Advice please

Could you just wash your upper half with a flannel? I was afraid to ruin the dressings and worried about the bottle getting detached (I'd already managed that the day after surgery as the valve in the middle of the tubing wasn't secured properly on a bank holiday weekend!) I unclipped the shower head and washed my hair in thr bath with the other arm. It's thickly,  but only for a few days:)

I’ll give that a go as you say it’s worrying in case you knock or dislodge something! Haven’t been brave enough to wash my hair yet! It’s long - well below shoulder length - and very fine. I’m going to have to soon though! 

Hi Monalisa1869

Like Londonmumof2 I perfected the art of a 'prison wash" (not sure why I call it that, but like it!) and flannel washed at the sink all the body parts I could be bothered to.  I purposefully kept washing well away from any dressing though some are shower proof. After my mx and DIEP I did this for a good few weeks before I was ready for the shower experience. Do you have someone who can help wash your hair?  I left mine and it was fine ( but then I am quite grubby at the best of times...) but it is quite short.

Sam

Hi Monalisa1869, Like you I had lumpectomy and lymph node sampling. I didn’t go near a shower for ages - sat in a shallow bath for nether regions, and washed top half over the sink with a flannel. I was far too scared of getting the dressing wet to let it near a shower. I don’t think I washed my hair for a good few days, and then when I did, over the side of the bath. Quick wash, no bothering with conditioner. Think I might be another who doesn’t mind a bit of grubbiness! Definitely go with the flow, don’t do anything more than you feel able to. It’s early days. Love and hugs, HFxx

Thanks all - I’m staying with my parents for a few days since op and mum helped me wash my hair - at least it’s now cleaner! Tomorrow will be 5 days since lumpectomy and hispital said the dressings should come off then - how? They seem so well stuck! I was wondering whether to leave them on but I don’t have my follow up for another 10 days or so. I think I’m going to have to do it myself - any advice? 

I had to change the dressing after 2 days as it had ‘oozed’. Luckily the breast nurse had phoned to see how I was the day after the op and arranged for me to go in to the clinic for the dressing change the next day because of the oozing. Then the weekend came and so hubby had to help! I had a much longer scar than I’d expected as the surgeon had used the same excision to scoop out the lump and to access the lymph nodes. So one long scar instead of 2 smaller ones. The dressing seemed huge so I just couldn’t have done it myself, too awkward with the location. I can’t remember how well stuck they were, sorry! I definitely didn’t soak it off or anything like that. Could your mum help? I’m sure I had another dressing change at the clinic after hubby did the weekend one - i also developed an impressively large haematoma which they wanted to keep an eye on. It slowly dispersed itself and never needed draining but it was quite the rainbow effect with the bruising and the blue dye! 

Sorry I haven’t really got any other suggestions - I just know I couldn’t have done it myself. It’s awkward too because it’s the weekend, otherwise I’d have suggested phoning your breast clinic. Xxx

Thanks - it’s all so new and strange isn’t it? It doesn’t help that it’s bank holiday weekend although I wonder if the breast clinic will be open on Monday? Mum said she’ll help me look at it tomorrow so I’ll see if I’m brave enough to remove it! I’m pretty sure that someone has mentioned getting it slightly wet or damp makes it easier. I remember them saying just to remove the top dressing - I’m guessing there’s stitches etc underneath. I’ll report back when I’ve tried - hope everyone has a good night xx

I bathed for first week and dry shampoo hair.  I'm so I used to just bath once a week as a child with a strip wash at the sink,  I have a lovely stock of flannels which are used daily by me and my daughter.   She now buys these lovely microfibres ones to wash her face with just water every day  -  

Face cloths

My hair dresser told me off and said  I could have just popped in and she would have washed my hair.  

I was a wimp and took me a good week to peep at scar been though my BCN to,d me it was extremely neat 

Hi all , I couldn’t look at myself from neck down !!! I phoned and asked if district nurse could check my wounds etc - they were delighted to help and visited me 3 times for just over a week and by that time I was able to look !!! Mega wimp that’s me !!

love Ruby Rose  

I couldn’t do it! Just washed the area with water - so so want a proper shower or bath - I’m going to try later today after hopefully building up courage. Doesn’t help that it’s bank holiday weekend either as docs surgery won’t be open till Tuesday and that’s 7 days after operation. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as I’m imagining it to be to do it myself I just have to get the courage together to do it. Going home tomorrow aswell and I live on my own so starting to get a bit anxious about that - trying to remember to just take 1 day at a time. Happy Easter everyone xx