What do I need to know?

Hello.....I hope the op goes well. I can't answer your question as I had a lumpectomy  but ask it again on the Awake thread because lots of ladies who post there have had mastectomies, some quite recently who can share with you how they are feeling.

Take care.

I had a single mastectomy and SLNB.

Coming home was fine but you will Neely help around the home for a while. I was given a small heart shaped pillow at the hospital which helped in the early days. I also bought button up night shirts and some blouse as dressing can be tough. You’ll be given gentle stretching exercises to do once home, keep doing them. I also bought a couple of sports type mastectomy bras front fastening which have worked well. You’ll need plenty rest in the early days. No heavy lifting. Hope this helps.

Best wishes xx

This is so helpful. Thank you so much xx

The procedure went well and much easier tend I expected tbh.the pain meds manage your pain we’ll do keep on top of them as they really do help you get past the first few weeks easier. You will have drains either side which are a nuisance for a week two but are manageable . Get yourself a v shaped cushion  it will be your best friend and sleep elevated as will be more comfortable, helps with drainage and easier to get in and out if bed. I had hubby to take pics every day so I could monitor them as difficult to see when looking down at them. It came useful gif when contacting the bc nurse and could forward them on to them without need for visit. You will need help to do the littlest of things for first week particularly. You are likely to be very tired  following procedure so listen to your body and sleep as much as you can to help heal. Also I was advised not to do anything at all as the more we do the more fluid we produce and longer we have the drains so rely on your family as much as you can to help . I needed help with showering (check with bc nurse when able to shower, I used the hand held attachment to keep wounds dry during showering) , dressing , emptying drains initially and your arms are likely to be very weak. Wear front fastening bras and tops. Driving it took me over 3 months to drive again shockingly as arms were so weak and had difficulty with healing of right breast so didn’t want to jeopardise risk of losing implant. Good luck and take it easy .. it’s doable honestly