Caring for yourself after bilateral mastecomy

I'm not sure if you are having recon or not. My experience is with mx w TE placement. As I understand bmx with no recon has an easier recovery than a bmx with recon. I spent one night in the hospital. I read and read these boards, and I joined the surgery group for the month I was having surgery. Because of this site I knew what to expect. For me the thought of surgery was worse than the actuality of it. My pain was well controlled thanks to a dissolving pain ball. I was on Tylenol only by day three. I was able to walk my dogs around the block on day two with the leash around my waist. I rested when I needed it but generally I was able to care for myself by the 3rd or fourth day. I had to have help washing my hair. My daughter was in nursing school and she helped me with the dressings. I could handle the drains by myself. I have tape allergies too, and within a week I had a raging tape rash. I ended up putting the dressings on with no tape, the ointment made the dressings "stick" , then I took a mans white tee and slit in up the middle and put it on on top of the dressings. I wore a compression garment for four weeks so I put that on top of the tee. I had even become sensitive to the elastic in the compression garment so the cotton next to my skin was ahhhhh.

Best of luck with the surgery. Take care.

I have yet to wear a bra. After surgery, I was in a binder for a couple of weeks, but that was it.

I had a bilateral with expandersJuly 21. I was in surgery for 6 hours, no transfusion, and went home two days later. I was in a lot of pain the second day when they stopped the pump. I also have fibromyalgia so I'm sure that has something to do with it. I am 67 and very active. I'm still on pain meds and muscle relaxer as the muscles tend to spasm or contract in response to surgical trauma. I'm betting if I Didn't have expanders in things would be less painful. My surgeon has stressed not to lift anything heavier than my shoes. Now my care has transferred to my plastic surgeon and he wants me to start doing the exercises in the handbook they give you with pain as the guideline. If it hurts, back off. When it comes to muscles, if you push them too hard they will push back so listen to your body. I have two dogs, one cat and two horses. Other than lying on my lap, no one has been picked up yet and the horses are off limits until I am steadier on my feet. They want to snuggle too. I think you will need some help the first 10 days if for no other reason than to remind yourself that you just had major surgery and aren't superwoman. I haven't worn a bra since except a sports bra. Plastic surgeon suggested it for compression. I hated it because it rubs on the incision sites. Two drains are two to go. Really looking forward to that day. It's the little things

I tried the recliner but using the lever hurt. I ended up in bed with pillows galore. You can order a wedge pillow on Amazon or buy one at Bed Bath and Beyond. I always make sure that I have pillows to prop up my arms.so they are level the rest of my body. It's more comfortable. Since it's impossible for me to sleep on my side, Ijust make sure I have plenty of cushion for back sleeping. You just have to try what works for you.

So you can see what your limitations might be.. get something and tie your arms to your side at the elbow, this will show you what the first week could look like. I had TE's with mine and my biggest issue came from the cancer side where the lymph nodes were removed and I only had 7 removed. I still can't raise either arm completely straight up and my surgery was July 14th.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

My sister had this surgery on Wednesday, bending over does cause pain so your sister will need to care for the yorkie but you may be ok by day 7 as her pain isn't extreme. Tylenol has been sufficient for pain. Tip about buying button down shirts were helpful and the reason they need to be oversized is to have room for the drains underneath. If you have a belt from a terry cloth robe that is useful to put over you neck and pin the drains to while in the shower or instead of pinning them to your shirt. Also using a long piece of ribbon for the same purpose. No blood transfusions. She is in the recliner during the day, sleeping in a bed but not great. She is able to do her drains herself, has needed some help pinning and unpinning them to change and shower but overall is pretty self sufficient.

My sympathy on the taxol, it was not her friend either but she is finally feeling better. Best wishes on your surgery and recovery

I had LMX, was in hospital overnite. I had no pain, just bandages and drains. The drains are the hardest part. I had surgery on Friday, on Saturday I was up in the chair all day until he released me. My daughter came for a week, but I was fine. She emptied my drains, fixed food etc. I slept in recliner for a while because I am a left sided sleeper and I couldnt sleep in my bed. I did a lot of walking around my house to get my energy up. After my stitches were out.. My daughter bought me a genie bra, and I used a knitted knocker so I wasnt lopsided.

Check with your doctor on your limitations, mine said live life as usual. I had no issues with arm movement or raising my arms. My biggest issue: no shower and I could wash my own hair on the 3rd day

Hello georgia67, best wishes to you! I've read the good suggestions you've already gotten. I hope your surgery will go well.

I am 68 and had a mastectomy ( right side) without recon August 1st.

Tape sensitive: for me the tegaderm tape applied after my biopsy hurt when it was removed, so I asked for something for sensitive skin for my i.v.

Bra: I bought a cami with a zip front and pockets for drains. I was not given a surgical bra at the hospital so I wore the cami home.

Yorkie: I don't have a dog, but my cat is a comfort. He seems to know I can't sit on the floor and brush him as I used to.

Sleep: I sleep on the hide-a-bed in the living room. I piled up pillows on my right side so I can't turn right in my sleep. I'm positioned so that I can turn left (good side) to get out of bed.

Bend over: I read a tip to practice squats. I practiced squats all the month of July so I wouldn't have to bend forward. Occasionally I have trouble with vertigo.

Supplies: the nurse gave us paper tape to take home. We bought a box of surgical dressing to cover the drain site.

Arm exercises: the nurse said to start exercises after the drain is removed.

Will your sister be with you when you are discharged from the hospital? The nurse went over a lot of instructions about the drains, etc. with me and gave me handouts to take home. But it was overwhelming and I needed my husband's help to sort it all out at home.

Good luck!

Also, ask your nurses on release day for a go home bag of dressings etc. Mine filled up a huge bag to take home with me.