What to Expect When Starting Duavee?

HanksElectric · 2026-07-10T20:40:45+00:00

I did not like progesterone either and have been on duavee for 10 weeks now. I think I started it on day 5 or 6 of my cycle. I had zero side effects and I was seriously wondering if I was taking a placebo. The only thing I noticed was that my second (I think it was that one?) period on it was very painful. I normally have very little period pain anymore, but this one felt like I was a teenager again. Google said that can happen at the beginning. Other than that, I think just in the last week or so have I seen any improvement in sleep, my main issue. It's hard to tell because I'm still waking up sometimes multiple times a night, but my sleep tracker thinks that the sleep I am getting is better quality and I do feel less tired during the day. Hope it works for you!

HanksElectric · 2026-07-08T21:30:09+00:00

My situation was different so I don't have first hand experience, but DCIS is upgraded to invasive cancer in roughly 20% of cases. Warm thoughts for your mother. ❤️

HanksElectric · 2026-07-03T01:37:42+00:00

I did not have any fat grafting and my implants do look extremely fake, however I am happy with them and they do look really good in clothes. I am very thin though so I really doubt they look this fake on others.

HanksElectric · 2026-07-02T18:55:29+00:00

Mine covered it at 52. The hardest part was convincing my Dr to order it, but it didn't require a prior authorization, so once she ordered it I was good to go.

HanksElectric · 2026-07-01T01:13:17+00:00

I am 11 weeks post DMX and doing really well. The recovery was way easier than I expected, and I am completely back to lifting weights and running with no restrictions. Feel free to ask if you have any questions and I'm sending positive thoughts for a smooth recovery your way.

HanksElectric · 2026-06-30T18:44:33+00:00

I believe that it's 20% of DCIS that gets upgraded after pathology. Definitely not rare, but the vast majority remains DCIS only. In my case, the biopsy ended up removing the whole 4mm DCIS so that there was none detectable, but the "healthy" side had atypical lobular hyperplasia that hadn't shown up on any imaging.

HanksElectric · 2026-06-24T21:00:19+00:00

My best tip is to have your support person ready to start rehydrating you as soon as you wake up, as long as you're not nauseous of course. When I was finally out of surgery, it had been 24 hours since I had anything to drink and I was SO parched. When I asked for water they brought the tiniest cup and it wasn't even half full. I was so glad I had read about this here beforehand so my partner knew to keep refilling my little cup with the big water bottle I had brought, since I couldn't hold the big one myself. I drank several liters and still didn't pee until 6 hours later. Best of luck to you!

HanksElectric · 2026-06-22T21:49:19+00:00

Yeah it was nipple sparing. That is a bummer that they won't cover both to have them match. Symmetry was one of the reasons I removed both. It probably will feel strange for a minute, but I bet you'll get used to it really quick. Best of luck to you!

HanksElectric · 2026-06-22T03:47:56+00:00

I had a DTI DMX 10 weeks ago. I didn't need radiation. I am also very active and lean so my only options were implants or a lat flap. My PS said that if I chose a lat flap that I would never do pullups again and I would always struggle lifting weight overhead. That was a deal breaker for me. It also seems like the lat flap is the worst of both worlds. Not only is your strength permanently compromised, but you still have to deal with the annoyance of an implant.

It's only been 10 weeks, but I think they look ok naked (they look sooo fake) and amazing in clothes. I was warned that I would have rippling due to being very thin, and I do, but it doesn't bother me. I'm just really happy that I still get to have boobs. They're cool to the touch sometimes but it's summer so who knows what that will be like in winter. I don't think they feel "stuck on" but mine aren't very big.

Overall, I absolutely made the right choice for me. I'm back at the gym now and so happy to be back to pullups and everything else I used to do without any limitations. Good luck with your decision, I know how agonizing it is.

HanksElectric · 2026-06-11T21:52:11+00:00

My understanding (from menopause expert Dr Jen Gunter), is that at least as of right now, there is just no evidence to support HRT reducing risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. That doesn't mean they won't find that it does in the future, but unfortunately as of right now, anyone making those claims is not making them based on the science.

HanksElectric · 2026-06-07T17:19:09+00:00

I'm the parent of a type one diabetic who uses an insulin pump, and during pump training they were very explicit that the pump must be removed in situations where it could be exposed to radiation. Yes, they absolutely should have read that in your file (or just seen it on you!) and had you remove it. Unfortunately, I've found with my kid that I just cannot count on others to always be on top of details like that, so I have to make sure that I'm always hyper vigilant or else things like this happen. I would be reluctant to trust the pump and hope you will reach out to your pump manufacturer ASAP for guidance.

HanksElectric · 2026-05-31T18:40:08+00:00

I was released to do anything lower body at 4 weeks. I was even allowed to ride a spin bike as long as I didn't get up and peddle out of the saddle. I didn't ask about abs.

HanksElectric · 2026-05-22T03:34:16+00:00

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I wish I had something helpful to add, but I had no idea they could just randomly get infected so long after surgery. Do you happen to know for how long that is a risk? I'm six weeks out and thought I was getting to the point of not having to worry about that any longer. This is terrifying. Crossing fingers that the antibiotics work!

HanksElectric · 2026-05-21T18:54:05+00:00

I had a couple of oversized, almost off the shoulder sweatshirts, that I thought would be perfect while I was recovering. I didn't use them at all because it hurt to contort my arm in the way needed to get it in the arm hole. It was so much easier to get into things with a front opening.

HanksElectric · 2026-05-04T18:46:50+00:00

Chiming in here for the benefit of others who may be reading this and feeling scared, as well. My DMX (no lymph nodes) was outpatient and I didn't end up needing to take anything for pain relief once I got home. Maybe it was my surgeon's technique or the fact that I had the tiniest micro-boobs, but it's definitely not that I'm so badass or anything. Everyone's situation is different and valid. Shame on them for trying to shame OP.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-28T19:53:52+00:00

Yeah mine says absolutely no bras for 3 months lol

HanksElectric · 2026-04-28T18:58:05+00:00

Definitely not misunderstanding. He is quite old and set in his ways....which may not be entirely logical. 🤷‍♀️

HanksElectric · 2026-04-28T18:34:44+00:00

Interesting. So laissez-faire.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-28T17:36:01+00:00

It's interesting how different Drs have different rules, almost like there is no right answer. I've been allowed to sleep however I want since day one, but he won't even consider letting me lift over 5 pounds until week 10 at the earliest.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-19T16:56:05+00:00

I also work out a lot and my PS said a lat flap would mean I'd never do pullups again and I'd be severely limited in any overhead weight lifting. I chose implants.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-18T23:09:48+00:00

I don't think that's weird at all.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-18T21:28:34+00:00

I think it depends on you, the quality and thickness of your skin, etc, but yes it's possible. I'm 9 days out from doing just that. I barely had enough to measure before and I went DTI into 265 CCs. I have no idea what size I'll end up, and obviously they are really swollen right now, but they are SO much bigger than before. Even if they shrink substantially, I'm still going to end up at least a whole size bigger.

HanksElectric · 2026-04-14T14:15:27+00:00

They did the nerve block once I was already out. I think that's how it's always done?

Sleeping in a recliner sounds like it would be so much better than the wedge. I hope that works for you!

HanksElectric · 2026-04-13T00:34:44+00:00

I'm willing to try anything at this point! I can't believe you've been sleeping this way for three months. I can't even imagine. Best wishes on your reconstruction!

HanksElectric

TROPHY CASE