Immediately following surgery

You will need button down tops and I also used zip up sweat shirts. I don't think it matters the first days after surgery whether you are having recon. or not as to what you may need. There are several post that give a shopping list of what you need to get before surgery. You will be bandaged but I can't remember for how long. You also can prepare your home. Put things you need on a lower shelf- like a glass for water or a mug for coffee since you will have limited range of motion following surgery.

Hi Densie!

It's good that you are prepared.  I thought I was.  I researched everything about my diagnosis, knew what a mastectomy involved, but somehow missed the chapter on recovering.

Seems like every hospital is different, so check with your surgeon's office.  I woke up from surgery wearing a surgical bra stuffed with surgical pads.  They gave me an extra bra to take home with me.  My BS told me not to change bras or pads until he saw me a week later (I ended up seeing him the next day because of drain problems and he changed all the pads inside the bra).  

Button up shirts and sweat pants were a must.  Anything tight bothered me. The drains were a huge pain in my recovery and once the last one came out, recovery sped up.   Again, check with your BS to find out how long he/she keeps the drains in (some take them out after a certain # of days, some after the fluid is down to a certain amount).  I had my last drain in 4 weeks and was not able to shower until it came out.  I ordered waterless shampoo, disposable bath wipes and made sure I had lots of washclothes and hand towels ready.

Drains...I had a little station set up in my bathroom for the care of my drains.  A box of paper towels, measuring cups (hospital provided), alcohol wipes (makes it much easier to strip the tubes that are attached to the drains), notebook and pen to keep track of fluid levels. Oh, buy some extra tape just in case you need to re-tape the area over your drains.  I used the paper tape since I seem to have developed allergies to adhesives.

I had bottles of hand sanitizer all over the house plus pillows everywhere.  I got in the habit of surrounding myself with pillows, not only for comfort, but made me feel more secure that no one (human or cat lol) would accidentally bump me in my chest.  

I developed a rash where the elastic from the surgical bra touched my skin so I had to start wearing men's cotton sleeveless undershirts (muscle shirts).  I still wear them today.  Hubby got tired of me stealing his so I went out and bought my own package. 

Before surgery, my hubby insisted that I buy new bath towels.  I bought these huge fluffy towels...that I cannot use.  They are so heavy that it hurt my arms to use them to dry myself.  I went back to my old worn old, but light weight, towels. 

Everyone recovers differently...my recovery was much harder and took longer than I expected it would.  I found myself getting very frustrated over the amount of pain I was in (when my BS told me I should be feeling better), or the lack of arm movement I had, or just not feeling like myself.  Day by day I realized things were getting better, I was feeling better, I was doing more and feeling good.

I hope your surgery goes well and your SN are clean!  Feel free to PM me anytime.

gentle hugs,

Cats 

I woke up with a giant Ace bandage wrapped around me so tight I thought my arms would fall off! That stayed on for a week, and at my Post-Op appt, the surgeon took it off, examined the sutures, and put another giant Ace bandage back on me.

I bought those expensive camisoles with the pockets for drains and never used them.  I just used diaper pins to pin my drain bulbs to my bandage.

Ditto on the "drain station" in the bathroom. Have everything ready to go.

Never used anything in the overnight bag I took to the hospital. Wore a button front short nightgown home so that I wouldn't have to pull pajama bottoms up and down in the bathroom.

Finally switched to satin jammies that made it easier to slide out of bed.

The other thing I did was to NEVER touch my sutures, and NEVER put on a piece of clothing or use a towel that wasn't freshly laundered. A small obsession, but I like to think it helped.

The thing that was hard for me to grasp was the fact that in the beginning, I would need these things temporarily, but eventually, I would be healed enough to wear regular clothes. That sure didn't take long. I've been wearing Tshirts for weeks now, and my BMX/recon was 11 weeks ago.

Hi - I just had bilateral mastectomy without recon on Feb. 13th - doing amazingly well.  I just read the above posts and have had a little different experience (other than the drains - they are just a nuisance but they were out in a week and I could shower 48 hrs. after surgery).  I have a list of things to do/ask for/prepare that I have compiled to give to the next woman I meet who is going through this.  Not sure how to get you my email address but if you're comfortable with that I will send it to you.  It will be important to have a strong core (abs) for getting yourself out of bed - I feel that made a big difference.  I slept with pillows underneath my knees and lower legs because you will be sleeping on your back for at least a week. Get some cheap bandanas and sew pockets in your shirts for the drains - just hand stitch them in because you won't need them after the drains are out!  Buy a set of wide, 45" long shoe strings (I got mine at Target) - you will tie one around your neck and then pin the drains to it when you sleep at night or take a shower - you don't necessarily have to purchase anything with pockets since you won't need it after about a week or so when the drains come out.  So much more to tell you - will ask the moderators how I can get you my list.  All my best - if you have the Lord on your side you will also be in a much better place!!!  Blessings to you!!

Also a lamp with a switch on the cord beside your bed or recliner would be useful. An old fashioned back scratcher would be useful for those now hard to reach itches.

Yay, Denise!

Glad you are home and doing well....big (gentle)  hugs to you!!!

I am 15 days post op from left breast mastectomy. I got two Velcro front Camis with 8 inside pockets. Unfortunately my surgeon uses a large disc type drainage container, and the cami only fit the bulb type drains. I left the hospital with nothing but basic gauze and tape dressing over my drain sites, and my mastectomy site was open to air aside from the steri strips. I've lived in the Camis. I just pin the disc drain to my cami. It's bulky and cumbersome but it is what it is. I wish I found a solution to dealing with the other breast that is flopping around! Haha good luck!

the link to the shopping list doesn't work

I did not know you could not wear a breast form for months after surgery?  How do you go back to work?  I am so scared.

lbrewer,

One more thing. I tried the Shopping List link from the Mods and it did work for me. Another way to get there is to go the Surgery forum here on the Discussion Boards--http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91. The Shopping List is one of the permanent threads (with a thumb tack icon next to it). Good luck!