Breast Surgery; any advice to prepare for surgery?

Hi. I'm going in for surgery too. I had DCIS and it was invasive. Large tumor, 9 cm, is gone thanks to 6 rounds of chemotherapy - tchp. Even though the tumor is gone, and no sign of cancer anywhere else, my team recommnends mastectomy of that breast. Right breast is fine. Both my sisters had breast cancer. Also, there are microcalcifications in my left breast. So they add up the probabilities of recurrence and say it's extremely high. So off it goes. I have not been given much prep for surgery. I asked the surgeon and he kept looking at his watch. I do know that there will be 2 surgeons in the OR with me. They have to snip away all the strings attaching the breast to the body and then they remove the breast in one go. Sew me up and move me to post op recovery room and then overnight in hospital one night. Then home with a drainage tube attached to my left chest which I have to empty and measure and chart every day. I will use a shower chair to shower. I go back for follow up one week after surgery and hopefully they will take out the drainage tube. Then go back a week after that. Then 4 weeks recovery where I shouldn't lift anything more than 10 pounds and I shouldn't reach for things. Walking is recommended. They will give me a prescription for oxycodone to go home with but not very much. Surgeon recommends OTC painkills alternating between the two. Good Luck to you, to me, and to us all.

Here is the list of things I felt I needed to do, buy and schedule before my surgery:

WHEN YOU FINALLY SCHEDULE THE SURGERY:
Be sure you have satisfied yourself that you have asked all the questions you need answers to from your doctors, and that you fully understand what medications you will be on, what they will be doing to you and that your transportation and after-care help is ready and waiting for you.

A FEW WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY:
1. I sat down and paid in advance any upcoming household bills.

2. I cleaned my house very thoroughly as I knew family would be stopping by and I wouldn't be able to do it for weeks afterwards.
(Hire a service to do this if you are not up to it.)

3. Schedule your personal must-do's so that they are out of the way before surgery like: getting the car washed and gassed, get your teeth cleaned if it is time, get your hair dye done and your manicure done and out of the way.

4. Do all the possible laundry you can - blankets, sheets, towels, pajamas - anything you might need over the next few weeks.

CONSIDER YOUR SLEEPING COMFORT POST SURGERY:
4. I bought a wide wedge pillow from Amazon. It was described as follows: "Acid Reflux Wedge Pillow (32"x30"x7") with Memory Foam Overlay and Removable Microfiber Cover "BIG" by Medslant."

5. I bought a pack of 2 king-sized 'Beautyrest Black' pillows from Costco which are extremely soft, plush and malleable.

Note: This combo of pillows was arranged as follows: Put the wide wedge pillow down first, then lay the 2 king-size pillows side-by-side vertically, that is: one on the left and one on the right, pushed together. This placement allowed me to sleep on my back with my head elevated slightly, and gave important support to my lower back, neck, shoulders and arms. It is important to have the shoulders and arms level or above your chest if you have any lymph node dissection, which I did. This pillow combo is very comfortable, helps with fluid drainage, and reduces the need or impulse to turn or lay on one's side.

6. Set aside a very loose, comfortable pair of pajamas and a few loose shirts and yoga pants to wear while recovering.

FOOD PREP A FEW DAYS BEFORE SURGERY:
7. I bought jello, popsicles, really good probiotics, extra toilet paper & paper towels, magnesium tablets (to help with muscle pain and preventing constipation while using pain pills) breads, and other necessary groceries.

8. I made up a big volume of homemade bone broth vegetable soup. Enough to last for 2 weeks of lunch.

9. I washed and cut up a large amount of fresh fruit with OJ poured over it to make a delicious compote that I put in 4 containers in the fridge for ease of use.

10. I made a good sized roast beef in the crockpot and once cooked, I sliced it thin and put it and its gravy into several containers to have for dinner or sandwiches over the first weeks of recovery.

THE NIGHT BEFORE:

11. The night before surgery, I put clean sheets and pillowcases on my bed and clean towels in the bath.

12. I showered, took a few snapshots of my old breasts before they disappeared, prayed, spoke with my family and thanked them for their support and went to bed early.
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Good luck to you.