MASTECTOMY MEETUP

goingcrazy - thanks for starting the thread, great idea! Exercise - I agree with the others any ab exercise is great. I did pilates and yoga for a month before and it really helped. Just getting in and out of bed is hard without arm use.

I had BMX 6 weeks ago. Like some of you I did not have reconstruction and I am pleased with my decision. So glad to be almost done with this chapter!

Regarding the pain factor, my hospital offered a nerve block. It sounds like it may be rather new in some areas, you might ask about it. It involved two needle pokes (think IV poke) below collarbone area one on each side before wheeling me into the operating room. I woke up with no pain and didnt have REAL pain at any time after. Took tylenol and a pain pill a few times. Here is a link someone gave me after my surgery, lots of great info. tps://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics/834546?page=2#top

What to wear after surgery. I have something similar to this https://www.amazon.com/Amoena-Womens-Hannah-Post-Surgery-Cam camisole that opens in the front (so important!) and has pockets for the drains and pockets to insert soft foobs if you like. Knitted Knockers fit in the pockets too. Personally the cami was comfortable for me right after surgery and I continue to wear it.

Drains - I was surprised to wake up with 4 drains but some doctors do 2 or 3 it just depends. Some hospitals give you something to help you "wear" the drains. Some only give safety pins and you pin the drains onto your clothing. I would ask the doctor/hospital now so you can prepare. There are a lot of good options even if you dont have the cami with drain pockets. My cami only had holders for 2 drains, I wish I'd asked questions beforehand! I sewed something that was like a small apron with pockets, someone I know bought a kids home depot apron with pockets and used that. If you google mastectomy drain holders there are some good options.

I had double mastectomy 6 years ago, I guess.  Doctor only wanted to do a lumpectomy, but my mind said, get rid of any chance of repeat....  I had chemo first, then double mast, then radiation.  I got my prosthesis, but I can list on one hand how many times I have worn it.  I admit, that looking for clothes is a difficult endeavor, if it is for fancy events.  I had a dress altered for my first daughter's wedding.  I was flat.  I couldn't find what I wanted for my 2nd daughter's wedding, so I wore my fakes, and picked out a dress, and wore them for her wedding.  Being a large woman, it is frustrating buying clothes. I guess, all clothes designers think large women have ALWAYS got,  large breasts.  Oh well.  My every day life doesn't require nice clothes.  My horses don't care if I have boobs or not.  I have noticed that rarely (if ever) has anyone noticed I have no breasts.  I have had to point it out to some.  I met a lady and became friends with her, not noticing, she was "just like me" -  it is only "big chested" ladies that get noticed for their chest.  I love to laugh, and I am frequently heard telling people... I ain't got no boobs.   I still would do the same if given the choice again.   In my first riding experience after surgery, I had to stop my horse and laugh.  I was asked why I was laughing so hard, and I told them.  My boobs don't bounce, but my belly does!!!!!!   Men's shirts help, since they have no darts.  I specifically look for "no darts"....  

Have a good day, and have a good laugh... you will be glad you did!

I had my BMX with no recon on 11/15. I've had no pain, just sore, numbness, and some discomfort from the compression garment. The drains are annoying and make you sore, but doable. I wish someone had told me the blue dye would turn my pee blue. At least when I saw it, I figured that's what it probably was! I also wasn't prepared for the area of numbness to be so large. I thought it would only be in the armpit and across the breast area. I have little feeling in my upper chest and parts of my back too. I thought I would really break down when I saw it, but I didn't. The surgeon did a great job and it is FLAT, just like I wanted. I don't see any extra skin or dog ears.

.....

My surgery is scheduled for December 8th, the day before yours. I also was diagnosed with IDC, 1 cm, ER + PR+ , HER2-. I'm really struggling with the waiting for 3 more weeks and very nervous about the surgery/recovery. I haven't been in the hospital since my last baby 14 years ago. I'm usually fine doing the day when I'm busy but at night my mind starts to think of all the worst case scenarios while I'm trying to fall asleep. I'm trying to figure out if I should have a UMX or a BMX. Still waiting on genetic tests to come back and a meeting with my oncologist to discuss potential treatment options. I'm hoping that having my 2 college kids coming home next week and celebrating Thanksgiving with my family will take my mind off all this for a little bit. Right now I'm leaning toward a BMX so I don't have to worry about the other breast in the future but it seems like my mind changes everyday. This website is very comforting to know that other people are experiencing the same diagnoses, doing well and moving on with life. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery. I'll be praying for all of us gals going through BC surgery in December.

