Mastectomy aftercare

Hi Diane, sorry to hear that you wil be having a mastectomy, but great you are planning ahead.

I got some button through tops which were a bit lose as couldn't get anything over my head for a while. I just picked some up cheap in a local charity shop lol 

Hopefully your hospital will provide surgical bras, your breast care nurse should be able to advise

A v shaped pillow was very useful as needed to sleep upright for a while.

Regards showering, again the nurses should advise but I was told not to get the dressings & drains wet so a full shower wasnt possible for a while. I did manage to shower from my tummy down just using the shower head in my hand & then flannel wash the rest of me. 

I found that things just took longer really & a little more planning as I had 3 drains !

Hope this helps.

Best wishes x

Thanks Kitty, that’s great advice - I’d never thought of the waist down shower! Wow three drains - I bet that was awkward… xx

You are welcome.....yeah I put the drains in a plastic bag & tied the handles together so could hold them in one hand out the way & used the other hand to shower lol

Yeah 3 drains were a challenge !

Good luck x

I hope it goes well - it might be worth having a quick think

as you go about your day and make sure things you use regularly are out at waist height as lifting/getting things out of low drawers/cupboards or down from high shelves can be tricky.  Lots of pillows so you can build a nice nest around you in bed ….. I wore my crocs a lot - shoes you can slip on easily are a good idea.  

Yes, good advice on shoes, I had forgotten about that lol ...... it's hard to bend to tie laces so slip ones are good ! X

This is great advice thanks! X

One to consider definitely although I always trip in mine

Am I right in thinking I can use unperfumed soap? I’ve bought some water wipes for everyday freshness in the meantime 

Hello DianeW,  Hope all is going well post op.  Those drains must be a pain.  Rather than soap a fragrance free cleansing bar is better as soap is drying.  
Barbara

Thanks Barbara- I’ll look for that (my op is next Friday so fingers crossed )