what to wear

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cahjah75
cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My bilateral mastectomies are next Tuesday and I don't own clothes that open in the front. Because of shoulder issues I have to carefully put one hand in sleeve and pull over head. Why is it that everyone says to get clothes/nightgowns that open in the front??? My surgeon said I will only have drains if lymph nodes are involved. Help, I'm starting to panic...

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  • GregStahl
    GregStahl Member Posts: 188
    #2
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    If you
    have a mastectomy, you will have drains. It is easier to have shirts that open in the front so you do not need to raise your arms over your head to get dressed and if you dont have any, be sure to get white cotten shirt (at least what our surgeon told my wife to wear for 3 to 4 weeks).
    Ruby is now able to wear loose tank tops after 6 days post-op.
  • GregStahl
    GregStahl Member Posts: 188
    #3
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    Oh
    Good luck with your surgery Tuesday, my thoughs and prayers will be with you.
    Greg
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #4
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    GregStahl said:

    Oh
    Good luck with your surgery Tuesday, my thoughs and prayers will be with you.
    Greg

    Thanks
    I guess I really do need good luck. I don't know why my surgeon's nurse told me I would only have a drain if lymph nodes were involved. Because of several shoulder surgeries I can't put on button up shirts. I squirm into stretchy over-the-head tops. I also wear a CPAP to bed that I need to raise my arm to put on...... Don't know what's going to happen!
    Charlene

    Hope your wife is doing well now.
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #5
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    Velcro
    If bottons or zipper fronts are not an option..... you can use iron-on or sew-on velcro down the front of a shirt.....nice and easy to open and close.
    Good luck with your surgery next week.....thoughts will be going your way!
  • Kgy
    Kgy Member Posts: 30
    #6
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    cahjah75 said:

    Thanks
    I guess I really do need good luck. I don't know why my surgeon's nurse told me I would only have a drain if lymph nodes were involved. Because of several shoulder surgeries I can't put on button up shirts. I squirm into stretchy over-the-head tops. I also wear a CPAP to bed that I need to raise my arm to put on...... Don't know what's going to happen!
    Charlene

    Hope your wife is doing well now.

    Buttons!
    I thought the same and didn't have any shirts that buttoned up the front. I went a head a got them and before the surgery I would leave the buttons buttoned and pull it over my head. After the surgery thou I was really glad cuse it was hard for a few days to raise my arms to put on the shirt! Drove me crazy at first but at my first apt Dr. was happy about my ability to move my arms! hehe Bottom line do what ya need but it sure was easy at the Dr. office they let me leave on the shirt and just unbuttoned for the exams.

    Good luck sending loads of love your way.

    Kim
  • greyhoundluvr
    greyhoundluvr Member Posts: 402
    #7
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    Cahjah75 -
    Good luck with your surgery - I will be thinking about you. Your surgeon may be doing something a little differently but like Greg said, usually you are going to have drains with a mastectomy (a drain for each mastectomy site, a drain for each expander site if you are having reconstruction, and then probably an additional drain if the lympg nodes are involved). So usually at least two if you are having a bilateral done. I don't have shirts with buttons either - I used my very loose nightgowns and oversized T-shirts and pinned the drains inside them. I didn't have any problems with it because I was able to put the main surgical side in first and then the other side moved easier to get the shirt over my head. The only thing you might want to consider is if your shoulder problems are on the opposite side from where the cancer is located, to could be a little tougher to get something that doesn't open over your head. I hope your surgery goes well and you have an easy recovery!

    Chris
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #8
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    Oversized pull on shirts?
    I would think that with your shoulder issues you might use the loosest of your pullovers and have some one help you pull them over your head after arms are in them. Sort of scoup your head into the neck and then pulled down? I only had a single mast. but I had no problems with getting my turtle necks on (it was in Feb which is VERY cold in SOUTH Dakota) and I always wear thermies, turtle neck, flannel and a sweatshirt to try to stay warm (LOL). I believe that had I had a double, I could still have gotten my pullovers on by myself slowly or quicker with a bit of help.

    I bought a pair of flannel PJ's to take to the hospital but decided it wasn't worth the effort - just wore the hosp. gown the night I was there.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #9
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    GregStahl said:

    If you
    have a mastectomy, you will have drains. It is easier to have shirts that open in the front so you do not need to raise your arms over your head to get dressed and if you dont have any, be sure to get white cotten shirt (at least what our surgeon told my wife to wear for 3 to 4 weeks).
    Ruby is now able to wear loose tank tops after 6 days post-op.

    Everyone is NOT the same!
    The only time I was told to wear white cotton (t-shirts in this case) was while my rad. burns were oozing so bad we could not keep bandages on them. Surgeon just said wear what's comfortable.

    What is "easier" for "you" may not be easier for someone else.
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #10
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    thanks
    Thanks for all your comments. The problem w/my shoulders is I have no humeral head on the left arm and a reverse total shoulder prosthesis in right arm. It took me many months of physical therapy to snuggle my head with right hand to get shirts on. That's why I got rid of everything with buttons. However, today I went to Goodwill and Kohl's. I got 1 sleeveless shirt and 2 short sleeve shirts and 2 tank dresses. I called the store at my hospital and I'm being fitted for a camisole on Friday that zips up the front. It will even have boobs in it! At home I'm planning on living in my nightgowns that all have buttons. Another problem I have is being able to put my CPAP headgear on my head. I'll figure something out....
    Char
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #11
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    greyhoundluvr said:

    Cahjah75 -
    Good luck with your surgery - I will be thinking about you. Your surgeon may be doing something a little differently but like Greg said, usually you are going to have drains with a mastectomy (a drain for each mastectomy site, a drain for each expander site if you are having reconstruction, and then probably an additional drain if the lympg nodes are involved). So usually at least two if you are having a bilateral done. I don't have shirts with buttons either - I used my very loose nightgowns and oversized T-shirts and pinned the drains inside them. I didn't have any problems with it because I was able to put the main surgical side in first and then the other side moved easier to get the shirt over my head. The only thing you might want to consider is if your shoulder problems are on the opposite side from where the cancer is located, to could be a little tougher to get something that doesn't open over your head. I hope your surgery goes well and you have an easy recovery!

    Chris

    Wishing you good luck with
    Wishing you good luck with your surgery on Tuesday!
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #12
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    GregStahl said:

    Oh
    Good luck with your surgery Tuesday, my thoughs and prayers will be with you.
    Greg

    Sending you good wishes and
    Sending you good wishes and luck for your surgery!

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