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

50 Replies

Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Thanks @Abbydog, I need to reprocess the ʻnew newsʻ and what that means. I have the RAD gene mutation not BRCA. Dbl MX, possibly radiotherapy, then hysterectomy, ovaries - the whole deal. The med team are wanting to discuss my thoughts on reconstructive surgery. I guess the extra days are to allow for that thought process, research, what to do now. The ripple it has on my kids and grandchildren.
They also suggested I change my work plans for at least 6-8 months, one said ʻconsider the whole year offʻ. That impacts on me financially and have to sort out a solution.

Re pjs - I bought 1 pair (the only pair, a button up front short sleeve short set). A tank top to wear if the sleeved pj top gets too hot for me and a light cotton strappy nighty - easy to slip on off shoulders. Now though Im not sure if they are enough or right. I have this numb feeling..... :(
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
Sorry about the bad news re genetic mutation.
So what surgery will it be now?
Did you find more PJ's?
How do you feel about waiting a little longer for surgery?
Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Thank you everyone for your guidance.
Op has been moved to early next week. I tested positive to genetic mutation.
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Thanks. I’ve just had a look at the link
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://boomerangbags.org/&ved=2ahUKEwjR-4fS0bHuAhWjxDgGHcNSD6AQFjAAegQIDhAD&usg=AOvVaw0j4aQRFQpjsYLmb5pj_ZG1
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
That’s interesting. But I haven’t seen that here in SA. Not where I shop. Thanks
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
@abbydog Those shopping bags that community groups make out of scrap fabric that you can either buy or 'borrow' from supermarkets.
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Zoffiel,
excuse my ignorance, what is a boomerang bag? I haven’t heard of them.
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
Boomerang bags are fine if you can't find anything else.
G The drains aren't heavy, and while they should be lower then the site they are servicing, you really only need something to pop them in while you are moving around. As long as you can sling it over your shoulder and go hands free for a short while, any bag will do. Mxx
Blossom1961
Member
5 years ago
My fingernails only became brittle after chemo. My toenails however, developed blisters underneath and lifted. Nail polish would not have made a difference as they were protected from the light anyway as I wore socks (it was during winter).

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Surgery on Thursday: Need sleepwear suggestions please

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