What did you wear?

belindar
belindar Member Posts: 12
in Breast Cancer #1
I will be having a mastectomy soon & want to buy myself some new pajamas to recover in. However, I find that I can't decide on what style to get and am hoping that some one in here can help. I worry that the T-shirt & bottoms might rub on the drainage tube, the tank & bottoms might be to exposed, anything with bottoms will be to hard to pull up & down, a night shirt might rub, etc. As you can see, I have no idea what to expect.

What did you find the most comfortable to wear in the weeks after surgery?

Comments

  • serenity92
    serenity92 Member Posts: 84
    #2
    I couldnt do anything I had
    I couldnt do anything I had to pull over my head, as I just couldnt lift my arms that high. I lived in oversize soft button front pajama tops and sweat pants. I pinned my drain tubes to my ace bandage so they didnt interfere with or snag on my bottoms. For leaving the house a support friend bought me button front blouses two sizes two big from the goodwill. Than when I was better they could just be redonated as they didnt have the best memories attached to them. Hugs. jayne
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    We're all different
    For me, what I was most comfortable in before surgery was what I was most comfortable in after. It's "ME".

    I did buy a pair of button front flannel PJ's as 'everyone' said 'you' would need them as could not get anything not button front on after surgery. I have lots of button flannel shirts and zip sweatshirts so didn't think about getting any more. Also they were quite baggy as between starting A/C and surgery I had lost 20 -25 lbs.

    We are all different and certainly many/most do have a lot of pain with moving the arm on surgery side and limited ROM but for me there was some pain/discomfort but not 'bad' at all and ROM was only slightly limited. I left the hospital the day after surgery wearing the turtleneck I had worn in the day before and the same pull over sweat shirt - not the flannel shirt and zip sweat I had brought.

    Drains - they were a bit of a bother. I used a bandage pin (huge safety pin used with horse bandages) to hook them to my right backside belt loop of jean (stuffed the extra tubing in a loop so not pinched in back pocket so it didn't hang below shirt) during the day or pinned to sweats at night. Never had any problems. There was enough length to tubing to carefully lower jeans/sweats for bathroom. One drain was in 2 weeks, the other 4 weeks. I'm a 'tubby' person so batheing was not a problem - just layed the drain bulb on the soap dish on the wall.

    I never had any issues with rubbing where the drains came out of body.

    We are each so unique that there is no way anyone can know what they will experience until you do - some have better experiences and some worse. Be prepared but don't expect the worse or the best. If you'll feel better to buy some new stuff GO FOR IT but if you'll feel more comfortable with minimal changes GO FOR IT. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' - 'no one size/way fits all'.

    Thoughts and prayers.

    Susan
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #4
    Rague said:

    We're all different
    For me, what I was most comfortable in before surgery was what I was most comfortable in after. It's "ME".

    I did buy a pair of button front flannel PJ's as 'everyone' said 'you' would need them as could not get anything not button front on after surgery. I have lots of button flannel shirts and zip sweatshirts so didn't think about getting any more. Also they were quite baggy as between starting A/C and surgery I had lost 20 -25 lbs.

    We are all different and certainly many/most do have a lot of pain with moving the arm on surgery side and limited ROM but for me there was some pain/discomfort but not 'bad' at all and ROM was only slightly limited. I left the hospital the day after surgery wearing the turtleneck I had worn in the day before and the same pull over sweat shirt - not the flannel shirt and zip sweat I had brought.

    Drains - they were a bit of a bother. I used a bandage pin (huge safety pin used with horse bandages) to hook them to my right backside belt loop of jean (stuffed the extra tubing in a loop so not pinched in back pocket so it didn't hang below shirt) during the day or pinned to sweats at night. Never had any problems. There was enough length to tubing to carefully lower jeans/sweats for bathroom. One drain was in 2 weeks, the other 4 weeks. I'm a 'tubby' person so batheing was not a problem - just layed the drain bulb on the soap dish on the wall.

    I never had any issues with rubbing where the drains came out of body.

    We are each so unique that there is no way anyone can know what they will experience until you do - some have better experiences and some worse. Be prepared but don't expect the worse or the best. If you'll feel better to buy some new stuff GO FOR IT but if you'll feel more comfortable with minimal changes GO FOR IT. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' - 'no one size/way fits all'.

    Thoughts and prayers.

    Susan

    I wore button front pajamas
    I wore button front pajamas and knit night shirts that buttoned like a henley but lower to sleep in and sweats and a big sweatshirt during the day. Anything comfortable. I had bandages which stopped the rubbing. Then went to undershirts, like the t-shirts I wore as a child. The cotton was soft, in fact they were men's.

    The surgeon had me walking the walls the next day, and had me so afraid of not being able to use my arms, so I had no problem lifting them so getting dressed was never an issue.

    Good luck, you will find like Susan said, whatever I was comfortable in before was pretty much what I wore during healing.

    Hugs and prayers.
    Carol
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #5
    PJ pants, a cami, and zip front hoodies with inside pockets
    Stuck the drains in the inside pocket. But it was November.

    Good luck to you,

    Jennifer
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #6
    Clothes
    I agree with everyone on button up tops. No way could I have put something on over my head. I kinda scoured the sales racks or outlet stores for shirts. Pants I wore scrub pants and I found some called yoga pants. They were so comfortable. A local cancer support group made this apron like things that my tubes went in. It was nice they also had made small little pillows to go between me and the seatbelt. Go for comfort. Cute went out the window til I got better. Hope this helps.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
    AMomNETN said:

    Clothes
    I agree with everyone on button up tops. No way could I have put something on over my head. I kinda scoured the sales racks or outlet stores for shirts. Pants I wore scrub pants and I found some called yoga pants. They were so comfortable. A local cancer support group made this apron like things that my tubes went in. It was nice they also had made small little pillows to go between me and the seatbelt. Go for comfort. Cute went out the window til I got better. Hope this helps.

    We're All Different5.
    Seat belts were never an issue with surgery or port. Still have my port 2 1/2 + yrs later and no problems.

    Susan
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #8
    Rague said:

    We're All Different5.
    Seat belts were never an issue with surgery or port. Still have my port 2 1/2 + yrs later and no problems.

    Susan

    Excellent suggestions from our Sisters in PINK !
    Just my 2 cents ...

    2 size larger .. button up shirts -- cotton for me was comfortable --

    I also used safety pins to adhere those pesky drains inside my shirt -- Please make
    sure RN shows you 'how to' milk your drains -- as they often get clogged.

    I also rolled up a hand towel to place between the seat belt, and my breast --
    helped me with the ride back and forth to follow up appointments with my Plastic
    surgeon.

    ===========
    tips:


    take pain medication when necessary. Multiple pillows in various, sizes help with sleeping on your back.

    Please have cups, saucers, plates at arm level - as well as re-arranging your fridge for more commonly used items at arm levels. Tide/Downy small container sizes - also at arm level. