What To Expect After Double Mastectomy: Day 1 and Day 2

Day 1 and 2 post double mastectomy were by far the worst. The pain was unbearable and the anesthesia slowly moved through her body. Read more here:

breast cancer survivor!

Guest Post By Hot Hubby: Mastectomy Recovery, Day 1

Just a short post today, wanted to let you know Sam is doing well and has been recovering from her double mastectomy surgery all day.  Our Kickass-Warrior-Survivor has eaten a bit this afternoon, but the anesthesia is leaving her system slowly.  As she’s been resting she’s been in and out of real sleep and is extremely nauseated, in lots of pain, but is still going strong for her first day. She’s getting excellent care and has a sweet room to herself so is as comfortable as possible.
Her surgeon said she might be ready to leave as early as Friday afternoon, but almost definitely by Saturday, so that’s the plan.  I’ll let you know when she’s back home. (or she might be on social media by then.  I won’t have to tell you when that happens!)
I brought the boys up to visit this afternoon, that put a bright smile on her face.  They were so very worried about their mom and just wanted to see her alive and breathing after such a large surgery.  They were very relieved to see that big smile on her face that we all love. (I didn’t tell them that it was most probably the morphine drip that was making her smile)
breast cancer with kidsThank you so much for your emails, texts, and offers to help, as well as your prayers and get well wishes.  I will try to give her a hug from everyone who’s asked, but I’m not sure I can count that high (and I’d be here all night!)

Guest Post: Mastectomy Recovery, Day 2

Sam is fierce.
Sam is a warrior.
Sam is ferocious.
Sam is like a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
In more ways than one…It’s not her scaly skin, love of raw meat, or mouthful of razor-sharp teeth – its that Sam can only move the lower part of her arms for the next 10 days.
breast cancer with kids recovery To keep everything in place to heal as quickly as possible, she’s got to keep her upper arms right next to her at all times.  Like she’s got a belt around her body and arms right above her elbows. She’s not allowed to pull, push, or move them in any way.  So she can’t really type.  That’s why it’s me, Hot Hubby, here at the keyboard again, like it or not with today’s update.
Sam’s Dream Team surgeon continues to be amazing, checking in with her in the morning again today, walking her through all the things that will help her heal as quickly as possible.  The anesthesia started to leave her body yesterday evening, and it seems to be just a groggy memory today. Although she’s not typing on the computer quite yet, and still in incredible pain, she’s already remembered to remind me about the things I needed to do, so I know her mind is now anesthesia-free (things were completely scheduled and listed and checked twice on Monday – don’t worry, I had them covered!).breast cancer with kids recovery after mastectomyShe’s doing great – talking, laughing a bit (even though it hurts a LOT), and already complaining about the hospital food.  Her team of best friends have been so great, so helpful – they’re taking shifts to visit and watch over her, bringing her real food and fruit, getting on the nurses when needed, and sending some texts on her behalf (mostly reminders to me, of course). She’s been unhooked from all her monitors, oxygen, tubes, etc and only has a single IV which should go tomorrow.
So, she’s well on the road to recovering quickly. The current plan is for her to come back home tomorrow afternoon where she can wave her fierce Tyrannosaurus arms around all she wants in the privacy of her own bed.
recovering from breast cancer with kids On my end, I did get some sleep last night –  thanks for asking!  Seabass and Julian had a great visit yesterday even though Sam wasn’t talking a whole lot, and they’ll go back again to visit this evening. I cannot imagine how scared they must be seeing their beloved mom attached to machines and in excruciating pain.
On the home front, we have enough (awesome) food delivered to the house to last us until July.  (well, maybe the end of May as both boys can eat more than me now…)
Again, a HUGE THANKS to everyone who’s sent cards, flowers, yummy dinners and desserts and fruit and everything else!!  It’s made things a lot easier for me, and Sam and I both appreciate it immensely.

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About the Author

Hi! I’m Samantha

I’m a travel and health writer, marketing consultant, breast cancer survivor, and proud mum to two young men, who are, without question, my greatest achievement.

I share family travel, destination guides, honest reviews, and the realities of life after breast cancer. It’s sometimes lovely, sometimes messy, but always authentic, and told with my dry (and sometimes naughty) British sense of humor.

I’m so glad you’re here.

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  • I forgot how easy San Diego is for a quick getaway from LA. We recently drove down, stayed at Hilton San Diego Bayfront, and caught a Padres game.⚾️

The hotel is right on the bay, close to downtown, Coronado, the Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, and Petco Park. If you’re going to a Padres game, the location is honestly perfect. We walked from the hotel, over the pedestrian bridge, and straight to the ballpark.

The newly renovated rooms are lovely and have everything that matters: a comfy bed, great pillows, and a separate sitting area. I’m not the easiest sleeper, but I actually slept here, which is always my true test.

We ate a delish dinner at Hudson & Nash, the hotel’s signature restaurant with bay views, firepits, World Cup games at the bar, fab seafood, and a cioppino loaded with lobster. 🦞🌅☀️

Definitely ask for a table by the firepits if you can.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront is perfect for a couple’s weekend, a family stay, or a Padres getaway. Easy drive, gorgeous location, and no airport stress.
This stay was kindly hosted by Hilton San Diego Bayfront.. and yes, I would absolutely go back.
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#visitsandiego #hiltonsandiegobayfront #sandiegogram #travelblogger
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There are lots of new faces around here, so I thought I’d introduce myself and tell you why My Travelling Circus exists. 

