What clothing & helpful items to buy for recovery from surgery?

lotusgdess

I will be having bilateral mastectomy in about a month and wondered if others could recommend what special clothing and helpful items to buy before the surgery that will make the recovery easier. I notice on amazon there are special protective pillows that you can place ice packs in to wear so the car that protect the wound from the car seat belt & things to hold the drainage tubes in the shower. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

MountainMia

Hi lotus,

Here is a link to a long thread of recommendations on this topic.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics...

Good luck with your surgery.

exbrnxgrl

I’d also Iike to add that you can spend a lot of money on specialty items that you won’t use for too long, Special pillow for the car? If you have a small soft pillow at home, that will work quite well. Drain holders for everyday or shower use? There are several easy, cheap ways to take care of this with things you already own. Button down or zip front tops or tops that you can step into and pull up work well. My insurance paid for two post surgical camisoles so I did get those. The specialty items can be useful but most are used for short periods of time (and can be pricey) and you can find good substitutes in things you may already own. All the best!

SpecialK

lotus - I found that I did not need much for surgery, definitely not the plethora of items marketed to people having breast surgery for cancer, but did use a bunch of pillows on my bed and used a lot of lightweight zip up hoodies that I already owned. I received a Home Depot "nail apron" to hold my drains (which I will link) from the hospital in post-op after one surgery - they are great and less than $2, and also used ribbed men's/boy's tank undershirts to pin my drains to. You can wear a hoodie inside out and put the drains in the pockets as well. I would recommend having a cup with a lid - either a Yeti type with a push on lid, or a plastic one with a screw top lid. Pad and paper to note medications times, or use a phone app. One thing I loved and still have and use daily is a lamp dimmer, I will also link below, about $12. Reaching to turn on/off the bedside lamp was uncomfortable so this was really inexpensive and super helpful.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-Canvas-Tool-Apron-HD324655-TH/310338162

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Credenza-Plug-In-Dimmer-for-Incandescent-and-Halogen-White-TT-300H-WH/100001525?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-VF-F_D27E-G-D27E-27_2_WIRING_DEVICES-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-2181312-WF-New_Engen&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_D27E-G-D27E-27_2_WIRING_DEVICES-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-2181312-WF-New_Engen-71700000082410799-58700006989412248-92700062912530183&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp83suNe48gIVBojICh2mEQ2QEAQYAiABEgIrovD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

One thing I will say is using ice on the mastectomy site, particularly if you have reconstruction, may not be a great idea initially. Icing reduces blood flow to the area and can impair healing. If you have reconstruction you need those tiny blood vessels to re-establish, and icing can prevent that. Speak to your surgeon and ask before you purchase something that involves ice.

NotAsCalmAsILook

between the thread referenced and the comments you’ve already received this is covered.

I will add, at my pre-op education appointment they gave me a bigbag of goodies including small pillows and drain holders, so I’m glad I didn’t spend the cash.

exbrnxgrl

Good point specialK on the icing. Most of us iced after biopsies but not sure I’ve seen much on icing after a bmx. Icing was not part of my aftercare instructions. I would definitely ask about that. Take care.

DebAL

Look in your goody bag for a lanyard. I pinned my drains to a lanyard to shower. I stepped into my camis and wore zip up hoodies most of the time. If you are prescribed narcotics remember to pick up a stool softener! I did not ice! Good luck

lotusgdess

Thanks to all for the suggestions in response to my question. I am 73 & do not intend to do reconstruction. Maybe if I was much younger but I understand there is considerable pain involved in reconstruction and I have spoken to several women who say if they had it to do over they wouldn't do it. Plus a couple have said they wish they'd had both breasts taken at the same time so as to cut down on the worry re: the 2nd breast. At my age my primary concern is extending my life for as long as I can. Plus I think if only one breast remained it would be a constant reminder of what was lost. I see breasts as kind of like earrings. They need to match and none is better than just one. But that is just me and like I say if I were younger I might feel differently.

lotusgdess

Thank you so much for your input!

lotusgdess

Good advice! Thanks so much!

lotusgdess

Thanks for your comments!

SuQu31

I bought a few things, none of which were terribly expensive. One was a shower stool (which may people probably have anyway). With double mastectomy, lat flap reconstruction, and a re-excision surgery, I was not able to wash myself or my hair very well for a few weeks. The shower stool made it much easier for my husband to help me.

