I’ll be having a single mastectomy and sentinel lymph node removal in about 10 days. No reconstruction. I’ve been told I could be in hospital 3 to 5 days and will have limited arm movement on the afftected side. I hate the thought of not being able to look after my own personal care. Will I be able to clean my teeth, wash, go to the toilet by myself, make a cuppa, dress myself etc and how soon after the operation? Thanks in advance.
@littlefish
That sounds quite a long time…
I had my mastectomy and sentinel lymph removal as a day patient. My surgeon doesn’t use drains so maybe that’s the difference?
I was in the shower next day and washing my hair. Bought strappy vest tops and I could step into them and pull up, then zip up hoody over the top-affected arm in first. No help needed. Could make my cuppa and dinner (altho let my family do it to make them feel needed 
).
You’ll be given exercises to do, please do them to maximise your movement especially if you need radiotherapy afterwards.
As I said may be different with drains but I found the recovery fairly straightforward and kept my independence.
Hope all goes well
X
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Thx. I will be having drains so maybe that does make a difference to length of stay. Sounds like you were able to be pretty mobile quite soon which is positive. I don’t think I’ll be a very patient patient😒
Hi there, i had an overnightstay after a mastectony…came home with drain which and the district nurses visited me at home…managed personal care ok…everything just took that much longer…pain was ok…managed on paracetamol …but everyone reacts differently to surgery and pain so im not saying thiss will be yoy…just telking you my story …they discharged me with cocodamol …so it was there if needed .
Hope all goes well 
@littlefish
I had right side mastectomy and node removal stayed in overnight came home with drains , you need a v pillow as you have to sleep on your back , I also had a small pillow for under your arm it helps
I couldn’t shower could do bottom half in shower but couldn’t get top half wet so just flannel wash , washed my hair over sink with hubbies help , 1 wore zip up M&S bra as hard to lift your arm they do give you exercises to do when drains come out . Good luck wish you well x
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Thx @charlottebee I have my little cushion and v shaped on “to do” list, so good to know you found those helpful. I’m amazed how different hosp seem to do things differently. I asked abt district nurse help for drains (don’t want to be in hosp any longer than nec) but told it wouldn’t be available here, hence I guess the predicted length of my hosp stay. Also have been told I need to do exercises from day after surgery. All so bewildering.
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A great idea about the strappy vest tops, hadn’t thought of that! Been looking for ones that button up and don’t seem to exist!
Hi strange all different trusts do something different I was told my arm mustn’t lift any higher than my shoulder first week !! Heart little pillow was helpful especially in car coming home stopped seat belt rubbing , I just bought pjs button through easy to get on and some blouses and leggings something easy to get on and off xx
@charlottebee where did you get your heart pillow from please? I’m flummoxed by the variety of size/shape etc available and don’t know what to buy!
Hi Pat it was a present from my daughter
I think Amazon or Etsy do them , need to be fairly small to rest under your arm , I think you might get them from cancer uk .
Hi littlefish
I had a single mastectomy & 39 lymph nodes removed. I only stayed in overnight & came home with a drain. The hospital gave me cocodemol but I only took 2 as I didn’t need them.
I could use my arm but obviously not as much as before. The main restriction is lifting it up but I could do all those things that you listed but my husband helped me wash in the bath as I couldn’t get the dressing wet. To be honest I enjoyed being looked after! 
Once the drain was removed, I wore crop tops which I pulled up from my feet so I didn’t have to raise my arm. Much easier than doing up a front opening bra - which I did try.
The exercises are a great help in recovery. I still do them 2 years down the line to avoid lymphodema.
All the best for a speedy recovery xx
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Thanks. I will investigate
Another day case, home with a drain. I carried on sort of as normal afterwards. Didn’t hit the gym or swim obvs nor carried heavy stuff until healed.
I showered and hairwashed with a homemade cape fashioned from a very large supermarket carrier bag (as in the bag was huge). The showerhead was lowered so it was below my shoulders.
TBH the mastectomy was the easiest bit of my treatment.
I hope your op goes well and all the best recovering.
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Thx @Gelbel. Interesting idea re the shopping bag. I’ve been told not to shwr while drains are in so mite have to isolate from rest of humanity until they are out!
She didn’t mention it, though she did mention that I’ll be given a front opening bra. I’ll be talking to her next week so I’ll ask her. Thanks
Hi.
May I ask a personal question and that is why have you been told you could be kept in for 3-5 days? I ask because when I had my mastectomy, I was sent home the next day with a drain and told to recover from there. As regards to personal care, didn’t have much choice as sent home, but I was fortunate to not have any surgery or arm issues afterwards, so was able to recover within reason. Just had to get on with it and a district nurse facility wasn’t available or mentioned. I did awkwardly shower with a drain, but had to hold it out the way from the shower head, so just showering on one side and a soap wipe over on the other. After 7 days, was back to the hospital to check the drain. I bought the v pillow off Ebay I think and they’re usually a standard size I think.
Just curious if this send home next day has been changed in the last 3 yrs or so.
I know this varies from person to person experience.
@Concerned75 It’s bizarre isn’t it. I’ve read abt others going home same/next day and online NHS info says that’s not uncommon. I asked abt going home next day and whether district nurses might call to deal with drains (which happened to friend in another area who had lumpectomy) but was told if I insisted on going home and was well enough to do so my other half would need to deal with drains not district nurses. Another person I know who is having a lumpectomy here has also been told she needs to stay 3 to 5 days. Perhaps they say that to everyone and then throw us out sooner. Time will tell!
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