The little details after mastectomy

Anonymous

I am scheduled for 2/28 for bilateral mastectomy. Trying to focus on the mastectomy and take my mind off the fact that I am Her2+ and every time I cough I am wondering if it is in my lungs. If figure I have been on the wrong side of every odd so far...the only two left are lymph nodes and mets someplace. I figure I will be the one to go from stage 1 to stage IV overnight.

So...here goes my little detail questions...how does one wipe after a bowel movement after a bilateral mastectomy? I really do not want assistance in this, but I can't figure out how it is going to work if I can't move my arms much?

Any suggestions? Other than the worry above and drains, this is my beggest concern for the moment. I will move over to worrying about chemo and herceptin after surgery.

Thanks for your advice in advance!

mdg

I had a BLMX on 1/27.  I did have constipation for a few days so wiping wasn't an issue!  I had TE placed too.  I could move my arms - not too much at first, but enough to eat, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, etc.... I could lift them up over my head within the first day or two post op - but not straight up extended - they were kind of bent and out to the side a bit. At this point I have most of my range of motion back - just a little short on a few things.  You wil not need anyone to wipe your butt.....consider yourself lucky if you actually poop the first few days.  Take my advice....take stool softeners right away (in the hospital) and have some laxitives or fiber things on hand in case.  The worst part of my BLMX was the constipation..honestly! 

Oh - my drains did not hurt much.  THey could have come out by day 5 post op but we had a bad snow storm so I had to wait a day or two since the hospital was an hour drive.  I didn't have any issue with the drains - they didn't hurt much to me at all.  It did feel better once they were out, but they didn't really bother me much when they were in.  Good luck!  I know how scary this is...believe me.  It was WAY easier than I thought - honestly. 

jenn3

You will find that a BMX is not a terribly painful surgery.  Unfortunately I've had 4 or 5 different surgeries and the BMX was one of the least painful surgeries.  Yes, you will be sore and there will be discomfort, but pain medication, warm showers and the exercises you will be given will all help.  You should only have difficult movement in the upward positions and if you do what your told you should be fine. As for the drains.  I hooked them to my shirts with large safety pins and when I took a shower I hooked them to a large 1 1/2 in ribbon around my neck.  I did find that button up pj's were easier the first week to get in and out of and slept with a body pillow so that I didn't roll over or DH didn't bump me.  

Good luck. 

ibcmets

I also was constipated for 3 days due to the pain meds.  I had very little movement of my arms for 2 days only.  You'll be fine. 

Terri

lago

I had BMX with 10 nodes removed one one side 4 on the other and TE's placed. I did my one wiping. Reaching above your shoulders was an issue not that should even try that if you have drains. You will be surprised but you will be able to wash and wipe yourself. Opening something as heavy has the refrigerator door might be an issue. I did it with assistance from my foot.

I too had a little constipation from the anesthesia but eventually got things moving. I didn't need any pain meds so I was lucky it didn't continue.

Anonymous

Well that is sucha  relief to know! I ended up with a terrible constipation problem after my last biopsy. My nurse practioner friend already has me taking stool softeners, and the surgeon knows to make sure they are order while I am in the hospital! I don't want that experience again.

Thanks for all your advice. Now, I can move on to worrying about something else.

migallen

I had my bmx with immediate recon on 1/27/2011 and did not need assistance what so ever when I had to use the rest room, I was able to wipe myself.  Huge relief.

I too suffered from constipation afterwards, but trust me, prune juice worked for me, not the stool softeners.  Just know that you will do fine.  It's the unknown that always freaks me out.

best of luck to you,

min

hoopmess

What a relief! Thank you all for posting in this topic.

Girl53

I, too, appreciate this information. Have been just as nervous about water closet consequences as about surgery itself LOL!! Any other insights also most welcome. I just want to be able to brush my teeth!

Bwarden2017

THANK YOU for asking this question. I’m having a double mastectomy next week and googled this same question because I was so worried about this topic. It was freaking me out

Now I can worry about a million other things instead.

Moderators

Welcome, Bwarden2017! We're so glad you are already finding this community to be a helpful place. We're here for you as you prepare for and recover from your surgery, please keep us posted on how everything goes!

The Mods

LivinLife

Welcome Bwarden! Sorry you need to be here though glad you found us. There is a preparation list for BMX as well. I will see if I can find it and bump it up... If I find it I will try to copy and paste the link too though I'm often unsuccessful with things like that. When you sign in if you go to "Active Topics" hopefully you'll see it in that mix if I'm not successful. Best with surgery and please let us know how it goes! Are you on the April surgery forum/threads? I wasn't on this site yesterday so just catching up....

Edited to add: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics/699896