How much help did you need and for how long?

Each patient is diiferent.... their pain level, general health prior to surgery, if lymph nodes are removed, if drains are present and other factors. I would ere on the side of caution and line up helpful volunteers but realize you may be pleasantly surprised to learn no additional help is needed. best wishes for a speedy recovery!

A couple things: Does your insurance cover a traveling nurse? I had one that came to help with drains and changing bandages etc....Drains are usually in for 4 to 6 weeks and will need to be tended to three times a day. Not really something a friend or neighbor should do.

Secondly, this is such a personal decision. Some people would love the company and/or extra help of someone to help with cleaning or cooking. Others find this more exhausting and prefer to have complete privacy. You also have the in between. Ask you wife how she feels about someone being with her and how often.

Hope this helps.

Today is the sixth anniversary of my mastectomy! I'd completely forgotten until facebook showed me a memory photo of my brother, husband, and me touring a botanical garden, all of us bald as eggs.

I needed no help and would have found a babysitter annoying. The mastectomy was outpatient surgery--checked in at 6:30 and was home by noon. My surgeon did say that if I'd had a bilateral mastectomy I might want to stay overnight, but I was very happy to go home after the unilateral mx. I got a pedicure the next day. I was riding my bike (slowly and carefully) in five days. The drains came out in about a week, and I was back at work after ten days.

But...we are all different. You know your wife better than we do. Children in the house? How does she handle stressful situations? Physical pain? Alone time? Do medical things distress her? There's no physical reason she can't manage the drains herself, but all of these factors affect recovery from surgery.

It is so nice that you are asking. I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and had no problem doing most day-to-day things for myself. My husband wanted to be helpful with the drains, but that was his choice -- he wanted to feel useful. I have a place where I can get my hair washed, but if I couldn't, I am sure I would want him to do it.

Just wanted to check in. Had my BMX one year ago today. No recon. Can't believe how different today is from last year. And how fast the year has gone!!! It's been a while since I've been on the boards.

I didn't need too much help after the initial 3 or 4 days, but my sx wasn't as severe as many - modified radical with no LN's removed. So, as MX's go, relatively undramatic . Worst part for me was the hydromorphone for pain (of which there was none - had a pectoral nerve block - DEE-lightful!! I highly recommend it if you have the option.). Hydro made me nauseous and vomiting for the next 24-36 hours. Once that subsided I was in pretty good shape. I had some help for the first week, then I was on my own. But was really able to be self-reliant within about 4 days. Getting step-stools and putting things I would need daily at counter-top level helped. And do your stretches!!! It's amazing how quickly your mobility can come back if you do that wee bit 4, 5, 6 times a day (basically whenever the urge strikes you!). I was driving in a week (had to drive my "support-staff" back to the airport!) and the drains also out in a week.

Everyone recovery is going to be different. Depends a lot on your surgeon and your surgery I think. Mine was pretty straight forward, my BS is awesome (still checks me out every 3 months) and I was in great shape very quickly. Back to work in 3 weeks. But recon, LN's &, & ,& can add to the recovery.