I’m booked in for a single side mastectomy (no reconstruction) next week and a few questions have just been floating around. Any thoughts welcome!
- I wear contact lenses usually but considering wearing my glasses due to being ‘asleep’ for a while, plus mobility straight afterwards?
- Did your partners wait around during surgery or did you just let them know when you were out - & equally how did this work, did you have to wait for your phone or did the hospital contact them?
- Looking at the dates I think I might also be on my period (what luck!
) don’t know whether to just double up to try and avoid any issues.
- I watched someone’s instagram about what they took and they took throat numbing spray as they found it a bit uncomfortable afterwards, I think their surgery was longer than mine should be so just wondering if this was something you had experienced?
Regarding the contact lenses I don’t know if they might ask you to remove them. They are certainly funny about other “loose” things. You might be more comfortable not wearing them, as you will have your eyes shut for a couple of hours.
When I had a mastectomy (left side) it was in 2020 so no one was allowed to stay on the ward at all. In 2023 when I had a right side lumpectomy my partner didn’t wait with me. It wasn’t encouraged at the hospital. I went to the ward at about 7am and my surgery wasn’t till 11 am at the earliest (can’t quite remember). I had my mobile and called him when I was ready to be picked up around 5pm. I’ve an idea he called the ward mid-afternoon for an update.
I can’t advise about periods, but I am sure someone will be along with their experience.
I don’t recall any problems with a sore throat after either operation.
Things you could ask about are if you will have a drain do they provide a bag for the bottle. My hospital did, but reading others on here it seems like this is the exception.
Also some hospitals provide a small heart shaped cushion. Mine didn’t, but someone bought one for me and I found it very useful.
All the best with the surgery
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Hey, wishing you all the best for next week 
I had a single mastectomy (no recon) a few months ago — here’s what helped me:
- Definitely go with glasses, they’ll make things easier after.
- My partner waited nearby, and the hospital called when I was in recovery — maybe double-check what yours does.
- If your period shows up, don’t stress — just use pads and let the nurses know, they’re used to it.
- My throat was a bit sore after, but nothing major — water and lozenges did the trick.
You’ve got this. Rest up and take it slow after 