I have read in different threads that there are items which have been particularly helpful to individuals when in hospital undergoing surger for breast cancer. I thought it would be really helpful to all those who are going into hospital for surgery to read and note what people have and have not found helpful.
Please share your tips and suggestions on what you found most helpful so that others can benefit from those who have already been there. Please do also include anything you found particularly unhelpful as well.
EG what sort of nightwear did you find most comfortable when connected to drips and drains?
pyjamas with a top that buttons full length - if you’re going for recon make sure they’re a bit on the large size to account for swelling
dressing gown with large pockets - helps to put drains in pockets when walking around
make sure you top up your mobile phone before going to hospital - it’s a hassle if you run out of money without being able to top up because sometimes you need to phone friends of family for things
a bottle of cordial/juice, some fruit or sweets to snack on - basically, something refreshing for if you can’t eat properly
Earplugs! Even though I had an individual room the noise of other patients’ drips ‘pinging’ and other general hub-bub would have kept me awake at night if I hadn’t taken my trusty earplugs.
Paper and pen to write notes. Useful to write down questions for when the doctor comes round or for when staff give yout useful bits of information.
Normal clothes that are easy to put on (i.e. not tight t-shirts which have to be put on and off over your head)! Unless asleep in bed I have never understood why hospital patients stay in pyjamas all day. I was in hospital for 6 days when I had my mastectomy and changed into normal clothes the day after the op.
Your favourite shampoo and shower gel. That first post-surgery shower feels so refreshing so it’ll be even nicer with your favourite smellies.
A cushion to use in the car on the way home. To put it between you and the seatbelt to make it more comfortable.
Lavender bag/pot pourri bag to hang on your bed/bedside cabinet - hospitals aren’t always the most pleasantly fragrant of places.
Some hospital wards/inpatient rooms have pinboards by beds so it’s handy to have some drawing pins to put up the cards you may receive. There’s never much room on the top of the bedside cabinet.
Just to add another - as well as a cushion or pillow for the seat belt, I’ve also found it helps to have one to support my arm which has been very painful following axillary clearance and subsequent surgeries.
Also, if you’re in for a long stay something like an Ipod can be good for the long, sleepless nights and to drown out other noises.
Your phone charger so you can charge phone up when your visitors are with you as no one notices you are doing this! ( some hospitals say you can’t so it’s a sneaky way of doing it)
Put your wash bag on table right next to bed so it’s within easy reach when you come back after surgery. You can get your baby wipes out,lip balm. Especially if you can sleep or up early so your not rummaging around for it.
I took antibacterial wipes and wiped the table before I put my goodies on it.also great for cleaning hands.
A couple of snacks incase breakfast is late and you need something on tummy in morning especially after a lot or before pain killers.
Earplugs and a sleep mask. As wards are bright and very noisy.
A bottle of water with a sports top lid as easy to get to at night for a drink even if lying down.
My family made me a flask of tea and brought it in when they visited and I drank that as I couldn’t sleep at nights. This was fantastic as tea didn’t come until nearly 10! in the morning and last cuppa was at 8 at night! So I was gasping for a cuppa.
A long scarf to put around your neck as it helps disguise your boobs if you haven’t had a recon and softie is uncomfortable to wear. I felt very self conscious of being lop sided and this helped me feel camouflaged .i doubt anyone even noticed while I left hospital but it helped me.
Balmed tissues - the hospital ones are harsh. The oxygen cannula kept making my nose run so I was constantly wiping it and it quickly became sore. Take a small tin of vaseline for the same reason.
Pair of comfy slippers - my feet were swollen for a couple of days because of the anaesthetic.
I had full mastectomy and ANC and was told, because of infection risk, not to put deodorant on the armpit on the affected side until the scar had fully healed.
Forgot to add. Comments
pyjamas or night shirt with buttoned front - allows for drain to hang out, wet wipes for hands face and privates, parfume to feel nice and normal. Dressing gownn and easy slippers. Easy clothes to get back into - buttoned top. I had long loose skirt to pull on and long boots with socks yo pull on! Not elegant. Could not learn how to brush hair with wrong hand. Could not wash hands under taps with 2 things hanging out of back of hands so used wet wipes… Took in vitamin c dicsolvable to keep off infection…
I’m also just through my max and DIEP recon. I had two hospital bags - one for going in initially and another ready for my husband to bring in. I never used the second bag.
I didn’t need
pants until I went home because of the drain site. This is upsetting so be prepared.
Any clothes at all - they check the flap and the drains all the time so gowns are better
Deodrant - as someone has said
I did use - alot
Baby wipes
lip salve
Ear plugs on one night (Notting Hill Carnival the ward was really busy)
I phone with some tv and radio programmes downloaded onto it. (You do need someone to charge it for you as you can’t initially get out of bed to do that).
Toothbrush and toothpaste - day 2 I got into the bathroom by myself and this gave me such a feeling of freshness
Flannels - I felt I wanted a clean one every day.
Fruit - they kept blueberries in the fridge for me and they really helped me eat at breakfast time.
Food can be an issue - they tell you to eat to recover but I found eating really difficult for a few days after the long op. If you fancy someone get a friend or partner to bring it in.
My hospital gave me an over the shoulder fabric bag to carry my drain in - I asked about them as it was so very helpful and beautifully made and was told they are made by former patients. I guess they have been through it and know how much they help.
The best piece of advice I got from this thread was when you are going home, get someone to bring a pillow in. If you hold it close against your chest during the drive home it really stops you feeling the bumps and knocks - I took mine everywhere for the first couple of weeks!
Thank you to everyone who has posted useful advice, it was so helpful to read as I prepared to go into hospital for mastectomy and reconstruction. Although out the next day I found the lip balm invaluable and also throat sweets, as mentioned before your throat can be sore. I was also provided with a handmade shoulder bag in which to carry the drain bottle-as posted earlier these were made by previous patients and were brilliant as it allowed me freedom of movement. A cushion to use under the seatbelt made car travel a lot more comfortable. I appreciate all the advice in this thread as it gave me something I could be in control of, if only packing my bag! Thank you.
M&S have some silky looking pjs in with a button front. Quite respectable ones, I wish I had had slippy PJs to help move myself up the bed when I had the mastectomies- will buy some for the DIEP.
I felt much more in control just packing these bits and pieces.
The lip balm was my vital item. And ear plugs.
And a kiwi fruit drink for post op functioning bowels. Those drugs really jam you up.
The only thing I needed was tea bags. At my hospital they lock up the tea so the visitors dont drink it all and I was positively gasping on mealtime rations.
Its a comforting thing a nice hot cup of tea.
The cancer society provided a lovely heart shaped pillow, bliss and a wee shoulder bag to carry my drain in. So thoughtful.
Tucked a pillow in between me and the seat belt and car ride home was fine too.
I took in a pair of knitted ballet shoe type slippers that I had been given for Christmas. They have a " sticky/ grippy" sole and are so light weight they are perfect for initial excursions out of bed ! So glad I have them with me!
Also be prepared for tissue swelling! I presume I have had more because it was bilateral , but a loose style nightshirt 2 sizes up from what I normally wear is the only one I can get into. Pjs get in the way of the tummy stitches. To be honest, I wore hospital gowns for the first three days. They were so much easier, I really didn’t care how I looked!
Like JillyBee I have been following this thread and found it very useful preparation. I go in on Monday and have my bag just about completed, so thank you to all the ladies who have posted here!