Period question...I know, i know

Well, the silver lining is that maybe the pain meds will help with the menstrual cramps. I was able to shower the day after surgery but I think every doctor is different. I would think they would want you to wear a pad in the hospital. Even with way sore chestand arms I could have managed a tampon the second day. First time getting up to pee though I needed help pulling up my underwear and wiping. After that I was ok. Just make sure all your supplies are out and where you can reach them. Getting into the back of a cabinet would have been difficult

For the surgery, the hospital provided their own underpants and pad once I told them I had my period. (Got it right on the day of surgery, wouldn't you know). The nurses also appreciated the heads-up after surgery, since they were the ones checking my urine. For what it's worth, my flow was a lot less than usual.

I had my period during my lumpectomy. It came a week early I think because of stress, just in time, lol. Yup, you can't wear a tampon in surgery, that's a huge no-no. Just tell your pre-op nurse and they will give you a horrifically large pad to wear with those mesh hospital panties that they give you post-partum. It's totally not a big deal and they see it all the time....I stressed about it and really shouldn't have.

If you think you might have trouble staying clean and not being able to shower, how about some baby wipes for down there? That's what I would do, I think.