I have a recovery bra question for previous unIlateral mastectomy ladies:

I am wondering what my next step will be after I am able to lose the compression tube top I wore home from the hospital, which I need to keep wearing until my 2 week post op visit, at least. After that, is a front closing regular bra with a knitted knocker a good idea? Or do I need something special? Extra soft? Does it just depend on how it fits and where it rubs so it isn't right on the incision?

All this time I just assumed I would use my old bras but I can see now that a front closure would be better until I have my full range of motion again. Thoughts?

Hey Icantri

My SO would not let me wear a bra for about six weeks. I wore a camisol with a velcro closure and just went flat. By the time he let me wear a bra I had my full range of motion back. I went to Hands of Hope Cancer Boutique at our local hospital and they fitted me for a bra with a prosthetic insert which my insurance paid for. They had a wide variety of bras.

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Goincrazy - Yea for a recliner and button ups!! Its so hard waiting these last days and wondering what to expect, hang in there.

You might ask your doctor or hospital, some people have mentioned being provided soft forms after surgery. My hospital did not provide any so I ordered them from here TLC breast form. They goes inside the pockets of the after MX cami, some camis come with them. I still wear the cami and breast forms all the time, super comfy. Will get fitted for the "real" prosthetic soon but in no hurry, the soft ones are fine. The knitted knockers are a tiny bit heavier than the soft breast form so I havnt worn those much yet.

Maybe you'll be comfortable going flat from the get go. Personally I feel more comfortable/normal wearing just a little something, thats just me right now. And also the added padding over the incision made me feel better when in crowds worried about a stray elbow, hugging someone, carrying the squirming cat etc.

I did not receive breast forms or a cami--rather, I had a flat binder. It would be useful to ask your surgeon's office what to expect.

I used an oversized medical scrub vest with pockets for my 4 drains.

My BS got me a Softee CAMI while I was in hospital, I was also given 4 mastectomy pillows (they are amazing), and an apron to wear for my drains. I cant believe all the stuff I got, I was pleasantly surprised. I was also larger breasted, but I was given an XL and it fits great, plenty of room. Look up Softee Roo online .

My surgery of L UMX was on Nov. 9th. Neither the surgeon or hospital gave me anything other than a safety pin. My husband took off his shirt and gave it to me to wear home with the drain in the pocket. He wore his tshirt home.

I had hubby buy me a few men's flannel shirts for my post op days at home. They were about $11 each at Wallyworld. I also had a couple of PJs with button down tops. The recliner was my best friend for a week. Make sure your recliner handle is on your "good" side. Then I decided I needed to try and lay in the bed because I didn't like all the noise hubby made around 5:30 getting ready for work. I do have a bed that elevates and it has been a help. Just in the past few days I have been able to come off my back and spend at least part of the night on my side. I can "almost" lie on my tummy but only for a few minutes.

My range of motion is still off but I will get there. At least I can get my shirts off overhead now and am not limited to button down. I have a front closure bra that I have worn since my 1st post op appointment 8 days after the surgery. I have tried wearing a back closure bra, with 2 bra extenders even, and they still are not comfy enough to keep on. I hope to get fitted for my prosthesis in a couple of weeks before the year ends.

Looking back I almost wish I had been brave enough to g get a proph. MX on the right side. Then I could go flat flat if I chose to. Also wearing foobs would be easier to match. Because I am an older woman my remaining breast sags and it looked very odd to put in a knitted knocker (or something similiar) on one side and have it nice and perky while the other side drooped. Anyone have any good solutions for that? Right now I had a little fill to my nonflat side to get it a little less saggy.

Melinda, what is a mastectomy pillow?

~Heidi