What size wedge for post-surgery sleeping

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TriplePositiveP
TriplePositiveP Member Posts: 20
edited January 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I am scheduled for a lumpectomy/oncoplasty Monday Feb 1st, following neoadjuvant chemo that ended 12/29/15. I had a rough time during chemo (vomiting was the worst SE) then was hospitalized last weekend with an infection, so I am just now starting to think about surgery.

Surgery will involve lift and reduction of non-cancerous breast and repositioning of remaining breast tissue in cancerous breast after lumpectmy. They cannot estimate post-surgery size, so not sure how to shop for a front-closure sports bra that does NOT compress.

What height wedge should I purchase for post-surgery reclining/sleeping? 12 inches?

Is a neck pillow helpful and if so, what style works best?

Regular pillows under each arm?

Had a pre-surgery appt to see drains, still not sure I understand how best to position them while sleeping to avoid a pinching feeling. Nurse said they were hoping to have a "belt" by the time of my surgery, but if they don't what should I look for on amazon? Are there photos on this website of post-surgical aids?

Realize that I have no button front tops except for a few flannel PJ tops. It sounds like there is The potential for messy leakage that makes having more than 2 tops a requirement, yes? Long sleeves or short sleeves? Fabric? (Have read that silky makes movement easier, but sounds so cold).

Thanks in advance. I am not accustomed to feeling this unprepared for anything.

P.S. I could not find a way to make my dx & treatments visible to members only. It looks like there is no option for that with signature either.

I am triple positive, dx july 29 2015

Left, IDC 2cm grade 3

Left, DCIS 4cm grade 3

TCHP neoadjuvant 09/14/15 - 12/29/15 (herceptin only started 01/20/16)


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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited January 2016

    I used whatever size bed wedge that Bed Bath and Beyond had. That gave me a good angle. You may want bed pillows under your arms,, especially if that will help you sleep on your back.

    I didn't have a pinching feeling with drains,,, if they don't give you a belt,, you can pin them to your shirt or put in pockets of a hoodie,,, or get a nail belt at Home Depot,,, they have 3 pockets and are just a couple of dollars. good for holding up to 3 drains.

    Cotton button front tops from Walmart.

    Hope this is helpful. Wishing you all the best.

    glennie

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited January 2016

    I ended up skipping the wedge pillow. I did get a neck pillow and found it to be really helpful. I'm a side sleeper, so sleeping on my back was hard. I used a second pillow under my head and the neck pillow. I put a bolster (cylinder) under my knees, and small soft pillows on each side for my arms, which kept the pressure off the drains. I also found a sleep mask very helpful.

    I bought some really cheap tank tops at Old Navy, and I could pin the drains to them. They were large enough that I could step into them. I also was sent home with surgery bras that had velcro loops for the drains. I bought a couple of very large, inexpensive button front shirts and lived in them for a few weeks.

    Since you had a rough time with chemo, I will tell you something positive. I also had neoadjuvant chemo, and even though the recovery from surgery was not painless, I still felt a sense of well-being that I came to realize was simply being done with chemo! It was great. I hope that happens for you. Good luck!

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  • TriplePositiveP
    TriplePositiveP Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2016

    thanks glennie19 and rainnyc! standard neck pillow shaped like a U and filled with buckwheat?

    are long sleeves manageable for the shirts?

    i am a side sleeper too, so really appreciate your suggestions, thanks!

    i think i remember the PA saying I could get a shower within 3 days (before drains are removed)--hard to imagine accomplishing that...

    yes, it IS a relief having chemo behind me, as i think that was the worst part for me!

    thanks again

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited January 2016

    I think my neck pillow was filled with foam. Whatever it was, it felt great.

    Yes, long-sleeved shirts are fine as long as they button up the front. That's what I had. It was warm when I had my surgery. If I were having it now, I'd also wear a cardigan. And many people swear by hoodies.

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