how long for compression after UMX?

MellaBella

I forgot to ask my doc & nurse and probably can't call them until Tuesday b/c of the holiday, so hopefully someone can help me with this.

The nurse said it was OK to wear a (non surgical) bra as long as it kept the incision area flat. The one I had on that day got her OK but it didn't put a lot of pressure on the incision or anything, it was just flat. And it was comfy.

I slept in bras like that and tucked in a pad from the nurse (looked like a maxi pad).

I'm wondering how long I have to do that? I would like to sleep without any bra and I did that last night (day 11 post op) but thought maybe I should not have done that yet.

Can you all tell me how long you wore bras to compress the area, how much it was compressed, and did any of you hear what happens if you don't do this and just "roam free"?

Thanks!

Erica3681

I never had any compression, not even right after surgery. My doctor, the head of breast surgery at a Harvard teaching hospital, didn't recommend it. But I know some surgeons do like it for their patients. Best thing would be if you can contact someone at your doctor's office today to see what they wish. 

MellaBella

Thank you, that helps!  I never had strong compression, even when they sent me home. It was just like pillow padding in a surgi bra, not very tight at all, especially since I was so lopsided (I'm a C-D cup).

I know the nurse I saw is unreachable this weekend and I think I'll wait till Tuesday to call the doc, as it isn't urgent, but this helps me relax over the weekend. : )

Jennie93

I never had any compression, no bandages or anything.  They used some sort of clear glue on the incision.  I don't remember if he said when it was ok to wear a bra again.  I wore one of those post-surgical camis with the pockets for the drain.  

lynnlyre

I had compression wrap (pretty pink thing with flowers), think corset applied to chest after surgery with extra padding where they removed my right breast.  I was in hospital for two days and home another two days before I had to get the thing off.  I'm a large women and it was making it hard to breath and bruising my rib cage.  Had in drain for 11 days when it got clogged and it had to be removed.  No problem with additional drainage but 5 days after drain was removed I suddenly noticed fluid build up that made waves go across the breast when I moved my arm. Fluid is also settling under my arm.  Saw surgeon again and she said to re-apply compression to try to single to the body to stop sending more fluid to the area and to start sending the fluid there up into the lymph system.  

To try to allow breathing she wrapped with ace wrap.  Again, I am a large women!  I went to bed with my check wrapped and woke up with the ace wrap rolled down under my breast line.  Put compression wrap back on as it was the only thing I could apply my self.  By 10:00 p.m. last night I could not breath again so we found a larger ace wrap which has mostly stayed put for 17 hours.  

Since I cannot do reconstruction now I was hoping to get fit for prosthesis but I cannot until fluid build up goes down.  Anyone with suggestions for keeping compression on and/or how to go out in public with only one breast?  Any good/bad home made breast options until I can get a prosthesis?  

MellaBella

Lynn, I can't yet get fitted for a foob either (I'm only 17 days post op) so I sewed a little pillow made from an old pillow case and some pillow filler and stuff it in my regular bras until that side matches the other, then I safety pin it in place. This has worked fine as long as I don't do active things like load groceries or move around too much (I'm not doing that much anyway regardless yet). And it (amazingly) looks just like my other breast. I don't know how I got successful on the first try like that!

I posted a pic of that on one of my other posts. Hopefully this link will work for the photo:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topic/8...