- Button or zip up front pajamas and robe (to access drains) with pockets is handy!
- Warm socks or house slippers
- Kleenex
- Lozenges (tube down throat leaves it scratchy and dry)
- Small pillows for under your arm that's affected (both for me)
- Pillows on the affected side to rest your arm on
- Wedge to be able to sleep in bed (you won't be able to sleep flat for a couple weeks. Some find a recliner works best, but I wanted to be near my husband) The link will take you to the one I bought from Amazon. It has a removable cover to wash.
- Books, magazines, and things to help you pass the time while recovering. You won't be able to lift or do anything for 2 weeks!
Here I am on the day I came home. I'm propped up on a wedge with my bamboo pillow. There's a pillow on each side for my arms, and two heart shaped pillows under my pits. I also have a pillow under my knees and, oh, the fur baby between my legs!
On my night stand is a plethora of items that I couldn't reach anyway (if lymph nodes are taken, you won't be able to move your arms very much) but they were handy for my husband to get for me. (Men can't find anthing and I didn't want to have to explain where it was at). Here is what I had next to me:
On my night stand is a plethora of items that I couldn't reach anyway (if lymph nodes are taken, you won't be able to move your arms very much) but they were handy for my husband to get for me. (Men can't find anthing and I didn't want to have to explain where it was at). Here is what I had next to me:
- Kleenex
- Note pad/pen
- Meds
- Carafe of water
- Tervis or Yeti with a lid & straw
- Kindle
- Phone/charger
- Diffuser (I love using essential oils)
- Small fan
- Lip balm
- Lozenges
- TV remote
I found that staying in bed during the day was miserable so I spent my days in a recliner. It's very hard for the first 10 days or so to get up out of bed, even with the wedge and I slept better at night if I wasn't in bed during the day.
*Note: stay ahead of your pain! Don't be brave and get through your first 2 weeks without it. (My pain was worse day 2-6) The pain meds will constipate you, so continue with stool softeners and take a laxative if you need to, but don't be in pain!
The hospital supplied me with my binder. An Ace bandage will do the same thing. Keeping your incision tight will help with swelling and drainage.
The breast cancer center where I had my surgery gave me the heart pillows for under my arms! These were life savers! They also supplied me with a mastectomy cami with pockets for the drains. If you aren't given one, you can use a safety pin to pin them to your binder or pajamas. When showering, I clipped mine to a lanyard around my neck which worked just fine.
It's very important that you don't over do or you will create more drainage buildup. I had to have mine aspirated. Take it slow. At 2 months, I was still tender and couldn't lift my arms too high to get things off a high shelf. Gentle stretches for now.
The hospital supplied me with my binder. An Ace bandage will do the same thing. Keeping your incision tight will help with swelling and drainage.
The breast cancer center where I had my surgery gave me the heart pillows for under my arms! These were life savers! They also supplied me with a mastectomy cami with pockets for the drains. If you aren't given one, you can use a safety pin to pin them to your binder or pajamas. When showering, I clipped mine to a lanyard around my neck which worked just fine.
It's very important that you don't over do or you will create more drainage buildup. I had to have mine aspirated. Take it slow. At 2 months, I was still tender and couldn't lift my arms too high to get things off a high shelf. Gentle stretches for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.