Topic: After Mastectomy, what items will come in handy?

 I had mastectomy with TE and here is what I needed:

Extra pillows.  You'll need propping everywhere.

Get one of those neck, donut shaped travel pillows too.  You'll have to sleep sitting up at first and that will help a LOT.

Have some meals pre-made.  You won't be able to lift anything for a while, even a casserole dish.  At last, I can't.  If your husband isn't a cook, he can just pop one in the oven.

Baggy button up tops that will hide drains,  and sweat pants you can slip on.  Men's wifebeater shirts in a large size so you can put them on from bottom up - you can pin drains to them.

You won't be moving a lot at first, so books, DVDs, magazines, whatever sedentary thing you like to do.

I had a right mastectomy so I am sleeping so that my left arm can reach my bed stand.  I pulled it out so I can reach it and I have water, pain meds, chapstick, iPhone and kindle reader there so everything is handy.  Sleeping sitting up isn't the easiest thiing  so you'll want stuff by your side - again, at last I did.

Thanks ladies. I am starting my list. All my best to you! xo

CoolBreeze, are you glad you had the TE put in?

I'm scheduled for that, but not sure about it. :-0

dmorgan,

I don't know about being glad I had the expander put in - it's not exactly comfortable.  But, I definitely wanted reconstruction and because of my body style, it's the only kind I could have.  Recovery would be easier without it, I think. 

For me, not having some sort of reconstructed breast just isn't an option so I will live with the discomfort.

Large sweaters.  I was healing very well and had plenty of energy to return to work and my regular busy schedule but the drain that I had to cover for almost three weeks required borrowing large sweaters.  

Did anyone buy a mastectomy camisole and was it worth it??

Dmorgan-I will let you know the date. Please keep me informed about your recovery!

Yes, all great things to have.

 I just want to add that a fanny pack is handy to put your drains in - hides the drains nicely if you have visitors or go out and about before the drains have been removed. Best wishes with your surgery. Mine was not as bad as I had expected.

Sheila, I LOVE your new avatar!

Raye

I was going to buy a mastectomy camisole, but found that I felt better with a little more pressure on my chest, so I used a very large ace bandage around my chest and just tucked my drains up in there and pinned them so they would stay while I slept.  For showers, I pinned the drains to a string around my neck.   

MaineCoonKitty - your husband is awesome!!  That was the worst part of the surgery...having someone pull me up out of bed.  Not fun. I had my drains in for over 4 weeks, so that would have really made my life easier!   We have a loan chest here for medical supplies, so in the future I will rent one of those beds.  Thanks!!  lisa

A thick hair ribbon to hang the drains from in the shower.  Tie it around your neck and pin them to you in the shower - it really helps to give you more movement.  I also got a body pillow to put between my DH and myself so that he wouldn't bump me in his sleep.  Also, my nurse at the hospital gave me small disposable measuring cups to measure the liquid in the drains with - it was so much easier and felt more sanitary.

Good luck......

I purchased a few of the mastectomy camisoles, and I absolutely think they were worth the cost.  I wore them for a long time after surgery.  Here is the link to the camisoles I purchased:  www.softeeusa.com/home/st1/page_268  This camisole has little pockets for the drains, which is so handy.  When I left the hospital after my mastectomy, the hospital had given me pins to pin the drains to my shirt ... not very comfortable. You can also pull the camisoles down over your hips to take them off, so no lifting over your head when you are so sore.......if you decide to purchase some from this company, order them a little larger, as I thought they ran really small.

Good luck to you.

hi ladies, i have a question, im having the mastectomy done soon, but i dont have a surgery date yet. Right after breast reconstruction, all the same day. I want to know the process of going into surgery and how do you wake up after the anesthisia? how does ur chest feel? thanks -Edith