what do i need to have on hand

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kerry32
kerry32 Member Posts: 125
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
what do i need to have on hand
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  • kerry32
    kerry32 Member Posts: 125
    edited January 2008

    I just got my surgery date today and it's in 2 weeks.  I am having a bilateral mast.  so what do i need to have on hand in terms of clothes, bras?/prosth?  - or anything else you think i can gather to be prepared.  also i'm not having reconstruction.

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2008



    Hi Kerry,



    Sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.



    I had bilateral mastectomies. From the hospital, you'll be coming home with a bra which also is a bandage and a drain on each side, most likely. So, loose clothes that button up rather than pull over, and loose pants, easy to pull on. Comfort clothes. They usually send you home with two of these extra wide bras, which take the pressure off the surgical site and protect the area.



    The drains come out when the fluid from the the mastectomy is low: this can vary and sometimes after the drains are pulled, the fluid re-accumulates but is easily drained in your surgeons office. So while there a nuisance, the longer their in and getting rid of the fluid the better in a way.



    Showering is possible if your surgeon approves: those white garbage bags with a hole in the tope can be pulled over the bandaged area and drain bags carefully placed to avoid skin pulling. Nothing like warm water. But sometimes you just have to bed bath until you get the formal o.k.



    Anesthesia has variable affects on our GI track so some stool softener, or Citrocel or what ever may be wise. Pain pills with narcotics often cause a slow GI track too.



    One last point: when you arrive home, have the individual helping you exchange your clothes to "clean" loose clothes, and put the hospital clothes in the wash. Then you don't carry potential germs into your house and particularly bed/bath room.



    Welcome again. You'll find great support here. I wish you the very best on your surgery.



    Tender

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  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited January 2008

    Kerry32, sorry to hear you had to join the b/c posts.  Although you have found the site where you can ask just about anything and get all kinds of info and support.

    I had a mast to one side.  As said, you will have a surgi-style bra or wrap on as you awake from surgery.  They do make a camisole that has pouches to hold your drain or as I did we just pinned it to the inside of a large fleece top.

    You will want a top that you don't have to raise your arms to put on.   I also really enjoyed my Ipod at the hospital. 

    As far as prothesis goes, I am about 2 mo out from surgery and I have just started thinking about a fitting for one.  My surgery site has taken a while to feel like you would want something foreign touching it.   

    As you snoop through the post you will see many others starting their journey too, you will get through this!!!

    Carol

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited January 2008

    Hi Kerry,

    If you check out my website, BreastFree.org, you'll find a section called "Post-Surgical Interim Solutions," which offers suggestions for items that will make things easier following surgery. Not all hospitals provide bras or other garments, so it's best to be prepared ahead of time.

    Hope this helps!

    Barbara 

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  • lewisfamily503
    lewisfamily503 Member Posts: 621
    edited January 2008

    Hi Kerry! I just wanted to add that if your doctor approves showers, a great way to "wrap" yourself up to avoid water is to use Press and Seal Wrap. It works really well and maybe you'll be lucky like me and find some "festive" wrap with snowmen and santa claus and reindeer LOL!!



    Good luck with your surgery and recovery!



    Anne



    Oh, make sure you have some soft pillows to protect you from the seat belt on the car ride home and I also got a body pillow for my bed which I still just love!!!

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  • lovetogarden
    lovetogarden Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2008

    Hi Kerry! I was allowed to shower the next day when I got home. Just not soak the site. I took a leg from a pair of panty hose and tied it in a loop, hung it around my neck, the drains had clips on them so I clipped them to the panty hose. Better then letting them dangle and pull. When done I just hung it in the shower to dry and use the next time.

    I also wore my hubby's old button down short sleeved shirts. But that was in July don't know what Id wear in this cold weather.

    Good luck, we'r pulling for ya!

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  • Laura-Vic
    Laura-Vic Member Posts: 72
    edited January 2008

    Hi Kerry ... good to plan ahead. I too had a bilateral mastectomy - September 2007. Like the other ladies have said, things that do up in the front are great - zippered hoodies, button shirts and loose pants with elastic waist (easy to pull up) are great.



    Haven't heard about the bra from the hospital - I didn't have that. The bandages were actually pretty easy to address. My surgeon told me that as long as there was no seepage, I could leave them off after 36 hours to allow the air to help with the healing. I was only in the hospital some 24 hours and then home. I was allowed to shower 48 hours post surgery as long as I did not directly soak the wounds. I did have a drain. I tied 2 shoe laces together and pinned the drain onto them around my neck. The drain has a pin (like a safety pin) which clipped to my underwear and/or top - depending on your comfort.



    My other suggestion - keep some glasses / dishes on top of the counter. Reaching into cupboards will not be easy - good exercise but not easy at first.



    Make sure you have some cream that your surgeon approves ... sometimes the tape can irritate your skin.



    As someone else said too ... the anaesthetic and pain meds can cause constipation. Make sure you are eating fibre and/or taking some stool softeners so that there is no "additional" pain with passing stool.



    Do try to eat as well as you can ... keeping your body strong will help healing and will also help your body prepare for the road ahead - be it chemo or radiation or something different.



    Go slow, take care and do the exercises ... getting your mobility back is important and will also help your mental wellbeing.



    Think positive ... I was pleasantly surprised at how little true pain there was in the bilateral mastectomy.



    PS - don't worry about the prosthetics just yet ... I was about 3 months before I thought about it. Having had a large chest pre-surgery, I'm enjoying the freedom of the surgery - ha !!!



    Laura in Victoria, BC Canada

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited January 2008

    Another good idea is to ask your doctor for your post surgery meds prior to going to the hospital so they can be filled early, and prevent a stop at the drug store on the way home from surgery. And when filling the prescriptions, get non-child-proof caps. I had to send my husband back to the drug store and change the caps, getting the child-proof caps off are frustrating!

    Sheila

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  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited January 2008

    Kerry, all of the above ....and my fav.. my DH made sure the grocery shopping was done, and meals were easy or brought by friends.. things that wil be difficult, laundry , shopping, pull over tops, SEAT BLETS... lifting reaching, and my all time favorite.. simply flushing the toilet... owwww....

    Good luck and being prepared is the best

    hugs MB

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