Mastectomy this week-what to expect
So booked for mastectomy this Wednesday and feeling very overwhelmed with what to expect. What do I take to hospital, what do I do about bras etc then there is the day by day count down of losing a b...
Forum Discussion
Hi Julie. Welcome. I was a lurker for ages before I joined in! Sorry you're here, but if you find it half as comforting as I do, then it's a good thing.
Take some time to say goodbye to your breast. Sounds silly but a lot of us have found it helpful. Some have a party, some a quiet prayer of gratitude for their service, or take themselves to a place where they can take the girls out in nature and howl! I had a double mastectomy (and immediate DIEP reconstruction) and spent a lot of time in the preceding weeks 'memorising' what they felt like. I also got my husband to take some photos of the girls. I've not looked at them since they were taken but it's important to me to know I have a record of what was there before.
There's normally little pain with a mastectomy. You tend to have more issues in the armpit area. Make sure you do the exercises they give you religiously. They really helped. I'm almost seven months down the line and have to do a particular set of stretches otherwise I lose range of movement. As with any amputation you can have phantom boob sensations. Phantom nipple is downright weird I can tell you! And then you can get very sharp and sometimes painful sensations as nerves grow and try to reconnect. This can go on for ages. I'm still getting them.
Do you have a breast care nurse? Mine supplied me with the free Berlei bra. It's ugly as anything but I found it very comfortable. Ring your surgeon's office amd ask them if they supply it. Or the hospital. Or failing that, try the BCNA helpline on 1800 500 258.
I had a lady pop into my hospital room and give me a bag of 'goodies', which included hand knitted drain bags, and most valuably, a Zonta cushion. This is a little cushion that you hook on your shoulder to position as you need to keep your arm off your body until the surgery site heals. It then becomes handy to put between a seatbelt and you.
Take front opening sleepwear, unless you're happy to be in a hospital gown. You probably won't be in there too long. Though that can depend on your surgeon, and how quickly you don't need your drains. They like to see their output trickle down to almost nothing. Some people's do, some take weeks and they go home with them.
Are you having an expander put in, or looking at a later DIEP? Have you joined the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group (scroll down and click on Groups)? There is some excellent advice over there.
Good luck Julie. I hope it all goes very smoothly and let us know how you get on. Better an empty house than a bad tenant! Big hug, K xox
Take some time to say goodbye to your breast. Sounds silly but a lot of us have found it helpful. Some have a party, some a quiet prayer of gratitude for their service, or take themselves to a place where they can take the girls out in nature and howl! I had a double mastectomy (and immediate DIEP reconstruction) and spent a lot of time in the preceding weeks 'memorising' what they felt like. I also got my husband to take some photos of the girls. I've not looked at them since they were taken but it's important to me to know I have a record of what was there before.
There's normally little pain with a mastectomy. You tend to have more issues in the armpit area. Make sure you do the exercises they give you religiously. They really helped. I'm almost seven months down the line and have to do a particular set of stretches otherwise I lose range of movement. As with any amputation you can have phantom boob sensations. Phantom nipple is downright weird I can tell you! And then you can get very sharp and sometimes painful sensations as nerves grow and try to reconnect. This can go on for ages. I'm still getting them.
Do you have a breast care nurse? Mine supplied me with the free Berlei bra. It's ugly as anything but I found it very comfortable. Ring your surgeon's office amd ask them if they supply it. Or the hospital. Or failing that, try the BCNA helpline on 1800 500 258.
I had a lady pop into my hospital room and give me a bag of 'goodies', which included hand knitted drain bags, and most valuably, a Zonta cushion. This is a little cushion that you hook on your shoulder to position as you need to keep your arm off your body until the surgery site heals. It then becomes handy to put between a seatbelt and you.
Take front opening sleepwear, unless you're happy to be in a hospital gown. You probably won't be in there too long. Though that can depend on your surgeon, and how quickly you don't need your drains. They like to see their output trickle down to almost nothing. Some people's do, some take weeks and they go home with them.
Are you having an expander put in, or looking at a later DIEP? Have you joined the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group (scroll down and click on Groups)? There is some excellent advice over there.
Good luck Julie. I hope it all goes very smoothly and let us know how you get on. Better an empty house than a bad tenant! Big hug, K xox