After double mastectomy question

Deamo1

I will have my surgery in 1 week. I have so many questions. If I may ask a more sensitive question, is it possible to care for your bathroom needs after the surgery? Will I be able to clean myself? I know I'll have problems lifting my arms but what about the bathroom? Did you have trouble? What will I have trouble doing? Thank you for understanding.

Icietla

Hi Deamo. This page and also the content linked therein should have lots of the type information you want to help get yourself prepared.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/71/topics/861298?page=1#top

You will want pull-on pants or jammie bottoms with an elasticized waistband that will permit you to pull your pants (or jammie bottoms) up and down easily with your thumbs. You will be able to wipe yourself. Depending on the resistance of the flushing lever, you will likely be able to flush your commode. Depending on your height, you might want some packaged towelettes for washing your hands and face for a time.

If the hospital does not provide you with some recovery garments having drain pouches or pockets, you will want loose (plenty roomy) tops opening at the front, having loose armholes, and having patch pockets on the front side to carry your drains. You will want to wear the tops inside-out so your drains and their hoses are carried inside the tops, where the hoses are less likely to get caught/snagged/pulled by inadvertence.

Snickersmom

Deamo1 - I had a BMX last year and it was much easier than I thought it would be. I was uncomfortable for a week or so but not really any pain. I had no problem with using the toilet or wiping myself. The hardest thing for me was taking a shower (you can't until a couple of days after surgery) because you will have drains and you need something to hold them. Your hospital should, hopefully, give you a kind of camisole that closes in the front, and that has drain holders on each side. But before your surgery, I recommend you get in touch with your local American Cancer Society office and ask if they have any kind of drain holders. I sent away for Pink Pockets and they can get them to you pretty fast, I think. Just google Pink Pockets and you should be able to find them. I have several at home but we are traveling and there's no way I could get them to you before next week.

so back to your questions. There wasn't much I couldn't do for myself, as I stayed in a nightgown or pajamas for the first week or so until my drains came out at my post-op appointment> You will have to be careful reaching over your head, picking up heavy stuff, etc. but they should give you a list of things you shouldn't do. I was also sent to the lymphodema clinic, once before surgery and once afterward. They will also tell you what not to do. My husband and I put a couple of lightweight plastic dinner and lunch plates, coffee mug, glass, etc. on the counter so that I could get them easily if he wasn't home. We also had a cleaning lady come in every other week for about 2 months just to take care of the floors and bathrooms.

Just baby yourself and let yourself be waited on if possible. I found that the physical part was nothing but I am still dealing with the emotional and psychological aspects. I thought that at 70, I would have no problem dealing with the whole thing but that has not been the case. So if you find that you are having trouble emotionally, tell your doctors. They will help you with that, either through medication or counseling. I have both.

Are you having any reconstruction? I opted not to bother and I don't regret the decision. It has taken some adjustment, but I think I do pretty well with it. I'm comfortable wearing the occasional sports bra when needed. Otherwise, I go flat and I absolutely love not tugging at a bra, feeling the sweat run down between my boobs, etc. I live in florida, so that was always an issue for me.

Well, I didn't mean to write a book! I wish I had been smart enough to ask the questions you've asked before I had surgery. You will do just fine. You will be in my prayers; please keep posting here so we know how you are doing. And don't be afraid to ask questions!!!!

Ann

Deamo1

Thank you Icietla! Great info!

Deamo1

Thank you Snickersmom! You are so kind. This is just the info I need. No reconstruction. I feel the same way you do (I'm 62) You can "write a book" anytime!

hapi2bee

Snickersmom just about covered everything. I had a BMX with 6 nodes removed in March. Had no trouble in the bathroom and showering was easy as long as I bent over to wash my hair. I did take a pair of polyester satin PJs to the hospital with me and put them on immediately after surgery in fact I wore the PJ top home the next day. They made getting in and out of bed in the hospital and at home a lot easier you slide. I had a few pairs at home and pretty much lived in them as they were oversized and slid easily over bandages and my body. They make me feel good too and at 73 I'll take all of that I can get. Do take it easy tho, I found naps to be a good friend.

ksusan

Toilet will be okay. Some good suggestions already in this thread. You may need help showering and dressing the first few weeks.

NotVeryBrave

All excellent advice. I had no problems with wiping after using the toilet but needed a little help for the first couple of days with just getting up and down. We put a plastic chair in the shower and installed a handheld faucet there as well. I had my drains pinned to my surgical bra. For showers - I just pinned them to a lanyard I wore around my neck.

Deamo1

Great advice NotVeryBrave! I will be doing this for showers.

Runrcrb

deamo1,

You can use a shoestring or other string for drains. The drains will have a loop and you can run the string through it and then tie it around you neck while you shower

Deamo1

Runrcrb You gals have the best ideas! Thanks

IntegraGirl

I had BMX last August and I could do all aspects of self care from the beginning. The drains are a massive pain. I used baby wipes for those times I didn’t feel like managing the drains in the shower. I bought a couple of garments especially for post BMX that had pockets for the drains. Great purchase!

Have clothes you don’t need to put over your head because you won’t be able to raise your arms.

Good luck