HI,

I just had mine out on Aug 19, and I'm still having a little pain. I don't remember at the moment what type I had, but it's the one with the vertical insicion between the breasts.

I don't want to scare you, but I am going to tell you my experience. I was in a lot of pain right after...the first day they kept me in ICU and thankfully kept me pretty doped up, so laying still was fine, but I couldn't move my upper body at all. By the time I went home on day 4, I was managing with Vicoden and Motrin, and feeling pretty good. The pain is actually more of a muscular type of pain. I had most of mine around my collar bone , and some in my shoulder areas and back. Now the pain is when I lift my baby the wrong way, and in the morning from trying to sleep on my side. You have to sleep on your back for a few weeks also. So yes it will hurt, but as long as you keep the nurses giving you pain meds you should be ok. Also, my husband was able to stay with me for my whole hospital experience, and it made it a lot easier if I needed something, so if you have anyone who can stay or even visit, do ask them to come. I've never had plasmapheresis, so I can't help you there. I honestly don't know how much having the Thymectomy will help me, but I had Thymic hyperplasia (enlarged thymus) pretty severly, so I'm just believing any day now I will go into remission.
Good luck I will pray for a safe and succesfull surgery.

Jessica