Hi there,
I’m having a mastectomy in a week and a half’s time, and I’m wondering what I’ll be able to wear just afterwards - ie, for coming home and for the first few days at home. Will I be able to wear a non-wired bra? Or how about one of those cotton camisole tops with in-built support? Or am I likely to be too sore and unconfortable to wear anything other than loose, high-necked tops? Are button-up tops better than ones you have to pull over your head?
What’s your experience?
Yvonne 
Yvonne,
not sure if your having lymph nodes taken too at same time as your masectomy,
i did when i had mine.
i was too sore to even consider a bra, but i was small breasted,so wasnt that noticeable.
so i wore a loose button fronted blouse with a gillet waistcoat,to leave hospital.
i could not get my arms up to get pull on tops on.
The hospital will give you a softie, its a false boob made of cotton wool, for you to wear.
those cami tops are a good idea if you can get your arms up.
hope everything goes ok for you.
kim -x-
Hi I had a bilateral masectomy on 3 Nov, and they took all the lymph nodes too. I feel fine but arm is still quite stiff. From my experience count on being bra less for more than the first few days! You will def need some front fastening tops ( including pyjamas for when you are in hopsital) I bought a few in Primark so that when I don’t need them any more I won’t feel I’ve wasted too much money!!! I preferred zips rather than buttons, just saved fiddling around! (Primark also raelly good for PJs ) Now I can wear a sports bra but not for more than a couple of hours since I am still quite swollen under the arm. Like Kim I find a padded gilet a really good cover up - I am a 32E so my flat side is quite noticable to me HOWEVER… its amazing waht people dont notice. 3 days after I came out of hospital we went to a ‘do’ & I just wore ‘normal’, clothes with a silky scarf hanging round my neck as a cover up and noone batted an eyelid! Good luck!
Yeah, I’m having all the lymph nodes removed, so it looks like I should take some button-up/zip-up tops. My breast cancer nurse also recommended pyjamas for when I’m in hospital, but I don’t really feel comfortable in pyjamas, so I’m hoping a button-up nightie will do just as well.
Not sure how I’m going to feel going bra-less for a while. I guess in the big scheme of things, it’ll be neither here nor there, but I have a hunch my remaining boob is going to feel pretty weird being let loose from its usual upholstery!
Anyway, thanks for the advice.
Yvonne
I had jammies…tartan ones in hospital and they were well funky…im not a nightie person put it that way. On coming home i wore vest type tops as i wasnt brave enough to try a bra…i think it was a week or so before i wore a bra…but mostly slouched around in vest tops.
Hi Yvonne
I had a left mastectomy and my lymph nodes removed on 3rd October (oh, and a tissue expander put in). I was advised to take in pyjamas that button up the front, but to be honest, due to having three drains in, I found it easier to stay in my hospital gown for my duration in hospital (not the same one for the five days I hasten to add), and saved my new pink PJ’s for when I got home. I was measured up and given two sports bras by my BC Nurse, before I went home, and she gave me some "softies to put in them.
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been wearing M & S Secret Support Tops and have found them really comfortable. They’re only £8 and you can still wear your “softies” in them, and they don’t fall out !
Lots of luck for your operation - you’ll be fine !
Love Julie xxx
Hi Yvonne
I had right mastectomy and full node removal on Tuesday of last week. I wore pj’s in hospital - just the sort with t-shirt top and usual bottoms. Had more trouble getting the bottoms off than I did getting the top on and off. My BN had advised me to take in a sports bra - I bought 2 really nice ones from Mackays (M & Co) - they were only 6 quid each, elasticated round bottom and soft t-shirt type bust - I wore mine from the morning following my operation, along with the ‘comfie’ they provide - wasn’t at all uncomfortable, even with dressings round armpit and drains etc.
Hope everything goes ok for you x
Margaret x
Hi All
There was a hospital checklist, does anyone know where I can find it? I go in tomorrow for surgery on Wednesday and want to be sure I have everything I need to get me through the hospital stay.
Cecelia. x