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

iserbrown
Member
5 years ago
https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/information-sheets.html
June1952
Member
5 years ago
Is it any wonder that women visit the menswear shop to find something suitable ?
Better quality fabrics as well !!!
Have to check for a print which is not too 'male' but they are there .....
Afraser
Member
5 years ago
It’s ridiculously hard! I finally found black elasticated waist bottoms with a pink and grey polka dot top with a front zip! Perfect. Didn’t notice that the hood on the top had little pink ears till I was in hospital. Amusing the staff is a nice thing to do though! Target, but it might have been a fluke.
Sue_w1
Member
5 years ago
You can find good PJ's but it is not easy.
I had a hard time trying to find any suitable sleep wear for hospital. Everything was either flannelette or had no buttons (t'shirt style), which is no good when you can't lift your arms! Big W was the first place I tried and I have to tell you I walked out of there angry and teary. (I mean if I couldn't handle finding some pyjamas, how was I going to handle the surgery and everything else?) Being covid times, it was the only one store I could get to and it had NOTHING suitable. I even tried the mens section to no avail!
At home I looked on line. being frugal, I didn't want anything extravagant so I checked out all the usual stores. (Kmart, Target etc) Last of many, I checked out Best and Less. Eureka! They had 225 styles of women's PJ's on line and 2 of them were suitable - soft stretchy PJ's that had a button up shirt style top (not tight under the arms), and comfy, easy to pull on pants. Best of all they were only $28. The soft jersey material ment they didn't pull or catch when I moved in bed. They didn't snag my surgery site or drains and I got loads of compliments from the nursing staff.
Here's the link if you want to have a look:
https://www.bestandless.com.au/Categories/Women%27s-Clothing/Women%27s-Pyjamas-%26-Sleepwear/Women%27s-Pyjama-Sets/Womens-Button-Down-Jersey-Pj-Set/1125011?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu7OIBhCsARIsALxCUaMUP1UNJUS5UmxzGT7-aHsXXNib4q-67thT5kmhglFkW4S7i38BmEwaAkYOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Sister
Member
5 years ago
You will get through this @Tasia Make sure that you start you exercises as soon as you are given the okay to do so - it's really important.
gumnut
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Tasia
How are you going today?
It’s a huge thing that you have been through, just having significant surgery as you have will take its toll and on top of that the sense of loss is significant. You are bound to be emotional and teary. You are definitely not weak – be gentle on yourself. Have plenty of rest when you get home – is there someone who can help you in the first few days? Something that may be helpful for home that I used was a plastic bunnings type chair that I put in the shower so that I could just sit and shower – that way if you are feeling tired or just not up to standing for too long you can sit and relax a little. Make sure that you put your feet up and snooze or read a book during the first couple of weeks at home, I think that the rest is really helpful. I hope that you are ok.
Best wishes <3
ChezaH
Member
5 years ago

Tasia said:

Thank you everyone.
I can speak my thoughts and feelings freely here as I know you understand, footprints have been here before mine made imprints. It is a relief to be able to share ❤️

I am still in hosp, they are not pushing to send me home. I have a great surgeon.

I had to remove the padded dressings we placed yesterday as the dressing tapes we used all gave me an allergic reaction. I took it as my body asking me to take a breather and look, to reconnect and rejoin, to do the ‘together thing’, allowing healing to happen from the inside out. That’s the place of where the weeping begins. Tears rolled as gently as my heart beat ...a calm sadness. It will be ok, a wave of inner strength will emerge...slowly and lovingly.
For us all 🍃🦋🍃💞🍃

Sending you hugs xx Cheryl
Tasia
Member
5 years ago
Thank you everyone.
I can speak my thoughts and feelings freely here as I know you understand, footprints have been here before mine made imprints. It is a relief to be able to share ❤️

I am still in hosp, they are not pushing to send me home. I have a great surgeon.

I had to remove the padded dressings we placed yesterday as the dressing tapes we used all gave me an allergic reaction. I took it as my body asking me to take a breather and look, to reconnect and rejoin, to do the ‘together thing’, allowing healing to happen from the inside out. That’s the place of where the weeping begins. Tears rolled as gently as my heart beat ...a calm sadness. It will be ok, a wave of inner strength will emerge...slowly and lovingly.
For us all 🍃🦋🍃💞🍃
Sister
Member
5 years ago
You've been through the wringer and done a very tough thing. As @zoffiel says, it would be great if it was acceptable to prepare us. Allow yourself space and grief and be proud of the person you are to have got this far.
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
@Tasia aside from all the emotional stuff and any pain issues, an operation under general anesthetic is a big deal and it really knocks your body around.

Getting the 'day three blues' is so common that I wish we were routinely told we might experience a bit of a crash a few days post op. Doesn't happen to everyone, of course, but it's like the 'baby blues' that frequently arrive a similar time period after labour. Like many 'female' issues there seems to be a reluctance to raise the topic lest we talk ourselves into it :/ I think it would be better to know that it's all very normal.

It's all very normal, so please give yourself some credit for getting this far. Lying on the trolley pre-op and having to answer questions about what was going to happen was one of the toughest things I've ever done. Walking in the front door of the hospital is a very daunting thing to do. So, you've done it. Conrats are not really appropriate, but you've passed a trial by fire that is a significant challenge. Mxx