So often in life, our assessment of a situation is affected by our expectations of that situation. I went into my 2024 breast reconstruction surgery thinking that the recovery would be similar to that of previous surgeries: tedious, painful and characterized by one step backward for every two steps forward.

However, this recovery has been much better than my recuperation from previous operations, including last year's bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction. I suspect that I'm benefiting from the fact that my 2024 operation was single-focused (breast reconstruction) in contrast to my 2023 operation, which was dual-focused (bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction). This year, it would seem, I have less to recover from.

The pressure I felt in my chest in the first few days after my September 12 surgery did feel—as my documentation suggested it would—like "a kick in the chest." However, that sensation diminished each day, such that by about Day 3 of recovery, the heaviness had all but disappeared. The "occasional sharp, shooting, or tingling pains" that my documentation indicated I might feel have been virtually non-existent. In contrast, after last year's mastectomy, I experienced what I called "the steely stabbies"—which felt like being stabbed by a steel knife.

Having one drain removed just four days after this year's surgery was a bonus. The second drain remains in place but continues to show progress, with the fluid's colour evolving—as it should—from red to pink to yellow. It may be ready to come out by Friday or Saturday. In truth, though, it has been so untroublesome that I don't mind its staying in. Drains give fluid that can build up in the body after surgery a place to go. Without a drain, that fluid could accumulate within the body.

I'm also able to stretch the period between pain medication from two hours in the early days of recovery to three to four hours now.

Notwithstanding all these positive indicators of healing, I continue to take it easy, moving slowly and deliberately so as not to put pressure on any stitches. Chris has picked up his role as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (not to mention Chief Shopper). Tonight, for instance, he made a delicious Italian wedding soup, something I never make as I find it to be too much work. But I'm happy to eat it when Chris makes it.

So perhaps I'm exceeding my expectations for this recovery because I went into it with low expectations based on past surgeries. Or maybe I'm becoming a more patient patient, seeing the opportunity in recovery to slow down, take a nap, and be cared for.