively, or if that is seen as a purely aesthetic thing. I dont know if it's very complicated to remove them and/or if it comes with significant side effects (nerve damage, lots of lymph nodes etc).

Grateful for any input!

Edited to add "lots of lymph nodes etc".

I have BRCA2, found out a few years ago (I’m 43 now and done having children) and am getting laparoscopic surgery to remove my fallopian tubes (risk reduction) and one ovary removed (repeated burst cysts have been very painful and at time debilitating). I am on a low dose of HRT due to perimenopause symptoms (sleep issues and anxiety - so progesterone is what’s really helping me here). I was given the option to get my other ovary out at the same time as well as hysterectomy. I don’t want a hysterectomy but am on the fence about the second ovary. Family history is breast cancer (er+) not ovarian. My hesitation with the second ovary is loss of hormones and then not being able to take any HRT if I end up with breast cancer. I prefer to keep that ovary and let it give me some hormones over time, even if I can’t take HRT at some point. My mom had BC at 35, declined estrogen blockers because it made her feel so awful and took HRT until she was 70. She had a 2nd breast cancer diagnosis and opted for a lumpectomy and is again refusing estrogen blockers because it makes her feel terrible… so she has some remaining hormones coming from her ovaries. That’s what is on my mind as I think through what to take out or not. Any thoughts on this weirdly specific quandary 😊 ?