Post Mastectomy Must Haves?

I had mine late December 2022. Are you having reconstruction? I did and i will say the nerve blocker was so good and three sentinel lymph nodes removed i had little real pain. Both breast areas are wrapped tight, and you unwrap after 2 days. There is swelling. Brusing is crazy but all of it heals after a few weeks. the thing that was annoying were the drains. I had NO IDEA there were such a thing as drains. You are not supposed to raise your arms, they will show you exercise. Also, the more you move the more fluid your body may produce. Those drains need to be drained a couple times a day, and the liquid measured. You need the amount to go down daily to have those drains removed. The first surgery my sister came to help me for 9 days. One drain had been removed before she left, but i had one still. 11 months later i could do it myself completely. For the drains, they are lengthy, so they make waist pouches that you can google online that the drains on each side are contained in. You do not want them caught on stuff. Google that too. Something amazing, is that when the drs office removes the drain the body will close the small hole the drain needed, and it seems like instantly.
I slept on the couch. I have a number of small pillows and other squishy pillows. I had one side removed 10 months before along with my ovaries and fallopian tubes. The pain across my stomach made the breast discomfort minimal. But the couch allowed me to slide on and off. I will say the breast area was numb. The lymph node removed side has feeling today. Little numbness. But for a couple years little by little it got feeling back.
Different hospitals give you different bras. I think the one i got were Dale ones. Within a week of that 2nd surgery i developed a hematoma which required a 2ndsurgery on one side to clean it out. A chance of infection. Then a month or so later, i developed fluid in a pocket behind my breast. Not good. I needed it aspirated twice. I went and bought a bigger sports bra and padded it up. Tight and padded. No more fluid developed and the "we are going to have to place a drain" threat ended. So, check on bras. Again, if you are not having reconstruction, you can put going flat in the subject line above as many women do that and can answer those questions.
I trusted my surgeon and plastics drs and at 3 years all is good.
Way more then you asked for but my experiences that were nothing i knew about prior to breast surgery.

The best thing I can recommend is to go on Amazon and get yourself post mastectomy shirts. Prerabably 100% cotton. They have pockets in them for the drains. Get a number of them. You will be living and sleeping in them. I was told my drains would be out in 3 weeks, the last 2 took 6 weeks. Also some elastic waist sweat pants because it's easier with the drains coming out of your waist. Also I slept in a recliner the whole time my drains were in. That kept me immobile during sleep less likely to pull the drains out.

The most helpful item I found was a Mastectomy Robe. It has internal pockets that hold your drain tubes, allows just the right amount of slack, and and prevents tangling. There are a variety of robes available from different companies online with a vast difference in price. I suggest you look at them all to determine the style and fabric content that best suits you. They will all do the job no matter how much you spend on them. One short robe sufficed for my mastectomy drain journey and is cute enough that I continue to wear it as a swimsuit cover up. Love and hugs for a smooth recuperation, Diane!

I sewed pockets inside my button front blouses to keep the drains and bought zip front sports bras to keep swelling down. I slept on recliner for a whole week until the drains were removed. I couldn't sleep on the side for a few months. Anything that you need, put them down on the counter because you are not allowed to raised your arms for a while. You will need help for at least 2 weeks before you can function on your own. It took me more than 8 weeks to feel normal again due to a large hematoma. My sister, on the other hand, had no complication. She sailed through the surgery like nothing happened and I mean that literally. She even tried to clean the house the next day! Of course I didn't let her. She didn't have to go to physical therapy to get her range on motion back. Good luck with your surgery. Please come back to let us know how it goes. Hugs.

My drains had clips on the outside of the tubing of the drain. The clips had sharp ‘teeth’ allowing me attach the drains to a lanyard. The lanyard was actually a long 1/2” string that the hospital gave me to go home with but I was able to knot it to the length I wanted. Simply clip the drains onto the lanyard. No shower for 6 days after surgery until I saw him in office. I washed my hair in kitchen sink during the 6 day period. I am surprised that surgeons don’t give you the lanyard type string ahead of surgery. Also not a bad idea to ask about the drains if never encountered them before. It seems ridiculous to wake up groggy and be sent home with stuff you have never seen previously. My situation a bit different mastectomy 22 years ago with saline implant. Back then I used a study pillow. Reoccurrence in April so had implant removed to a flat chest 3.5 weeks ago as well as tumor removed and 1 sentinel node. the plastic surgeon suggested a “shelf” at the bottom of breast for a bra to sit. Hope this makes sense. He gathered tissue to create the shelf. I definitely did not ask enough questions. I am 3.5 weeks out. Both drains removed at 2 week mark. The shelf type area still feels like a very tender bruise. Some suggestions I would make is to have easy microwave meals because cooking takes forever when you are trying to use mostly 1 arm. If I overdo anything the tender bruise hurts more. The plastic surgeon did tell me “elbows in” for 1st 2 weeks and he still doesn’t want reaching up motions. I quizzed a bit more and he wants to avoid fluid collections under the skin that would make me unhappy with the results. I didn’t use any special equipment. When I went to MD office with the drains I wore them on the lanyard under my button down shirts. I stocked up on button down shirts. Actually bought myself some pajamas_2 pairs. I still haven’t put a shirt on over my head. I did cook ahead. Slept in bed, avoided the L side. 1/2 pain pill helped me get 5 hours a night. Hope this is helpful. Sending you all my best wishes

Great advice from everyone! Here is my story:
Bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction. In the OR a compression band bra is placed on you with hooks for the 2 drains. Overnight stay in hospital. PT came & showed me about 5 exercises to do x3/day. I did them x1/day. No shower until 48 hours. Protect the drains. Get a lanyard to wear in the shower so the drains aren't hanging, must place them in the 2 pouches. I didn't face the shower head directly to protect my chest. I drained my drains AM & PM. Must log the amount (they give you the form) & bring to your all initial visits. Was told 2 wks. for drains - 1 removed, 2nd drain was 3 weeks, removal depends on fluid amt. drained. Will need mastectomy tops (Amazon) with drain holders for day & night. While the drains are in, you must sleep on your back only. Bought a wedge from Amazon for this (I am a side sleeper only, so a little annoying but certainly doable). Also, bought a mastectomy "pillow" (Amazon) to help me not to turn while sleeping with drains. Still use it for comfort 3 months later. A couple of compression bras with drain pouches (Amazon) and Medicare allows 1 for free (go to certified mastectomy fitter). Coming home from hospital: Mastectomy pillow under your seatbelt. Vomit bags just in case (Amazon). I was fine. And wear your mastectomy shirt for the drains to the hospital so you have when leaving. Don't forget your exercises, I did mine faithfully. Must avoid frozen shoulder.
First week discomfort but not terribly! Pain medication x1 wk. then Tylenol. Most uncomfortable was my armpits b/c of lymph node removal (12) but still not terrible. I also had (& RNs will give you) some large gauze pads to place over your incision(s) under your mastectomy bra for comfort. I had post op swelling so my surgeon gave me a compression band to wrap tightly around my chest. This actually felt good and helped, wore it for several weeks. You will keep more post op instructions (hand-outs) re: when to massage your incision(s) for healing and swelling reduction. I do this with Vitamin E oil. It really is not a lot of "stuff" to buy...but these are the basics.
You will get through it all! All of the oncology team were simply great. You will be treated with TLC.
The very very best wishes for you...be positive, you are getting rid of the poison in your body!
Hugs!

Thank you for your response. I am not having reconstruction.

Thank you for your input!

Thanks for your feedback!

Thanks for your input!