Prep for surgery

Wow! This is all such great information. I go in for surgery on Wednesday. It has been a whirlwind of 2 1/2 weeks . I went shopping today and bought post op bras and pjs with buttons down front.
I'm having mapping done the day before. I have been goggling (I know I shouldn't be) and can I shower the Tuesday night after mapping before I go in for surgery on the Wednesday? I'm reading conflicting things.
Is anyone aware of exercises to go before surgery for your arm and shoulder? The breast care nurse mentioned doing arm and shoulder stretches from Yoga with Adrienne (youtube) but I cant find  the exercises she means and I cant contact the breast care nurses on the weekend. Any help or pointing me in the right direction would be great! x

Oh yes, I remember sleeping like a mummy! I'm a side sleeper and after a couple of weeks I was able to hug a soft pillow and semi sleep on my side. Make sure you keep up your exercises. I made up a few of my own (mostly extra over head arm stretches) when I was feeling more flexible and i also increased the rotations of all the exercises from 10-20.  Other than some lingering numbness I have had no tightness or problems with my arm at all.
take care xx

Thank you so much hopes and dreams, that gives me some comfort .
 Armpit is still sore and i sleep like a mummy as i cannot turn right or left without the pain increasing. I am managing ok and doing my exercises thru the day.
Thank you and take care

You will be fine with the mastectomy @Hulos. The lymph node removal gave me more pain than my mastectomy and implant. There was a lot of bruising but so many of the nerves are cut - I had almost no pain and didn't need any painkillers.  I was up going to the loo a few hours post op, had a shower and started physio the morning after surgery.  The waiting is horrible so I'm really glad you are first up. It will be done before you know it and you'll be on your way to recovering xx

Hi glemmis, yes i will be at Strathfield prv hospital and because I've  already had the lymph nodes removed last week, i guess the mastectomy  would not take too long.
Its so good to hear that you didn't  have pain and was able to shower....I'm  hoping thats how mine will be..trying to think and stay positive ...

Hi @Hulos, I had mastectomy & 12 nodes removed & it took about 3 1/2 hours. I was up and about next morning with no pain & showered myself. I had mine at Strathfield Private, I think you are there too?

Thank you so much everyone, i just want  Wednesday  to be over, i am 1st on the list to have the  op. At 7am.
I seem to be  doing well with lumpectomy and removal of lymp nodes, so all being well the mastectomy will be similar...i now it won't be,  but telling myself that seems to help.

@Hulos Im so glad that you got all the answers that you needed, mine took 8hrs as I had the diep flap reconstruction immediately after the mastectomy, so as Jane says, it would be around the 4hrs. You'll be surprised how well you do! Hang in there. xo Melinda

I'm glad you have a decision @Hulos. My mastectomy took around 4 hours but that was with sentinel node removal and an immediate implant, so I would expect yours would take less time. Wishing you all the best for Wednesday - it's so hard waiting but you are almost there. Sending a hug, Jane xx