Mastectomy, riding and barn work

[Drummerboy]

So, with another surgical biopsy looming and knowing I am a candidate for double mastectomy, anyone out there who has had this surgery and has any insight? How long was recovery till you could do chores and ride, was there any change in either, what was the hardest thing to do? I am not doing reconstruction, my own choice. Lots of things to think about...

[Nezzy]

i have not had this, but i had a reduction, and i was out of commission for over 2 weeks. Amazing how much you use your chest muscles. I could not reach into the grain bin, could not pull or push( think Vacuuming) and i could not lift anything. I started small with chores like mucking, but not too much. I hope someone here can answer you better. And good Luck with everything. I know for me- i felt better the more i got up and around. Just as long as i did not overdo anything.

[lolalola]

I had a single mastectomy, but did have reconstruction. I recovered a lot quicker than the doctors expected - it's likely a lot of women they treat are not as fit as the average horsewoman. As with any surgery, you have to take it easy for a while. You'll have drains for at least a week or ten days, so you should figure at least three weeks before you can do some of your barn work. Are you having chemo?

[Melissa.Hare.Jones]

A friend had a double (some nodes removed also), with reconstruction. Her recovery was much longer than she anticipated. We were just talking about it today... a doc herself, she felt her own doctors were a bit optimistic because they really didn't understand the amount of physical work horsepeople do, both in and out of the saddle. I'm thinking it was something over two months before she started riding, and it was slow going for the first few weeks. Barn work (lifting bales, etc.) came after that.

[Lucassb]

I had a double mastectomy following a bc dx a couple of years ago. I went in for surgery on a Tuesday morning and was released from the hospital on Thursday around noon. I was driving by Saturday and went out to the barn and - gingerly - was riding around the property on Sunday (on my very quiet horse, at a walk.) I still had the surgical drains at that point, which were a PITA, but I was able to use vetwrap to secure them, so they didn't bounce around. I had to be *very* careful getting on and off, but otherwise I was really fine.

I would not have been able to do much in the way of barn chores at that point; it does take a while to regain the range of motion in your arms, particularly on the side they do the sentinel node testing on. It was a couple of weeks before I really felt like myself in terms of being able to do chores or even sleep normally again; for a while I had to sleep lying flat on my back which I found difficult. Other than that, though, it was really a much easier surgery than, say, my knee reconstruction and I was able to follow my normal schedule again almost immediately.

I found it was really important to keep moving and stretching to avoid winding up with a frozen shoulder. I was aggressive about that - I actually slept with my arms over my head! - and it paid off for me. I have absolutely no limitations now whatsoever, and the docs all said I outperformed anyone's expectations for rehab.

You are welcome to PM me if you have any specific questions or concerns. I am 2 years post op now and have BT, DT. :) And, LOL, because I did elect for an "upgrade" during reconstruction ... I now have *quite* the T-shirt to show for it. :lol::lol::lol::lol: The only downside? I forgot about all my pretty hunt coats... which no longer fit over the new girls. Had to buy a bunch of new ones!!!

[lolalola]

You went riding with your surgical drains tied down with vetwrap? LOL! I bet your doctor would have kittens if he/she knew that! I thought I was bad when I went to the barn and climbed a fence and my drain fell off - had to use the barn pump to wash it and then reattached it.

[Lucassb]

You went riding with your surgical drains tied down with vetwrap? LOL! I bet your doctor would have kittens if he/she knew that! I thought I was bad when I went to the barn and climbed a fence and my drain fell off - had to use the barn pump to wash it and then reattached it.

Well, I didn't actually TELL the doctor... he said, "do what you feel comfortable doing," so I figured I had permission, more or less.

The person who was actually most horrified was the BNT at the barn (not my trainer at the time) who looked askance at the rather odd shaped person (vetwrapped drains under a polo make you look STRANGE) who was out hacking that day ...

I have to admit that getting those drains *removed* really did s*ck... ouch. But I was so glad to get rid of them!!!

[Watermark Farm]

I still had the surgical drains at that point, which were a PITA, but I was able to use vetwrap to secure them, so they didn't bounce around. I had to be *very* careful getting on and off, but otherwise I was really fine.

I just want to say that I love your post and your spirit, and I will remember your story for a long time. I wish the OP and everyone who has shared your stories good health and recovery. You are all very inspiring. ~Katie

[BasqueMom]

Had a double in 1995 with immediate (like during the same surgery) reconstruction. Being
in a hurry to go back to work, the plastic surgeon accommodated by partially inflating the
implants. Not the wisest idea as they really stretched out the chest muscles and moving
the arms was a challenge for a while. Can't remember if I was in the hospital for 2.5 or 3.5 days. Came home to my 50th birthday party, drains and all.

Wore hubby's shirts during that phase but did go to barn and lead horses around much to
DH's horror. Reaching for a class in the cabinet was more painful--again, due to partially
inflated implants. However, I didn't have to wake up to a totally flat chest so....

A friend who didn't have her implants inflated during the mastectomy/reconstruction surgery
had a much, much easier time of it.

