Hi people,
In 22 days time I will be having a double mastectomy and tramflap reconstruction… how many panty girdles do i need ?? !!! How soon before I can sit up ??? stand up ??? dance and do rude things haha 
it would be good to get some advice from someone that has had it. I had a single mastectomy last year and have the temporary tissue expander in at the moment, i know this is going to be mega surgery in comparison… just want to prepare ones self !!
Thanking you lovelies in advance xxxx
Hi Smallstar
I had a single Mastectomy with immediate Tram Flap recon almost five months ago. My surgeon didn’t ask me to take girdles/support knickers in though he did ask me take in a post op camisole to keep the breast warm and for support.
I had two drains in my tummy and one in my breast, I was in progressive care unit for three days where I was constantly monitored. The nurses had to give me bed baths as I was in too much pain to move, I was taken to a side room on the forth day and the catheter was taken out - I was then able to go to the toilet etc but I was still very weak and hence not able to shower but managed to wash with a flannel.
I stayed in hospital for nine days. The surgeon kept reminding me that I’d had major surgery and one step at a time. Op was nine hours.
I needed a lot of help for quite a few weeks as I was so weak, even bending to put the washer on was difficult so my son and my sis and brothers helped. I was also advised not to lift anything heavy for three months or until I got the ok from my surgeon or I could get a hernia - I did exactly as my surgeon said!
My breast is now lovely and soft and looks so much like my good breast except it has scars where my diseased breast was taken out. I had a nipple recon seven weeks ago though it got infected so at mo I’m on antibiotics. My surgeon said the areola will be tattooed three months after my nipple recon so that should happen in the next five weeks.
Good luck with your op! If you have anymore questions, I will try my best to answer them.
Take care
xxx
Hi aqua,
Thank you very much for your reply,I know i have to have a sports bra and panty girdles as it keeps the scars nice and neat according to my plastic fantastic. I guess for once in my life i will have to do as im told and take it easy!! glad you said about the hernia thing, I know you are at risk but I didnt realise it was increased by bending lifting etc. I promise to be good !! I must admit I found the first mastectomy very do-able and was up and about sooner than i thought… you never know this time tho eh !! I think that I will be taking it easy xx
Hi ladies,
I am having left mastectomy and immediate DIEP recon a week today (eek how did it get to be so close?). I have been quite nervous about how big this surgery is, but think that it is right for me. The specialist recon nurse advised that I buy at least 3 panty girdles as they like you to wear them for 3 months, and 3 bras - but to leave tags on everything and take receipts into hospital so that hubby could return them if they weren’t suitable.
She said no naughty stuff for at least 8 weeks!
Good luck Smallstar, I’ll be just ahead of you and will let you know how it goes.
Jacqui x
hello smallstar
just to reiterate what Aqua says - I had tram flap recon 11 years ago and didn’t obey instructions to the letter and ended up having 2 hernias, so 2 further ops and 2 further scars!! I found not doing things to be the hardest part of it all - was hanging out washing 2 days after my mx, with my drains in my dressing gown pockets (it was a lovely day).
my advice would be to do as you’re advised, and I wish you a lovely summer to recuperate in. Having a beer in the garden is better than secretly dusting etc. I must have been mad!
good luck
monica x
OMG I went searching for the Playtex 18 hour panty girdle recommended by the hospital yesterday, although I found one in my size it was £38 and hideously awful (not that I am too worried about that). There is no way I can buy three of those and the recommended bras.
Jacqui
Hi,
I was told in a lingerie shop that there is no VAT on mastectomy bras and that as I have had a mastectomy I don’t need to pay VAT on any bras. I went to M@S to buy bras as I prefer ordinary bras rather than my pocket ones. i had the most embarrassing experience since my op. I selected the bras I wanted and told the cashier I thought I didn’t need to pay VAT: she sent me to a senior cashier (male) and queued again he sent me to the fitting room and nothing prepsred me for the reception. I was told there were special mastectomy bras and I declined these she said anyone could claim to have had the op to get out of paying VAT I offered to prove it but got no advice or help. Unfortunately I really like M&S bras.
Catherinejane