Shopping/packing/to-do list for surgery + recovery....
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MomB,
I slept in my bed after my bilateral mastectomy. I propped up on lots of pillows, but it worked. As far as the stairs go, it might be nice to have the option of the first floor for the first week or so. Your daughter may sleep fine on a recliner or a regular couch. It's kind of hard to know now how she will feel post-surgery
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I’m recovering from my sentinel node biopsy surgery right now and having a adjustable hospital style bed table that we ordered from Amazon for about $50 has been very helpful. We also bought an adjustable base for our bed, but we had been planning that for a while anyway. Our local grocery store has a curbside pickup option, so I have a list saved on their website of all the groceries we need for the week, for the kids school lunches etc. It saves my husband having to try and figure it all out on his own, plus a friend can also pick it up if needed without me having to worry about them paying for it.
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the best thing I planned in advance was renting a hospital bed. I had A bilateral mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction in a single surgery. I have to sleep angled up on my back. The hospital bed makes sleeping better, and easier to get in and out of. It only cost $200/month, most insurance will pay for it, and this allowed me better sleep during recovery. My PS wants me to continue sleeping this way for 4 weeks in total after getting released from the hospital
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This forum and the list were SO helpful to me before my mastectomy with reconstruction at the end of August.
Now, as I plan for my Exchange/Symmetry surgery (silicone implants, no grafting), I wonder how much of the original list I will need, or which things? Any ideas on this?
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Sweet Pea,
Generally speaking (of course there are exceptions), exchange surgery is much easier than mastectomy. It definitely was for me. Check with your plastic surgeon's nurse as to what to expect.
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If you get a shower chair, spend the extra $5 and get one with a back, it’s been so useful!
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Thinking of your care givers needs is an awesome idea!
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Re: walking your dog - since no pulling on arms - I wrapped the leash around my waist - worked great!
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Just got done with mastectomy and reconstruction surgery last Tuesday. I just wanted to remind everyone to include prune juice on your shopping list. You will love it and need it while you are on pain meds. You'd think eating veggies would be enough, but prune jucie does so much more!!
Get well soon everyone!
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I got no info about any type of bra I'll need or be getting? Do you typically get something from the hospital or should I be asking my doctor about buying something?
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I woke up after surgeries (mastectomy and exchange) in a surgical bra. After a very short time I switched to Genie bras: comfortable and inexpensive. I buy them online. They are very forgiving size-wise, and if it's difficult to pull over your head after surgery just step into it.
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Hi Everyone,
I am glad to see this list. I don't have a recliner. How do I order one and get my insurance to pay for it from a medical supply store?
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Hello Jt3,
I didn't get a recliner. I don't have the room for one and I didn't think insurance would pay for it.
I did get a reading bed pillow that props up like a chair. I worked great. I surrounded myself with pillows as needed.
Best wishes.
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I also propped up with pillows; it was a little awkward but worked. I think I was more comfortable in my bed than I would have been in a recliner.
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which recliner is comfy enough to sleep in and acts as a lift as well? Anyone have a brand?
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i enjoyed reading your post you sound like a trooper
you have a good attitude and inspired me to
stop feeling sorry for myself.
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I used multiple pillows (no recliner) but I think either is a great idea.
This list was so helpful and I'm sure these ideas are already here but make sure you have drain holders at the ready. Some people used paint waist belt type things (I don't know what to call them) but I ordered a waist drain holder on Amazon that saved my life! Used the entire drain time. Also I had one I could use in the shower that was made of Koosie material. Not cheap but great for showering.
Also, don't forget (sorry but it will likely happen) to start taking Colace or some stool softener a few days before surgery because constipation just seems to happen.
Good luck to all!
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reading pillow-check getting from amazon
Prune juice- on the list
Did anyone take laxatives before surgery and it helped? I just have some dulcolax in my cabinet is miralax better?
Robe to turn inside out and has pockets and holds drains-packed in bag for hospital
What are the nursing pads for again
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I didn't sleep in a recliner. We had recently gotten a Sleep Number bed with an adjustable base. So I slept with the head and feet raised.