Was riding after week 3 but using the mounting block to put the saddle on if no one was
around to give me a hand. Tightening the girth was more of a challenge. We were putting our house in the market in hopes of getting a horse property so all the window washing, furniture polishing, etc. pretty much took the place of exercises. The breast surgeon was totally amazed with the range of motion I had when things were all healed up.

Have the same size "girls" as before but can go braless with no sag which ain't bad at
age 63. The plastic surgeon did ask that I wear a good sports bra for a while when riding.
And for about five years or so, I wore a light sports bra to bed although I did't have to.

The surgery to put in the permanent implants was basically a piece of cake. And I lucked
out and didn't have to have chemo or radiation.

Only had one horse at the time and he was the spook king, but he packed me around during
recovery time like an old pack horse. In fact, I don't think he ever dumped me again, bless
his heart. Did buy one of those vests used by eventers when we got back to jumping, but
never wore it. He got retired from even riding at more than a walk, the new horse got
EPM before we got to jumping and the vest hangs in the closet.

[Foxtrot's]

Just wanted to send sympathy...sorry to hear about your worries and hope tests come back better than you suggest. Good luck.

[jnel]

You are going to go through a hard time but you will get past it. Regardless of the biopsy results see if you can get a breast MRI done. I went through the whole biopsy and lumpectomy routine in March, I thought great I didn't really loose much breast tissue. Then had an MRI done just too make sure everything was ok. All my mamograms, ultrasounds, and exams missed a 3 cm invasive mass in my right breast. That MRI saved my life. I had a choice on single or double and just thinking about possibly going through this procedure again made my choice easy.

I went through a double mastectomy with reconstruction this summer. I was told not to ride for four weeks after the surgery. My doctor had a fit when I wanted to ride as soon as the drains were out. He asked that I wait another two weeks and said that it wasn’t worth the risk of possible injury. With my husband siding with the doctor I did wait that long because I got very tired easily. It took about 15 days to get my drains out I can’t even imagine riding with the drains in, as any pulling on the tubes is irritatingly painful. I got next to no sleep because of the discomfort of the drains and having to sleep on my back for the first time in my life for that long. The tiredness carried over into what I was able to do during the day. All of a sudden I would just run completely out of energy and need a nap. I had no problems with lifting stuff or range of motion; my soreness was minimal and didn’t last long.
When I did start back riding again I tried to just slide carefully off my horse to dismount and it was a painful mistake. Memories of that have made it so that I mount and dismount from a mounting block to this day. I went through chemo and found that for about four days following a chemo session I had to plan on not riding or even going to the barn. Again I took things slow and since I had a new green horse it was the right thing for both of us. In two weeks I’m getting my permanent implants in so no riding for me for about 10 days afterward.

PM me if you like. I have a whole other story on reconstruction and thoughts on implants.

[Drummerboy]

Thanks to all for the input so far...I am at least grateful that this is happening again in the late fall/winter as opposed to summer busy season. (though, I would have liked to get out of haying...!) What I am amazed at is people responses to my choice to not have reconstruction. Thirty minutes ago I am holding a horse for a friend, (we have open indoor today for versatility practice) who says, "well, clothes just aren't made to fit women without breasts"...What? Like this choice won't impact far reaching issues in my life than how my clothes fit. (hunt coats can be altered and Ralph Lauren is pretty boxy) Wow.

Was anyones balance altered in the saddle? The option of riding my mare early isn't a good one. She can be really cranky in the winter and I might get into something I don't have the range of motion to finish. Suppose I should head back now to the indoor, needed a few moments to gain some composure.

Thanks again everyone!

[ridenslide]

I have just passed my year anniversary of my DXof Breast Cancer.:D
The first of MANY to come.

First of all, let me say how sorry I am to hear of your DX & up coming surgery.:cry:

You would not believe the support I had through my ordeal & continue to have.
I hope you are fortunate to have the same. Ignore the naysayers. THe power of positive thinking goes a LONG way. So does rest.

It sounds like jnel & I had the same experience!;)

I ride reiners now & I taught my horse to drive.:lol: :eek:I taught my daughter's reiner showmanship.:lol: I had some trouble currying & lifting too much! Bad ridenslide!

Do not feel bad about hitting the wall.That is your body saying that you have done enough & it needs the energy to heal itself.:yes:

I had my mastectomy & recon On October 17th & was showing on February 14th.Thanks to a great group of folks around me & my daughter for keeping my horse going & my horse for keeping ME going!

THe tissue expansions hurt worse than anything!GAH!!! I would have 120 ccs at each expansion to speed up the process after 2 failed expanders put me behind schedule!:mad: I would have been back sooner, but...

My final surgery was July 15th. YIPPEE!!!! I will have tatts only.I LOVE no bra,except when I ride!

If you ever want to talk , just pm me!!
Been there, done that, glad to chat!!!
Every woman has her reason for the path she chooses.
There is no wrong choice.
I made the choice I could sleep with. :winkgrin:
I like to think every woman does.;)

[BasqueMom]

Drummerboy,

Reconstruction is a personal choice. Two of my friends chose not to.

Did have problems with an implant (long story) and it had to come out for a while.
Yes, it affected my balance during that period. Once, it was replaced, things returned
to normal. So you may notice a change in your balance.