The other thing I bought that was very helpful was a drain pouch made of netting that tied around my waist. I had four drains for several weeks. My husband and I did not want to be pinning drains to anything. It was on Amazon and was quite inexpensive. Easy to wash and hang to dry after the shower. Highly recommend

Volunteers made drain pouches that were given to me at the hospital and the surgeon’s office. So kind of them! But as someone mentioned above, a good carpenter’s apron does the trick. I hated the tug of those bulbs and drains. The extra pockets were nice for holding my glasses and the tv remote.

Best wishes to you!

SpecialK

After reading SuQu's post above I was reminded of a couple of things - if you don't have a shower stool you can also use an inexpensive plastic outdoor chair, like this one linked. Another useful item is a handheld shower attachment - we have one in our walk-in shower to help with washing the dog - or me! If you don't want to have it permanently you can always attach it and then change back to your usual one. There are very inexpensive ones available. I have had differing sets of instructions depending on the surgery, some surgeons allowed showering, some didn't. For those that didn't wrapping your chest in plastic wrap - like Saran Wrap, mummy style, then using the handheld to wash from the chest down sure made me feel more refreshed than a sponge bath. I used a clean shoelace to string my drains on with the little loops, then wore it tied around my neck, like a necklace.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/White-Penza-Chair/619086433?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&&adid=22222222227402594591&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=489824382601&wl4=pla-1110492739578&wl5=9012120&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=619086433&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4tjpgvy68gIVA52GCh0gcg9IEAQYASABEgIYJfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

lotusgdess

What about a device like this for after surgery recovery? Several of the ratings on amazon indicated that doctors/nurses saw it & thought it was quite clever and useful for patients. Thank you so much for your input! I definitely will get a shower stool.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y1LLP86/?coliid=I11DB...

Or this item? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MVZDZ9/?coliid=IDY90...

SpecialK

It depends on how much money you want to spend for things you will use for a short period of time. The drain bag seems more useful, but many people, particularly if you are not reconstructing, have their drains pulled in a relatively short period of time. You might ask your surgeon how many drains you will have - I had four so probably would not have fit in the belt or pouch, but if you will have two that could work. The pillow seems less useful - not sure about the purpose of having a pillow for the front of you, I would be afraid of the weight on the incisions causing discomfort. I used a very soft feather pillow I already had for the short ride home from the hospital, and used extra bed pillows for propping up in bed to watch TV or read. Honestly, I purchased next to nothing prior to any of the breast cancer related surgeries I have had.

lotusgdess

Thanks for sharing your experience! Can I ask what the medical information below your comment denotes. I'm not sure what the abbreviations etc mean and the info about the 16 additional surgeries etc.

SpecialK

Of course! I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in Nov of 2010, complete axillary clearance surgery a month later due to a positive sentinel node during the BMX, so out of 12 nodes removed 2 of them were positive for cancer. I had issues with reconstruction which has prompted sixteen additional surgeries between Dec of 2010 and June of 2021, mainly due to necrotic skin and impaired healing. That is why I mentioned not using ice! I didn't use it and that is not what caused my problems (thin skin, thin pectoral muscles and a very thorough initial surgery combined to be a perfect storm of trouble!) but I know that ice can cause the same type of problems I encountered. The notation of TCH was the type of chemotherapy regimen I was on, and the other drugs were anti-hormonal drugs I was on for 7.5 years following chemo. I am linking a thread that has an explanation of the acronyms - it is a lot to learn and most people have a bit of trouble at the beginning!

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https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/131/topics/773727?page=1#idx_1

lotusgdess

All of you dear ladies are wonderful for your compassionate input. Special K you REALLY are special. Sounds like you've had some challenges along the way but you seem to have maintained a positive aura. Peace & healing to all!

Dani444

https://www.etsy.com/listing/912477984/gray-pink-hearts-on-flannel-surgerygift

I actually had a friend sew me a couple of these pillows. It was something I found useful, especially when sitting on the couch. The hospital actually gifted me a seatbelt pillow but as others have said you can just use a small soft pillow as well. My friend also sewed me various size pillows in a super soft fabric. I felt like I was sleeping in a pillow fort 😂. But having those and extra bed pillows helped me get comfortable.