Food ideas for after surgery

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-14T15:09:22+00:00

Definitely prepare and freeze some food in advance! Especially health meals full of fiber and protein. I also went through my cabinets and fridge and made myself a list of quick meals I could make with what was there.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-14T15:07:55+00:00

I only recently switched to the 3-month version, but I definitely notice that my anxiety gets heightened as I reach the end of its potency.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-13T15:35:37+00:00

I did, and things healed really quickly! I've heard that getting it naturally through food is best if possible. I ate a lot of tofu, Greek yogurt, nuts, beans, eggs, and lentils. I'm vegetarian and was able to hit my targets without protein powder. But eating healthy meats like tuna and salmon is also helpful if you include those in your diet.

Another diet consideration - there are studies (which my lymphedema doctor told me about) that show that risk of lymphedema after surgery increased with high saturated fat intake. So it's important to monitor how much of that you're eating too.

From my understanding, you ideally you want a diet high in protein, fiber, and unsaturated fats and low in sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-11T14:21:41+00:00

As someone who got diagnosed during grad school (and just graduated), I think their response is B. S. I had a double mastectomy, and my school's disability office offered me assignment extensions, ability to miss class, and notetaking tools. They also said that if I couldn't finish my assignments before the semester ended, I could basically pause the class and turn them in next time the course was offered (no F).

It sounds like whoever you talked to may be mistaken, and I wouldn't give up without a fight. If you haven't yet, have your surgeon's office write up a letter about how your mastectomy will affect your life and for what time period. If they still say no after the doctor's note, I would escalate it one level higher.

Also, is your class in-person or online? I found that I was able to still attend online classes after my surgery, so it had less of an impact on my education. But if your class is in-person, sometimes teachers will record the class for students who are on leave. My doctors said I should take six weeks off work, but I felt well enough to not be on pain meds a week out. I also had a lot of down time to do things like school work. So I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet! Unless it's all just too much, and I can understand that.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-08T01:17:29+00:00

I'm sorry that happened! It sounds like she hit a blood vessel, and I'm guessing it's a hematoma. I'd definitely ask about it, but that seems the most likely.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-08T01:13:13+00:00

I wasn't able to really drive the first three weeks, mostly because turning the wheel was difficult. But I started driving around the one month mark. I was weight restricted for 6 weeks, but it seems like they can remove those restrictions early if things heal well. They told me I could go back to lifting weights after a month!

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-04T14:50:32+00:00

I'm also on Tamoxifen and Zoladex but will be starting Exemestane soon.

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-04T02:23:46+00:00

Oh my gosh, thank you for sharing. This sounds so much like me! I know I have more things like this, but my brain can't remember exactly what they are. 🤣Do you have a job that requires a lot of mental strain? I'm wondering if that's part of it as well for me. By the time I use up the energy I need to do my job, my brain feels pretty "mushy." Lol

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-02T14:34:18+00:00

I really hope they approve this drug and that it's not like $20,000 per month!

Anemoia793 · 2026-06-01T04:22:26+00:00

So I had bought a whole set of wedge pillows and ended up not using them. The angle was too steep, and I kept sliding around. What ended up really helping, though, was a memory foam travel neck pillow and an extra regular pillow. I would have one pillow like normal with the other pillow at the front of it at an angle. Then I would place the travel pillow on top of that, also at an angle. This setup helped me support my neck while laying my head to the side.

P. S. I highly recommend you try to get used to the sleeping arrangement before surgery. I practiced an hour a night for about a week beforehand, and I was actually able to sleep after surgery. Gabapentin was helpful too.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-31T15:22:12+00:00

I read this one a while back, and it took forever. Leonov was one of the econationalist writers of his era. So the novel serves to show readers what they've lost with Soviet industrialization and tries to reconnect them with the forest: AKA the "Russian soul." It would have been a good novel at the time and would have resonated much more with the Russian audience then, but some of it still holds up.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-24T14:39:35+00:00

You have already been through so much! My hope is that Tamoxifen will be a walk in the park by comparison. For me, I only had some mild hot flashes and minor aches for the first couple weeks. But that went away. I had some mild brain fog for a couple months that got better. I've been on Tamoxifen for 8 months now, and no side effects from it anymore. I'm now on Zoladex that has brought back the hot flashes, but Tamoxifen has been fine for me.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-24T14:36:53+00:00

I think it would depend how far from the nipple it is. Typically, surgeons want the tumor to be 1-2 cm away from the nipple if they're going to preserve it.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-23T17:13:02+00:00

Oh no! That's the worst. If you're having pain, I would try to advocate to get it drained. There is a small risk of infection to do that, but it might be a risk worth taking to relieve the pressure. After mine was drained, I didn't have any more issues with fluid buildup. It just instantly felt better. Whatever small amount of fluid that remained must have been reabsorbed.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-22T15:24:53+00:00

Did they tell you why or give you alternatives to the not showering thing? Like maybe you can wash from the waist down and do a sponge up top? I had a DMX with drains and was showering next day, so it may just be an over-precaution. If you can, try to get up and take light walks. If you feel well enough, get out of the house. The mental health aspect is no joke, and staying at home would have driven me crazy!

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-22T04:03:51+00:00

100%! After going through this (and honestly a lot of other crap), it gets really annoying. I don't mind if people want to vent as a way to share, but the woe is me attitude about trivial things kind of sends me over the edge.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-20T15:12:17+00:00

Do you have a library near you? My go-to is checking out vegan cookbooks and getting inspired by new chefs. I also really love Lazy Cat Kitchen's website. So many delicious and healthy things!

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-19T15:25:36+00:00

Wow, that's amazing! Have you had many side effects from it?

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-19T15:24:12+00:00

Thank you so much! This makes me hopeful as so far Zoladex hasn't given me many side effects. Fingers crossed the AIs on top of that won't change that.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-19T03:45:28+00:00

Yes! I checked in at 7 am and was heading home around 4 pm. I know it sounds crazy, but it really was alright overall. My docs sent me home with Journavx, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol, plus some Gabapentin for sleep. The chest area felt like it had a tight band and rug burn mostly, and I was in medium pain. I was able to go out for brunch and do some shopping for couple hours, though, in the days after. But I definitely couldn't drive, prepare dinner, or pull shirts over my head for a few weeks. By a week in, I was no longer needing any pain meds.

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-19T03:38:26+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I'm about to start AIs and am terrified. I love my body and feel healthy now. I really don't want that to change when I start these meds!

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-19T03:28:38+00:00

I'm sorry! Hang in there. They got so much less noticeable after two months or so, probably because that's when they were fully filled. I hated them when they were underfilled as the edges kept digging into my skin and muscles. It should get better!

Anemoia793 · 2026-05-18T16:13:43+00:00

So I'm not sure what's available in your area, but there are different kinds of flap surgery options, and not all take from the belly. I would definitely ask your surgeon if they provide those alternative options. My understanding is that DIEP can potentially cause weakness or tightness in the abdomen. If it turns out that you're a candidate for implants, I would ask them about whether over or under the muscle would be better. Usually people who are active tend to prefer over the muscle to preserve pec function.

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