Pre and Post-Surgery Advice?

Thank you so much for sharing this, it's comforting. Tomorrow is going to be a BIG day.

I was completely wiped out by $1000 of pre-admission scans today. I don't know if I can even cover the surgery tomorrow. What did yours end up costing?

Hi Inkpetal -  wishing you all the best for the surgery.  I had a small biopsy / lumpectomy followed by a mastectomy 10 days later. For both i found it was helpful to have a couple of small pillows or towels in bed which I  could roll up to support either my arm or raise up one side of my back at a time. I also needed front opening shirts &  pajamas for a few weeks. K

My experience was much the same as Angie's though I had wide excision + sentinel node biopsy. I was sent home without a pain med script and the next day I got my hubby to swing past and grab one - I only really needed 1 or 2 endone's to get me through the next day, wasn't really desperate. I'm happy I've got them now I'm on chemo though!!!

I burst into tears when the breast care nurse fitted me for the free post-op bra from Berlie. I was really moved that a company would do that for us & I still use it for comfort and support when I feel the need (op was Dec 17).

My scars have healed beautifully and although I have a seroma under my arm - it's not causing any issues, just a largish disc shape there. I do my physio exercises most days to reduce possible lymphodema but I have great range of movement now and no obvious swelling. 

Both boobs look much the same now and my tumour was 2.5cm so not big and therefore no indentation in the breast with it's removal. 

You'll be fine and heal well I'm sure. No more push-up underwire bra's for us now! 

Tara xx

The body pillow is a godsend. I've had bilateral mastectomies with tissue expanders...the body pillow allows me to side sleep, the faint pressure on the chest really minimizes the pain.

I had a wide excision lumpectomy in late November 2015. I was surprised when told it would be a day procedure but that's what it turned out to be. I was in theatre for about 40 minutes just after midday and was allowed to go home by 5pm. My pain level was just general soreness and even though I was given some panadeine forte to go home with I never needed it, I think I just too panadol for one day otherwise I was ok.

my breast care nurse had given me a Berlei post surgery bra before the operation and I took it with me to the hospital and wore it on the way home. I found the front opening was brilliant as it made it easier to put on and off and I wore it day and night for the first two weeks.

My procedure was on a Friday and by Sunday I was out and about.

my lump was  9mm and easily accessible with clear margins and no node involvement

i took the following week off work for a rest but if I wanted to I could have physically handled going back to work as I have a desk type job. My surgeon did say that physically there would be no reason why I could not back to work on Monday, once again I was surprised when I first heard that from him but in hindsight I now know what he meant.

as you can see from everyone's responses, everyone's experiences vary so much dependant on the surgery and how easily they can get to the tumour etc

i hope you have a speedy recovery and your experience is as smooth as mine was

Angie

I didn't have a lumpectomy but mastectomy. Pain wise, I didn't have much at all. The area is quite numb anyway. I did develop a haematoma (old blood collection) under the arm which wasn't painful but uncomfortable as it permanently felt like an egg under my arm all the time.

before surgery I went to a good bra shop and purchased a Berlei post surgery bra (soft, no wires) but I was also sent one from the Cancer Council here in WA , with two inserts. I was also given a soft cushion by the hospital to place under the arm or to use under a seatbelt in the car, to stop rubbing. I also received another hand made cushion which was sent through the post from Canada, this was hand made and I have no idea who this person was but I would gather either the hospital or the Cancer Council arranged that.

i went home the next day, given some exercises to do, with daily care coming to the house for a week to change drains, bandages etc. They were good, however anything trivial and they had to keep calling the dr about it.

Showering was a bit difficult with drains in and I had to get my husband to help dry my back. Someone suggested smaller towels which would be good. 

Havent got pets, so I can't help you there! 

Good luck. You will find your hospital probably will provide you with some things to take home and don't hesitate to ask them if you're not sure about anything.

my one piece of advise is to keep up with Physio and keep the arm moving. However, don't vacuum or mop or hang out the washing for a couple of weeks.

Linda x

I had two surgeries, a mastectomy and back in for full node removal. First op was awful afterwards as the gas gave me and every other woman in surgery that day projectile vomiting which had me nauseous for days. Second op, no gas, good as gold. I was sent home after the first op and told buy some Ibuprofin and Panadol for pain. My god I was popping both lots like it was going out of fashion. Next op I said give me a script for some decent pain pills and they gave me Targin 12 hour ones. It was heaven.

I have Schnauzer dogs with long whiskers so I clipped them before the op and only left them with long eyebrows and no long beards requiring upkeep. They have been great and the benefits of having them help with my recovery far outweigh any risks of catching any bacterial infection from them. Ok, not allowed IN my bedroom but they were always outside my door when I was sleeping.  

Forget hanging out washing. It requires two hands and you will need to get up get down get up get down off a box to reach.

I found my bath sheet towel a bit hard to manage one handed so traded down for a smaller towel hung on a lower rail.

Keep a box of wet ones antibacterial wipes for underarms and a box of alcohol wipes for cleaning in about your wound areas. Get some waterproof bandaids to cover your drain holes later on. They do weep and I liked to put on a clean one every day or two. 

Take before and after and progress photos for yourself.

That does help! I didn't know I'd be sent home with anything, I really hope I don't miss out on that one. I'll definitely ask about pillows there and pick up a body pillow ...  I love pillows. hahaha. Thank you so much. <3

I had a therapeutic mammoplasty (lift style incisions)  on November 25th 2015 allow bigger margins around the tumour. We have 2 large dogs so I was very wary but they've been great. I was in hospital for 2 nights & then slept on a recliner for my first 2 nights home - this really helped so I didn't strain operative side getting into & outof bed whenever I needed drink for pain relief. I personally found I needed to take the prescription strength pain relief (the prescription which they sent me home with) regularly for the first 5 days & then it was much better & I  could substitute some doses for over the counter strength. The breast care nurses at the hospital gave me the crescent shaped pillow which I still use - it's very helpful post-op & then again whilst having radiotherapy which is where I'm at now. The BCNA kit that you receive in 2 parts, includes a post-op bra. My lovely surgeon suggested that buy one pre-op so that I could use it as soon as I could go home. I found that bra at a lingerie shop that has specialised staff that are very helpful with fitting, etc. I have one that does up at the back as we thought the other's fastening area where fabric is firmer, might have been too near to the area my lump was & might cause discomfort. The only thing I would have liked to try but didn't end up getting is one of those body length pillows - I'm a side-sleeper ?? Hope this helps. Best wishes, Rosetta ??