The hospital provided me with 2 surgical bras and 1 set of drain pockets that attached to the bra with velcro. They also gave me a lanyard to attach my drains to for showering/bathing. I did add large safety pins to it to pin the tabs on the drains to.
So for my hospital bag I took my cell phone & charger, a book (which I never touched), puzzle books (which I never touched), my surgical bra, a button down shirt to wear home from the hospital, a scarf, and my tooth brush.
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I am day 4 post op and think Fleet enema is a good addon item for the checklist to have on hand. My dr gave good meds but dulcolax and miralax didn’t help things move
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I had delayed diep flap reconstruction Feb 16th, with 5 days in hospital (Canada).
Hospital Stay - overpacked. I was put in a private room where the temperature was kept over 30 C to help with the veins joining together and I had compression stockings on my legs which added to the heat. I wasn't allowed to walk in the halls due to the lower temperature, so no need for the housecoats and I didn't need my PJ's (wore bottoms one day). And no need for underwear. Sports bra was handy because my Plastic Surgeon wanted me in it 24/7 to provide support.
Must have items were: lipsol/chapstick, cough drops (didn't have a cough but got a tickle/cough and so drops helped coughing with my stomach stitches), herbal tea bags (didn't know I would be on caffeine free diet for a month), hard candy, downloaded Netflix movies (no Wifi!!! so couldn't listen to my downloaded music playlist or e-library book - didn't work). Mostly slept, and didn't read magazines, etc. Did watch rented TV. Step in slippers and body wash wipes were useful. I brought other creams, but brushing my teeth and hair ended up to be my goal. I also brought a travel lock for my bag in case I walked the halls and left my iphone/ipad unattended. Something useful my sister-in-law brought in was 6 foot cord for iphone/pad and iphone/pad battery charger which helped not having to get out of bed and bend to reach a plug. Earbuds, eyemask weren't needed since in a private room.
Home: had a list of Red Cross rentals, but only think I may need the shower chair. The health policy here is no showering until drains are removed for 24 hours, so didn't have to worry about lanyards, etc for the shower. Pillows, pillows, pillows!!! Spend half the night in my bed with pillows and other half in reclining chair with travel neck pillow. I learned from my lymphedema arm about putting a sleeve cover on (girls tights) so I used that concept to cut the tights to cover the drain bags, so it is not so unsightly for others in my home and when going out.
I was totally constipated from pain meds (taking 2 docusate/colace in am to soften stool and 2 senokot in pm). Homecare RN said I could take 2 senokot also in the am. It worked!! but I clogged the toilet, so would recommend getting some Draino just in case before your hospital stay. Also, I loaded up on frozen food, etc but forgot about laundry and dishwasher detergent.
I am now just over a week post op, doing well, mostly walking not so hunched over. 2 of the 3 drains out. No regrets.
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Re: Gardengirl - find yourself a gynecological oncologist, NOTHING less (research Society of Gynecological Oncologist - SGO) for a list. They are specialists in women's reproductive cancers. Mine saved my life, 51 ovarian cancer stage 3, two very large tumors. 8 taxol/caboplatin chemos - 22 years later still kicking.
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Hi All,
Please feel free to delete if this is considered spam. I would like to donate a helpful product. Since my bilateral mastectomy almost 5 years ago, I have been working to come up with a good way to manage drains after surgery. I would like to give away one of my post mastectomy hoodies to one user from each forum that I post this in. I really think this is super helpful for drain management and it looks like a normal hoodie, so can still be worn after surgery. I am just trying to do something to give back to a community that was so helpful to me when I was going thru my surgery and cancer diagnosis. I would love it if anyone knows of any other forums or blogs where they would welcome a giveaway for one of these. Please PM me if you would be interested. I will give one away, but I will also offer coupon code "FRIEND10" for 10% off for any users of this site. Good luck to all of you who have upcoming surgeries!My only other recommendation post surgery is lots of pillows for propping yourself up at
Post Mastectomy Hoodie with Drain Pockets
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I would suggest some press and seal Saran wrap. It works great to cover your chest, drain sites, etc so you can shower. Also make sure when you get your pain meds to ask the pharmacy to NOT use child safety caps. You'll have a hard time opening those for a couple weeks.
