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Will I Need Help After Bilateral Mastectomy?

Posted by srobinet @srobinet, Feb 18 10:56pm

My granddaughter was supposed to come help me for a week after my surgery. She lives in Kentucky and could only be here a week. Her daughter 18 months fell tonight and broke her collarbone. She can't ride in her car seat for a few weeks. It is doubtful that my granddaughter can come help now and of course the baby comes first.

So if there anything I might have trouble doing by myself? My daughter will be here off and on she lives with me but does work. She is taking about 3 days off to get me to surgery and back home.

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poutypoet | @poutypoet | Feb 22 9:03am

One thing I hope they tell you is after surgery begin taking 2 extra strength Tylenol every six hours. When the long acting lidocaine from surgery wears off (day 4 usually) you will definitely feel it and it will be excruciating if you don’t have Tylenol on board. Get a cup with a straw for water and drink lots of water. You will feel okay those first few days but don’t overdo it or you’ll risk complications. No lifting over 10 pounds and remember that bottom freezer drawers often weigh much more than that. Consider setting up a meal train for yourself at meal train.org for friends to bring you meals or send gift cards for DoorDash. I had prepped some meals and froze them but I couldn’t get them myself out of the freezer so my kids still had to prepare those especially since my microwave is a range one. Loose fitting pants a must because you’ll have difficulty pulling them down for bathroom breaks. Counter height everything ahead of time and get yourself a mastectomy wearable pillow on Amazon it has padding in the right places and pockets for remotes, phone, thermometer, etc. extra pillows for the ride home as you may feel every bump. Have a neighbor or friend stop by or call to check in on you. Drink lots of water. Be well 🙂

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srobinet | @srobinet | Feb 22 9:49am
In reply to @poutypoet "One thing I hope they tell you is after surgery begin taking 2 extra strength Tylenol..." + (show)
Profile picture for poutypoet @poutypoet

One thing I hope they tell you is after surgery begin taking 2 extra strength Tylenol every six hours. When the long acting lidocaine from surgery wears off (day 4 usually) you will definitely feel it and it will be excruciating if you don’t have Tylenol on board. Get a cup with a straw for water and drink lots of water. You will feel okay those first few days but don’t overdo it or you’ll risk complications. No lifting over 10 pounds and remember that bottom freezer drawers often weigh much more than that. Consider setting up a meal train for yourself at meal train.org for friends to bring you meals or send gift cards for DoorDash. I had prepped some meals and froze them but I couldn’t get them myself out of the freezer so my kids still had to prepare those especially since my microwave is a range one. Loose fitting pants a must because you’ll have difficulty pulling them down for bathroom breaks. Counter height everything ahead of time and get yourself a mastectomy wearable pillow on Amazon it has padding in the right places and pockets for remotes, phone, thermometer, etc. extra pillows for the ride home as you may feel every bump. Have a neighbor or friend stop by or call to check in on you. Drink lots of water. Be well 🙂

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Thank you.

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drummergirl | @drummergirl | Feb 23 3:17pm

You don’t say your age. I was 72. It was an outpatient procedure. I went home and made dinner, had loads of energy, felt great and had no pain. Lots of drugs account for this. The drain bottles are a nuisance and I needed big loose tops to cover them. Assuming you supply your self with easy meals, can dial to order food and have someone on hand such as a neighbor, and you are confident to shower (or take wash cloth baths) without falling, you can probably manage. Always nice to have someone with you if possible.

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