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

Blossom1961
Member
5 years ago
Hi Tasia, I refused to look at my chest until I got home. I love how you put your hand on your chest and sat in silence. So healing. Sending big hugs.
ChezaH
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia
Best wishes, hope that your surgery went well for you sending hugs xx Cheryl
iserbrown
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Tasia
We all feel for you and understand it! You are not weak, you are just coming to terms of where you are at! It is also considered normal to feel teary around Day 3 after any kind of surgery!
Please, be kind to yourself - it's huge what you are going through, physically and emotionally
Sending positive energy
Take care
Locksley
Member
5 years ago
Dear tasia go easy on yourself. make sure you give yourself time to grieve and then time to heal. Go slowly. Sending you hugs.
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
I'm sure you will be fine. For now you are grieving.
It will just take time.
I hope that you are not under any pressure, from the hospital, to go home before you are ready.
Thinking of you.
Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Dear @gumnut

Thank you for posts and sharing of your story, and your kind offer to send me your drainage bag.

Still wearing hospital gowns and carrying my shadow around (hospital provided drainage bags).
I started walking and doing my physio exercises on Friday.
I’m having a tough day today, emotions on the rise, tears and the sunken-in reality.
I couldn’t bear to look at my wounds so the nurse covered them up with soft padded dressings.
I placed my hands gently over them and sat in a few moments of silence.
I can deal with this in small stages only, maybe my weakness is greater than I thought.
💕🦋🌷
gumnut
Member
5 years ago
best wishes for tomorrow @Tasia <3 xxx
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
Thanks for the update. Sounds good and reasonable
I hope your progress is smooth.
I hope tomorrow goes well, a bit of an adjustment.
Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Abbydog,

Thank you for checking in.
Had DMX Thursday afternoon. Still in hospital, overall going well.
I am covered up with a tight binder which is being removed tomorrow. Tomorrow I will ‘see’ more my op and the change.
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Tasia,
Have you had your surgery?
I realise that you may be too sore or tired, if you did have the surgery.
I'd love to know how you are.

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Surgery on Thursday: Need sleepwear suggestions please

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