Expender with Mesh Post Bilateral Mastectomy W/chemo and Rad - Columbia, SC

I was Dx'd with stage III estrogen positive breast cancer Nov 2014. Underwent chemo AC, than bilateral mastectomy with skin saving L side. Flowed up with more chemo and radiation on R cancer side.
Started the process of reconstruction ASAP. March 18, last Friday. Well.....everyone said it would hurt. Hummmm that's an understatement. Expanders and mesh have been placed. Port was removed. First I would recommend you stay in the hsp overnight. Pain was high on orals and my husband and I had a horrible time moving me around since I had no use of my arms. Second, find a firm bed low to the ground so you can get in and out. You will not be running any marathons. We are starting day three post surgery and I am praying I can tolerate bending over the sink to have my hair washed.
Let me make it clear the mastectomy was no cakewalk but having something removed verses stuffed in is very different. My PS who specializes in reconstruction got 400cc in r and about 425cc's in l. We are going to try to get to 750cc's because I have always been large breasted. 705cc's is by no means what I had at 34 G-H.
Today is the first day I have felt like getting on the iPad.
After my mastectomy I was removing myself from pain meds on day three. Today you'd have to fight me over them. I have strong leg and stomach muscles after both these "armless" surgeries.
Also I'm on antibiotics and today feel a yeast infection coming on. I probably should have started that tx earlier.
I guess the most important thing to take from this post is do not do this procedure outpatient. You need a night of iv pain meds, hsp bed and professional help moving around.

All is well. However I am still taking medication for pain. Usually I can stop within a day or two. Drains contents after five days has rapidly reduced to < 15cc's total. Wounds are healing nicely. If all continues at this pace they will remove the drains on day ten. Woot woot!
My chest currently looks like a body builder's. No outward projection yet. All in time.
Spoke to the nurse about my decision not to stay overnight at the hsp being a stupid idea. She told me my insurance would not have covered it unless I was horribly sick. So note to others......exaggerate if you want to stay or be willing to pay extra.
I have found that a firm recliner is the best place to live after a surgery done above the waist. Forget a bed unless you have a hsp bed.

Felt fantastic yesterday. So why not take a trial run at the bed with my husband. Huge mistake! One hour and 20 minutes in I awoke in excruciating pain on my right side. Side that if next to the middle of the bed. I felt like my right lung was going to blow out. Had to do the getup from a flat position move with no arm help in pain. I immediately moved myself back to the recliner after a stop for a pain pill.
I was weening myself off pain meds yesterday.
I step forward two back!