Hi
I’m having a mastectomy this Friday and have a few silly questions that are really bothering me so can any of you girls out there help me out please?
Do you keep your pants on during the op? (Yeah, told you it was daft but need to know!!)
What do you wear to go home? I’ve been told I can go home next day but don’t know what to pack-can you lift your arm up to get a vest top or jumper on?
How soon after the op can you wash your hair and how the heck do you do it if you can’t get the dressing wet and you’re full of stitches?
Is anyone out there being treated in Norwich?
This site has been an absolute God-send to me-just knowing there are so many of you out there going through the same thing and retaining your sense of humour gives me such hope! Thank you ladies!
Love Gill x
Hi Gill, Good luck for your operation. No question at all is ever silly, and often it is the “little” things that niggle the most!
Your breast care nurse will specifically answer this question for your hospital. I had some bizarre paper nappy type thing!! Whether you have anything on, or all off, the nurses will look after your dignity all the time and any time you are conscious you will be fully covered (take a dressing gown as the op gowns are open down the back), and any time you are asleep you won’t worry too much!
Would strongly suggest that you wear something with buttons down the front to go home in, and don’t forget to put your affected arm in first when you are dressing!
Must admit that three days after my op I treated myself to a wash and blow dry (with the junior so it was cheap) at the hairdresser. Really gave me a boost and after 4 or 5 days I am sure you will be able to shower and use a hairdryer to dry the wound area (check with your own surgeon though).
I’m in Australia so can’t help you on Norwich.
Big hug, good luck and ask away all you want to! Love Sarahx
In addition to the advice you have had from your fellow users I have added a link to a Breast Cancer Care publication called ‘Your operaton and recovery’ which you may also find helpful to read for further information before your surgery on Friday:
Your questions have already been answered by other ladies and the moderator, but I just wanted to add that I had my Mastectomy in January this year and I was in the bath the following morning to have a full bath including getting the dressings and drains wet. My dressing was actually removed during this first post op bath and a clean one replaced afterwards. I was able to wash my hair the same day, and just left it to dry on the ward - to be honest I wasn’t really worried as I only had about a millimetre of bum fluff at the time… LOL
I didn’t have knickers on which was good as I ended up with rectal anaesthesia as I was in a lot of pain post op. Unlikely this will happen to you though as it is very rare