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So many good replies! One thing I found made things much easier was what are called Pink Pockets. They are sold online. They are adhesive pockets that stick to the inside of your pajama top (and boy, do they stick!) to hold the drains and keep them from flopping around while you are walking, sleeping, etc. I found them invaluable. They also help to keep the bulbs at the end of the drain from "pulling" at your skin.
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@Lilypond, I was thinking of getting the Pink Pockets! You just sold me. So glad they worked out for you!
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My oncology nurse navigator gave me velcro pockets to attach to my surgical bra for the drains. They were lifesavers!! They just velcroed to the underside of the bra and the drains slipped right into the pocket. It helped keep the drains in place just below my breasts. It held the 2 drains I had after my mastectomy on each side just fine. And then I used them again when I had my exchange surgery. She also gave me a lanyard to safety pin the drains to when I showered. And she gave me pillows that velcroed to my seatbelt to cushion my breasts after surgery. They were awesome!! I used them for weeks after surgery!!
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This is just information for your amusement: in Spain the drains are larger and generally you go in to the hospital and they take the measurement and replace the drain bottle. So I had read on here about the lanyard and took it with me, only to have one of the specialized PTs tell me that it was the first time she had seen anyone do it that way! She said they should have told me about how to deal with the drains (carry them) before I left the hospital after my mastectomy, but that generally women carry a light PURSE around and put the drains in that. I think I'm going to try it next week with my exchange surgery. The PS said I would leave the hospital with one drain, so....
V. thankful for this thread and list!
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I really appreciate this list. However, for anyone reading this who is going through it for the first time and wondering whether they actually need all of this and how they can possibly afford it all, I just wanted to offer an alternate perspective. Depending on the type of surgery you are having, you may not need many/any of these items. For my two lumpectomies I did not even have drains or need special clothes or care of any kind. For my double mastectomy, I did have four drains (two on each side), but the hospital provided two mastectomy bras with drain holders so I didn't have to buy any, and they instructed me to wear them 24/7. They sent me home with lots of gauze pads to insert in my bra every time I changed the dressing. They also supplied bacitracin ointment to take home and apply on my incisions. They did not want me to shower until all of my drains were out, so I treated myself to a hair wash at a nearby spa one time. I did not bother getting a manicure or pedicure beforehand, because if there is one time in your life when everyone will cut you some slack, it is after major surgery. I did not have any trouble getting into or out of bed once I was home (maybe this is because my reconstruction was pre-pectoral rather than underneath the muscle). Nor did I have any trouble opening child-proof medicine bottles. My only point is, you may or may not need all of these things, and the only way to know for sure is to go through it yourself and see what you need. For me, I'm glad I did not spend a ton of money on a recliner or wedge pillows or other items, because I ended up just fine using the pillows we had at home. I did not need new silk jammies because I was comfy in my regular ones. I didn't need bendy straws because I was able to sit up just fine to drink fluids upright, and because after the first day the doctors and nurses wanted me sitting up in a chair as much as possible rather than laying down in bed anyway. What was helpful to me: soft tank tops/Ts/camisoles (I was able to pull them over my head just fine), lightweight scarves (to wear over T-shirts and help cover up my lumpy bumpy front while it was bandaged and recovering), comfy sweats/pull-on pants/PJs, Tylenol, stool softener, water, an iPad with books/movies/games (and charger), a hair tie/barrette to pull my hair back and get it out of the way, cell phone and charger, kleenex, hand wipes, a pad of paper and pencil/pen for keeping track of when I took meds and/or the amounts of fluid emptied from my drains. An extension cord was also helpful at the hospital so I could just leave electronics plugged in and use my computer/iPad/phone as much as I wanted without having to get up. Once I was home, it was nice to have a blank box of thank you notes (and stamps) at hand, ready to be written out to those who were helpful.
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I have found these lists so helpful over the months and it's comforting to know I'll be more prepared for my surgery on 19th June because of this forum. I've got my jackets with pockets on the inside, an extra long phone cable, a silicon lanyard for the shower, a back scratcher, and hand sanitiser etc.
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