Hello,I am booked in for surgery this Thursday and thinking best if I buy a sleeveless button down cotton nightie or two for my hospital stay.I am experiencing chemo menopause/menopause (who knows) and thought sleeveless rather than sleeves, shorter rather than longer, cotton rather than rayon or viscose. Sliding my arms into no sleeves or wide sleeves, like I would the hospital gowns rather than over my head and then struggle to get my arms through?Then I can continue to use these at home and hopefully make life somewhat easier as there will be no-one to help me navigate the on/off business. Am I on the right path? Open to suggestions, advice. I have jumped on line to see what is available but not much that meets my criteria. Thank you x

Dear Tasia,I'm normally a nighty person.But in hospital, I felt better in PJ's. I felt presentable.It also seemed practical. Having 2 pieces, the drains went downward and came out between the 2 pieces.A nightie would have been awkward and bunched up.I got some nice short sleeve and longer bottom PJ's from Myer and Sussans.I'm sure they are around at various prices. Sometimes sold as separates. Get sleeveless if you think you will be too hot.Take your own pillow if you want. Hospital ones are usually covered in plastic and can make you hot.My hospital supplied a carry bag for drains. You could take something in case they don't supply a bag. So that you can walk around, hands free.All the best with your surgery. Do your exercises post op.

Many hospitals have a financial counseling link now, and most have social workers. Depending on their competency, they might be able to give you some advice. I don't know how helpful the cancer council is with that stuffNothing that the welfare system offers is a good fit for treatment, but it's better than nothing. Just. I wasn't eligible for sickness benefits, but my excellent GP wrote me a series of medical certificates so I wasn't forced into the mutual obligations nightmare attached to Newstart. I won't sugar coat it, I had a couple of really unpleasant experiences with Centrelink staff but as I had nothing better to do than be persistent, I persisted. Once again, no other option, really. One horrible little bunny seemed determined to prove that despite being bald and covered in burns I was somehow trying to game the system. In the end I told her that 1 in 7 Australian women get BC, and that when it was her turn, I hoped she'd remember how she treated me. Mean, I know. In the end it worked out.Get the lab to check your results if that's possible and it will put your mind more at ease. I've gotten rid of most of my disposal organs; I don't know that a hysterectomy would affect DIEP recon--put that on your list of questions. Mxx

Hi @Tasia, When I had my mastectomy I just used back the front hospital gowns (even though I had new nighties in my bag). Staff seemed to encourage this as it makes it easy for them to exam you. Also, you may have some oozing so getting this on your new gowns is not good.I am sorry that you are in this position as there is a lot of information to decipher. I only had one breast removed and had follow up DIEP two years later. Prior to the removal of my breast, I had ovaries removed. You don't need to have a whole hysterectomy (unless you have other problems you would just have your ovaries removed). Having your ovaries removed by key hole surgery is easy - I could have gone back to work a couple of days later. The surgery is day surgery and the next day I felt fine except for a bit of lower abdomen tenderness. The mastectomy (particularly if you have two breast removed is little more daunting and you will need a few weeks of work. I had to go back into theatre as I was haemorrhaging and need transfusion, so this didn't help with my recover. I found the later DIEP surgery quite easy although had a few weeks of work. I haemorrhaged a bit this surgery too but not enough to have a transfusion so was anaemic for a few weeks. I know plenty of people who work whilst having radiotherapy. So, I think how much time you take of work depends on what surgery you have and in what order etc. If you need to work, you may be able to stage things so that you can continue. Tell the doctors of your financial position and see if they can suggest a way you can keep working. If you have to give up your job, you will be able to get Newstart and they wave the job hunting requirements (eg the 30 odd applications per month) with a doctors certificate because you will be unwell. They don't seem to offer sickness benefits straight off these days - save that for those on Newstart who have been ill for awhile. So all you need to do when you are set up is do you weekly income reports! It doesn't make you feel good, but we have to do whatever we need to do to get by!! Let us know what you decide. xx Lisa

I found loose pants and a separate top worked better. I discovered that I could just roll a singlet down over my shoulders when I needed to be inspected. Maybe a nightie for nights, but is much easier to manage a shorter top during the day and you will have folk peering at your chest all the time. It's surprising how difficult it can be to take a top off, and you don't want to be pulling a longer nightie up all the time. Less is best and take a big pashmina shawl or similar that can be shrugged on and off easily. Good luck. Oh, and take a thermo mug and some herbal tea or coffee bags if that's your thing

Buying nightwear for hospital/surgery is a nightmare if you don’t normally use such! I found there was almost nothing between flirty shortie nighties/baby doll pyjamas and awful flannelette nighties and pyjamas, suitable for Snow White’s Grandma. Which may explain why I went for zip fronted, hooded cotton pyjamas (without realising that the hood had little pink ears!). However they worked! I’d go for cotton, front buttons or a zip, sleeveless at this time of the year. If you are skilled and can make them so much the better - mine had pockets, good for all sorts of things including walking with drains. Best wishes.