I’ve always dreamed of being a travel writer. Long before Instagram, TikTok, influencers, affiliate links, or even the idea that you could make a living online. 
Back then, it was just a place to share stories and photos from our travels. 🌎

Then life took a wobble. At a routine doctor’s appointment, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was a dark time. My boys were young, and I genuinely didn’t know what the future would hold. During treatment and recovery, I spent a lot of time in bed. So I started writing. I documented everything. The cancer journey. Family life. The places we’d traveled. The memories we’d made. 💕🌸

To be honest, I think part of me was creating a little corner of the internet where our stories, our photos, and the adventures we’d shared together would live….Just in case I didn’t. Twelve years later, I’m still here. (woot woot!) 🙏

The boys are now young men. Social media exploded. The internet changed. And somehow, this little blog grew alongside it. What started as a personal project became a business, a community, and one of the greatest surprises of my life. Today, My Travelling Circus is where I share family travel, destination guides, travel tips, honest reviews, wellness, family stuff, and life after breast cancer.
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Today, three rescued sea lion pups were released back into the ocean after being cared for by an incredible team of people @marinemammalcare 🦭
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Watching them head home is proof that when people come together to help, amazing things can happen.🙏
Welcome back to the wild, little ones.
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#animalrescue #wildliferescue #goodnewsmovement #animalrehab
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Broadway shows, piano bars, late-night drinks rotating the city, and somehow squeezing in actual work. New York really is the city that never sleeps. Let’s do it again! 
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If you’re planning your own trip to NYC, I have everything you need here:
https://www.mytravellingcircus.com/2025/10/13/48-hours-in-new-york-city-first-timers-guide/
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#nycguide #thingstodoinnyc #newyorkcity #visitnyc
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#chelseamarketnyc #seedandmill #newyorkeats #travelblog #chelseamarketny
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Our carne asada and Pork Loin Alambre were cooked to our preference right in front of us, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and somehow didn’t feel heavy at all.
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And the cocktails… very cool cocktail menu. We tried the Coco Verano (with Don Fulano Blanco, Cointreau, Fresh Coconut, Pressed Coconut Water, Agave, Lime) and the house fav. Cucumber + Sal (El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, Cucumber, Cilantro, Lime and Black Sea Salt). The margaritas were very much flowing at our table.🍋‍🟩
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The whole experience is social, interactive, and feels like sitting around a taco stand with friends while everything’s cooking fresh in front of you… which actually is where the founders took their inspiration 🇲🇽
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Descanso has locations in LA and Costa Mesa and is perfect for birthdays, date nights, girls’ dinners, or taking out-of-town guests who want a fun LA dinner experience. Save room for dessert… or settle into their very impressive tequila bar for an after-dinner drink.🍸

#DescansoRestaurant #PlanchaDining #LosAngelesRestaurants #MexicanFoodLA #LAFoodie
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The theater is staged in-the-round, so the entire undersea world happens all around you, with the characters sometimes only a couple of feet from the audience. The costumes are gorgeous and beautifully designed to bring the underwater world to life. There was even a performer doing aerial acrobatics on an aerial rope above the stage. And of course, you already know the songs…the pure voice of @jennamaewhite as Ariel is Disney magic 🐠🦀
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One of my favorite parts was watching the little girls arrive in their Ariel dresses, beside themselves with excitement, and at the end, the cast came out to meet them and take photos…so lovely 💕
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Such a sweet way to spend the afternoon with my boy. If you grew up loving The Little Mermaid, definitely try to see this one before it leaves Glendale.
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The Little Mermaid @thenocturnetheatre 
Dates: May 8th – June 14th
Location: 324 North Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Show Length: 2.5 hours (with intermission)
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#thelittlemermaid #thingstodoinlosangeles #theaterinla
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- Flew into Dubrovnik (Croatia) 
- Dubrovnik to Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
- Down through Kotor and Budva (Montenegro)
- Over to Shkodër (Albania)
- Back to Dubrovnik (drop boys at the airport)
-  Dubrovnik to Korčula Island (Croatia)
- Korčula to Split (Croatia)
- Split to Dubrovnik (Croatia)

We explored coastlines, islands, mountain roads, old towns… so much culture packed into two weeks. I mapped the full route and shared exactly how we did it (what I’d do again vs skip) over on the blog - link in bio if you’re thinking about it.🌍
📍Save this one.

https://www.mytravellingcircus.com/2026/04/25/easy-balkans-road-trip-a-one-week-loop-from-dubrovnik/
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#balkansroadtrip #balkans #croatiawithlove #travelblogger
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Also special shoutout to my @marcellanyc Signe Dress - the pink is even more vibrant in person 
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If you’re in LA be sure to visit their flagship store 
📍 Our Place, Abbot Kinney
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See my full OurPlace product guide here: 
https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/921589
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#summerdress #ourplace #giftguides #kitchenware #marcellanyc

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