How much physical help will I need after double mastectomy?

I had bmx. I didn’t need any help with toilet. Put everything you use frequently at counter height. Coffee, mugs, etc. Food items. Have a grabber in case. Reaching above your head will be difficult have med bottle lids loose. Plan on a few nights in the recliner. Getting out of bed can be “interesting “. Have a small pillow for under the seatbelt on ride home. Button or zip shirts for a few days at least. I had very little pain, Tylenol took care of that. If you have drains, a lanyard to hold them when you are allowed to shower.

regarding the bowel vacation, I highly recommend prunes. Take a bag to the hospital. I ate 2-4 every meal and it was much more helpful than any pill that was offered for bringing the bowels back to work.

OK ladies I am having this done April 1' 2019. ? how long did your drain tubes stay in?

It depends on your output, which you will measure and record the measurement each you empty the drain bulb. I had mine in for 10 days, but you will find that this varies from person to person. Most do not find the drains painful, just annoying and sometimes inconvenient. Best of luck

I am 18 days out single mastectomy. My drain was removed in 7 days. I'm very small boned and the drain was pushing against my ribs, making it uncomfortable, but not painful. The surgeon had me wrap with a large ace bandage due to seroma forming after the fact. Fact is I'm still wrapped at night, taking a break a couple hours each day. Since my breast was an A cup, the drainage seemed to drop off fairly quickly. As someone else mentioned, as I try to to my housework, etc., that's when the fluid built up, mostly around ribs. The surgeon said she does not aspirate it as the risk of infection is high. I looked for posts about wrapping and if it's truly beneficial this far out and did not find any info. Best wishes for a complete and quick recovery....

lighteningblue

You shouldn’t need help in the bathroom. Although I did have my husband stay close the first day I showered. I was allowed to shower 2 days after BMX and was actually encouraged to do so by my PS. I just felt weak at that juncture and a little scared to be alone if I passed out -which I didn’t!!

I felt the biggest struggle was getting myself out of bed (my bed sets high ) So preferably you are in a low bed so you can kinda roll off or I put a step stool next to my high bed and got my feet on the floor and pushed up with the stool. You need to learn to use your core muscles more so not to be weight bearing on the upper body. Does that make sense? So when you have to get up off the loo you are mostly pushing off with the feet.

My arms were able to reach overhead by the end of the first week. But Spookiesmom has some good ideas on keeping things counter height and pill bottles open if you don’t have someone with you 24/7! You can’t be lifting heavy water bottles or jugs either, so keep that in mind because you need to drink a lot!!

I was not in bed 24/7 at all ; in fact I spend my day in the hospital in the lounge chatting with family and other visitors. When I got home I walked a lot in the house.

I didn’t get backed up that badly. But if you do don’t bother with Colase. Go right to Senekot!!

Wishing you an easeful procedure and speedy healing! I know it’s scary, but you will feel so much better once that surgery is over... that’s how I felt, yup like I did it! I’m stronger than I thought!

🤗👍

Pretty much same as everyone else. I had a double, came home next day. No issue with taking care of myself with toilet etc. I propped myself up with pillows on my bed and took it slow getting up. I did my stretches every day and was moving my arms up above my head in no time. Also day after I was walking down the block to 7-11, albeit slowly but everyday little by little