Surgery on Thursday: Need sleepwear suggestions please

Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
I found loose pants and a separate top worked better. I discovered that I could just roll a singlet down over my shoulders when I needed to be inspected. Maybe a nightie for nights, but is much easier to manage a shorter top during the day and you will have folk peering at your chest all the time.

It's surprising how difficult it can be to take a top off, and you don't want to be pulling a longer nightie up all the time. Less is best and take a big pashmina shawl or similar that can be shrugged on and off easily. Good luck.

Oh, and take a thermo mug and some herbal tea or coffee bags if that's your thing
Afraser
Member
5 years ago
Buying nightwear for hospital/surgery is a nightmare if you don’t normally use such! I found there was almost nothing between flirty shortie nighties/baby doll pyjamas and awful flannelette nighties and pyjamas, suitable for Snow White’s Grandma. Which may explain why I went for zip fronted, hooded cotton pyjamas (without realising that the hood had little pink ears!). However they worked! I’d go for cotton, front buttons or a zip, sleeveless at this time of the year. If you are skilled and can make them so much the better - mine had pockets, good for all sorts of things including walking with drains. Best wishes.
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
Oh, yes. The drains. Take one or two cotton shopping bags with long handles as well. Some hospitals provide bags, but I wouldn't count on it. Carrying them around without a bag is tragically inconvenient.
iserbrown
Member
5 years ago
https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/information-sheets.html

The link gives you an idea if what to pack for hospital

Best wishes with your upcoming surgery
Sister
Member
5 years ago
@afraser I'm sure you looked gorgeous with little pink ears!

I hit Kmart and got a soft short-sleeved PJ top that buttoned right up the front - easy to get on and off and to open for examination + 3/4 loose PJ pants. I would also suggest taking a shawl or something (large scarf, light throw) that you can drape around your shoulders if the aircon is up too high. Depending on your hospital, it may also be worth taking some thongs or slip on shoes. The hospital I was in had a garden and my surgeon was right on board with me walking outside rather than walking up and down the corridors all the time.
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
I'm normally a nighty person.
But in hospital, I felt better in PJ's. I felt presentable.
It also seemed practical. Having 2 pieces, the drains went downward and came out between the 2 pieces.
A nightie would have been awkward and bunched up.
I got some nice short sleeve and longer bottom PJ's from Myer and Sussans.
I'm sure they are around at various prices. Sometimes sold as separates. Get sleeveless if you think you will be too hot.
Take your own pillow if you want. Hospital ones are usually covered in plastic and can make you hot.
My hospital supplied a carry bag for drains. You could take something in case they don't supply a bag.
So that you can walk around, hands free.
All the best with your surgery. Do your exercises post op.
Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Thank you everyone for your suggestions and guidance.

i only found 1 pair of short pjs - buttoned down short sleeve pj top was the decision driver. Not much else that seemed practical, or of a reasonable fabric quality and price for the occasion.
I’ll keep looking over the weekend for another set.

i forgot to ask the BC nurse if the hosp supply the bags. I will check again on Monday. If not, where do you buy them from? Does anyone have a pic of what I should be looking for please?

On another note: a few of my fingers are reddish just below the cuticle and looks like the fingertip to nail skin is separating. That’s why I contacted the bC nurse who thensuggested I go to the GP.
Nurse thought it is start of fungus, GP said it was cuticle inflammation from PN and nail is starting to lift.
BC Nurse said soak and treat with tea tree oil...
GP said no, leave it alone and keep an eye on it. Needs to stay dry.

Anyone have experienced similar? What did you do?
noosa_blue150
Member
5 years ago
I lost all my toenails and some of my fingernails during chemo. I ended up soaking them once or twice a week with warm water and detail, then dried thoroughly. One toenail was very bad whilst nail lifting so I did dab detox on it more often. Managed to avoid infection but they did need cutting back. My last chemo was 6 weeks ago ( taxcel) and they’re only now starting to regrow. Fingernails still very brittle and split easily .
in hindsight I wish I had tried painting nails with a black nail polish to see if it would deflect light and save reaction with chemo drugs and maybe save nails .
noosa_blue150
Member
5 years ago
I found front buttoning PJs ( with short pants) at Kmart from memory . Felt like silk ( but were Rayon mix I guess). I would not have wanted to wear my usual pull over head T shirt type PJs in hospital as nurses/drs needed to check wound .I was lucky and didn’t have drains in situ post lumpectomy
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
I’ve looked through my photos for a picture of my Dilly bag for drains and couldn’t find one. I’m guessing it was 35-40 cm square with a shoulder length strap. I had 2 drains, I’m not sure if anyone has more than this. You could easily make one of you sew. You may have a shopping bag that could be useful. A pillow case in hospital could work, but you would have to hold it all the time walking with your hand.
Sorry I don’t have advice re nails.