12 things to make your
Post-Mastectomy Life Hella Easier
Prior to going into the hospital for your surgery , your doctor or the nurse will give you a list “what to expect” after surgery. In general list is good, but as you talk to other breast cancer survivors, you learn that there are things not on the list that will make your life a little bit easier. Here are some of those things I, and a few of my post mastectomy friends couldn’t live without :
From Top Left
The Heart Shape Squishy Microbead Travel Pillow. Frankly, you can have any pillow but you will need something soft to put between your chest and seatbelt post surgery. This pillow is comfortable, cheap and comes in hearts and emojis , so why not make it fun?
My husband calls it the “marriage barrier” but a The U-shaped Body Pillow was and has been a literal life saver when it comes to sleeping. Post surgery this allows you to have support for your arms comfortably. As a “side sleeper” it made sleeping on my back more comfortable. Plus about a week in I was able to prop myself into the corner of my couch semi on my side to actually feel like I was “side sleeping”. I still use it for “side sleeping “ cause it helps to alleviate any discomfort.
Seamless Zip Front Sports Bras . You are going to need a compression bra “post surgery”. Generally they are covered by insurance and you can get a prescription for them. No offense to bra makers but they are expensive and ugly as hell. It was actually my surgeon’s suggestion I get seamless zip front sports bra. They’re comfortable work great, aren’t an eyesore and you can get 5 for a fraction of the price of some of the other ones.
Love Stitch Gauze Maxi Dress With Pockets. Post Surgery, you aren’t gonna necessarily feel like dressing up and going out. But you will need to get dressed, and the easier it is the happier you’ll be. My surgery was in the summer, so I stocked up on this Maxi dress. It’s light, airy, inexpensive and has pockets, so you have an option to pin your drains to it. Also you can pull it on over your feet, which is godsend.
Loving People Loose Fit Jumpsuits. If you are not a fan of the Maxi dress, this will also fit the bill. Once again there are pockets, and you can pull it up over your feet. Also in colder weather it can layer over a front snapping thermal shirt. But jumpsuits are back in fashion and why not have fun with them. Also they are comfortable enough that you can legit sleep in them, which in my book is an A+.
Oversize Cozy Cardigan. When your in pain anything cozy goes a long way in making you feel better. I am partial to big cozy cardigans because A. They’re like a travel blanket and B. You can wear them over both the Maxi Dress and Jumpsuit when you go out and they won’t pull terribly at your drains which is HUGE.
Drain Holder/ Shower Belt. Eventually you will get cleared to shower and it will feel AMAZING. However, if your drains are still attached it can be a fully sticky wicked. I ended up trying to shower while holding them , and then managed to tie a string around my waist and safety pin them to it. I also just showered with my zip front bra on and open. Only after did I realize they sell these little contraptions, which are a hell of a lot better.
Handheld Shower Head. This isn’t a must have, but it is exponentially easier to bathe when you have one. Specially in the first days when you aren’t supposed to get your bandages wet. I wrapped myself in cellophane in attempt to keep water tight, It din’t really work so well.
Shower Stool. I managed to do alright without one of these. However since my surgery I have friends who have stated they were a necessity. I can say, a couple of times I simply went to the gym I work at to shower because they have a handicap stall, and both the ability to sit and the handheld shower head made it an altogether less laborious process.
Home Reacher/Grabber. I am pretty fortunate to be tall. But even as tall as I am, post surgery mobility is humbling. Thankfully my husband works from home so I didn’t have too many issues with reaching shelves, but there were a couple times I needed to wait for him to return, and having one of these would have made life easier.
ScarAway Scar Sheets. Surgery is hard, and the scars shouldn’t be. These suckers are great cause you can legit stick them on and leave them for a couple of weeks.
Refillable squeeze bottle. I was lucky that when it came to using the toilet, my mobility was pretty good . However, I have had friends who that wasn’t the case for. Enter the “portable bidet” aka a refillable squeeze bottle, to assist when you have to use the toilet and you don’t want to ask someone else to wipe your behind.
Also not mentioned is a Surgical Compression Sleeve, which will be suggested if you also had lymph nodes removed. In addition to getting a prescription for compression bras and sleeves, in some parts of the U.S. there are local non-for-profit organizations like The Pink Ribbon Society, who are there to help aid in the coast of some of these items, as well as giving them to you.
To find out if there is one in your area ask your physician, or search on good old GOOGLE, it’s the one time where it actually IS a good idea.