Got my surgery date!!

Birchbeer6

It is scheduled for May 12th.....any helpful info and how to prepare my house, my 3 year old twins, myself before this day!! what do I bring to the hospital etc......Im so freakin out!

Birchbeer6

Thank you all for responding, greatly appreciated!!!!

dolphins0412

Birchbeer6,  I had a lumpectomy and the best thing I brought with me was my family.  They were very supportive.  It was a day surgery and I was in at 8am and home by 1pm.  We talked, laughed and just hung out together.  My children are much older than three so they understood.  The only thing I have had to do is remind my hubby that that side is tender.  I wish you all the best. 

I cleaned my house before going in so that I didn't have to deal with that.

My dr recommended a front snap bra sport if you have one

pull up pants as they will be easier and

button up in the front shirt.

All of these things made getting dressed a snap when it was all over.  I might recommend an extra pair of undies.  Just because you never know.

Keep your head up and stay strong.

Birchbeer6

THank you so much Dolphin for responding......I wish I could go right home after surgery!!!! But I am having bilateral mastecomy with reconstruction....!!!:(

jan508

what type of surgery birchbeer?

TRAM flap or tissue expanders?

Emaline

I can't tell you how to do it, my surgery is the day after yours.  Here is what I am doing, and what was recommended to me by a friend who had a mastectomy.

Yours may be different, as I believe you are having a bilateral?  I'm only having my left removed.

Okay here is my plan. First have to say been told by numerous people that the anticpation is much worse then the actual surgery, so I'm really hoping I am par for the course here

 My parents are taking the kids for the weekend, they will be coming home Sunday night. I am hoping to be home Saturday..but I know Sunday is possible. My husband is working from home the following week, but taking it by ear.  If I feel well enough, he will be going back to work.  

To wear home, comfortable yoga style pants and a button down shirt and slip on shoes.  I will also have a comfortable over sized jogging bra.  I will also bring a tank top that has a cami bra built in. Depends on what the hospital allows me to go home in.  Button down shirt is good since lifting my arms over my head will not be good to start with. I heard by 2nd or 3rd day, it is doable.  

Use pins to hold the drains in place on my shirt or get a hoody and wear inside out, and put the drains in the pockets. I've heard both methods are good.

Oh and I've cooked a few meals for heatup, and I asked my family to do the same, so food should be taking care of. This will also be nice since I will be FMLA and will not have a paycheck coming in after the first 50 hours (my left over vacation time). 

Oh and my mother bought me a haircut/wash/style for after the operation as I heard washing the hair can be problematical. So I have that to look forward to as well.

That is it.  OH! I am taking an extra pillow with me to the hospital.  Just a throw one that I use in bed under my legs.  

Emaline

I was just over at the surgery forum and here are two more ideas for the drains:

lanyard (I have these anyhow) and wearing a fanny pack! What a great idea. Never thought of that one.

dolphins0412

Birchbeer6,

UGGG!!! I am sorry you have to spend time away from your family.  The suggestion of having the twins stay with relatives is probably a good one.  It will allow you some time to just adjust.  My nurse also gave me a boobie woobie!!!  It has worked wonders.  It is a small pillow to put in my arm pit to keep the stress off my scar.  I put an ice pack in it as well and it really helped.  The idea of getting meals ready is also a great one.  I am gearing up of radiation and have to travel an hour each way.  I think I'll do that to help the family out.  Thanks ladies. 

Birchbeer6

I dont know if its a better idea having the twins stick to there schedule at home....they never slept outside of home, so i dont know how they would be.....I would like to keep thinks as normal as they can be, if that makes any sense... Thank you for all the tips, really helps alot to plan ahead!

sweatyspice

Stool softener.  The anesthesia and pain meds make you really constipated.  You will have zero energy for the first few days and you will probably just want to sleep, so TV dinners or take out food or someone else handling things. 

40-years-old-now

I had my lump removed April 21.

Went in at 8am to have meds put on breast so at 9am they could inject me with dye.

Had surgery at 11am about and came home about 430pm (took awhile for me to wake up)

One thing no one told me was that I was going to pee blue for about 24 hours after surgery. Bright blue, also your breast is dyed blue too in spots.

I slept most of Thursday (day of surgery) and Friday. After that I was somewhat awake but very very fuzzy headed. I first drove on Wed about 6 blocks (to and from the gas station)

I bought a good sports bra (at Kmart, Bestbra or something like that) has 6 front hooks, seems to avoid the incisions. I also got one that was pull over but dont wear because one seem bumps an insision mark.

Make sure you have some sort of small meal thing you will be willing to eat that maybe can easly fix, you need to eat with the pain meds!!

As for the pain after surgery, I had pain from the lump and by Saturday the pain was less then before surgery.

Take care.

Candice

J9W

Have a pillow to put under your seatbelt on the ride home.  Good luck.