What Helped You Most during Mastectomy (SDX or DMX) Healing?

I had a dbl mastectomy in late 2022. My nursing team gave me all sorts of tips; you receive step by step on how to take each day forward. My nursing team me tons of gauze and pads. Both sides are tightly wrapped. You do not take off that rap until the date the medical team says. Fortunately, mastectomy care after tips can be found online.
I was first amazed at the incredible bruising. Honestly, I thought my skin was dying. I had a skin saving mastectomy, so i had my implants in at this surgery. Since I had genetic mutations, I did not have my nipple area. This mean my stiches were straight across. I had regularly follow-ups, but the first unveiling was at my house. I originally had a single mastectomy on the tumor breast. An expander was put in. I was supposed to get radiation, so expanders are better with radiation. Then I ended up with a blood clot. What? That Dr. said i could be one who is prone to clots!!!
This whole experience is one most of us NEVER thought we would walk through. I came to this site with my bone marrow transplant in 2024. I love that i get to participate here with the breast cancer posts. I had been on breastcancer.org. Both sites gave me mentors and fellow patients that come for help walking through medical conditions and stay having found hope and support. All of it for fun and for free and guided by love.
I like to think that any question you have someone else will post their experience here on MAYO Clinic just like I have done. The more specific the better.
https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/blog/checklist-for-recovery-after-mastectomy/

@katgob Thank you ! 🙂 and Thank you for the Link ! 🙂 Have a blessed day. :>)

My list:
Eat lots of protein.
Take a probiotic
Order a pillow to hold across your front. Very comforting
Sleep sitting up in recliner for a couple weeks
Get a drain holder for drains following surgery
Stay positive and move as much as possible. Start walking and do arm exercises as directed.
Sending hugs your way.

I didn’t have any pain and recovered well. I only had a set back from taking antibiotics and got c diff which was worse that the bilateral mastectomy so thus my recommendation to take a good probiotic following surgery And keep your stomach healthy.

Ordered masecotomy shirts from Amazon, they are comfortable hold your drains and you don't feel like you are carrying them around. They are out of sight and make it easy to change the drainage liquids. Easy for future, appointments, can wear it an layers. I bought a long sleeve shirt and short sleeve shirt. I have used the long sleeve shirt more than short sleeve shirt as the drain pockets are deeper . It's more compfortable. It's great for easy access for ports and blood draws for chemo visits.

@angele2times
I bought that and a belt type thing. Getting the drains out of the way made it a necessity. I must say that i had no idea i was getting 2 drains. If they told me, I did not listen. Also, I did not read up on google so as not to freak myself out.
I want to also add little pillows. They sell them, but at my house, I had a number of small pillows and other soft bed pillows that kept me cozy and stationary. My breast healed fine.
One more thing on the drains. Moving a lot produces liquid. My left side came out in a week. The right took longer as i was moving too much.
Our bodies are fascinating. A hole is created to insert the tube. Done right, the tube remains until they pull it out. That opening the tube came out of. Once home and keeping the bandage on overnight. Once the bandage came off, the hole had closed. That was amazing to me.

I had dbl mast in May 2025. I got some sports bras zip front that were recommended by the surgeon. Honestly, the hospital charges enough, they should have supplied rather than sending me off with a list of things I needed to buy. I was supposed to sleep in them to provide compression for the first week or two. They were miserably tight. If you are asked to seek them out, I had to get them from Walmart Avia brand, very weird color availability at our rural store. Get a size you think you could sleep in and wear all day, which means MUCH larger than your normal size. I ended up getting bras from AnaOno (online). Their front hook and loop bras are MUCH softer and more comfortable!
Also, don't sit around too much...take frequent short walks around, even if it means in the house. I didn't think I could do stairs, so I brought up all my sewing machine supplies and project to my main floor office next to the bedroom. In hind sight, I didn't need to do that, as I was fine. You might be different, but I was able to do stairs. Sleeping is not fun if you are a side or stomach sleeper, as you will want to sleep on your back until you can roll over. Support from king sized pillows helps, and one under knees to keep you from rolling. I spent half the night in bed propped with pillows, half in the recliner. That was probably my better sleep, in the recliner.

You will be able to do way more than you thought you would. People brought over food, and I was actually embarrassed, because I felt I could cook for my husband and I if he helped me lift the heavier stuff (they won't want you to lift more than 10#s or so, both arms.

Hope this helps! Best wishes. Don't worry, the healing happens really faster than you might think.

@lila13 Thank you !!!! Started my list 🙂

I was diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) of the left breast in September of 2025. I got a second opinion at Mayo for surgery because my doctors in the western TC suburbs were so nonchalant about the diagnosis “This is the best cancer to get, we’ll take the cancer out and you can wake up with a new set of breasts!” That lack of empathy was frustrating. Mayo was fantastic. They initially suggested a lumpectomy would take care of it, with radiation and Tamoxifen, but since mine was ER positive, and I had some blood vessel issues (FMD) it was recommended I had a mastectomy. There was a suspicious spot on the right breast and they said it looked benign and to recheck in 6 months but I decided on bilateral mastectomy. Good thing I did…the 1-3% chance of finding cancer in the other breast happened. My surgeons removed all the cancer and I had a nipple soaring mastectomy. The first few days I felt mostly normal. I did what they said and was taking 1000mg Tylenol every six hours. I definitely felt it when the long acting lidocaine wore off on day four or five, but it was manageable. I bought one of those mastectomy pillow things to wear and it has pockets, mine came with cold/hot packs but I was told I cannot use those..if you have no sensation in your breasts you can hurt the tissue by using those things. It also came with a seat belt pad which was helpful. I don’t have a recliner but I have an adjustable bed to sleep partially inclined. Small pillows are your friend! Drain holders are a most have. I had my drains removed at my two week follow up. Sleeping is the hardest part. You can’t sleep on your side or anything. Mayo provided compression bras, drain clips, gauze pads to use under the bra. I hated that bra but it’s needed. Worst part for me was the adjustable part at the top of the straps. Itchy. I wrapped gauze or cloth around them. Mayo also told me I could wear a tank or camo under the bra and that helped. Slip on shoes or slippers highly recommended! I was torn about spending $120 on Orthofeet suede slippers but I am still using them 3 months post surgery. A nurse at my IV Iron infusion said, this is a long journey. You deserve it. Buy the slippers. Best advice ever! I felt able to cook but if you can’t open your bottom freezer (definitely more than 10 lbs force) and bend down to get a pan or do repetitive movements, cooking is off limits. REST. Let others help you. Don’t try to be a hero and do laundry or sweep or mop or reach. You risk messing things up or more pain and it’s not worth it. Set up a meal train. Sleep. Watch old favorite movies, get an oil diffuser (lavender is magical). Journal. Follow doctor’s orders. Enjoy the rest while you can, your body is doing a lot to heal you. Be well! 🙂

There are many helpful suggestions for you so I will only add that thinking about all of the treatments offered to me created a certain amount of angst...understandably...I decided that I would change my thinking and view chemo and radiation as my friend. It helped me through.
I had a double mastectomy, I was triple positive, my margins weren't clear and the BC had travelled to my lymph nodes. But 15 years later I am enjoying all that life has to offer. I wish you well on your journey as you make decisions about the best approach for you. My way is not for everyone. 🥰

I kept several plates, cups, bowls, etc on the counter as I couldn't reach for them after surgery. (T-rex arms). No raising my arms over my head.
I made sure I didn't exceed the weight limit.
I moved as much as I could,
I slept on a wedge pillow.
I ate the equivalent of a Mediterranean diet but added good protein to promote healing.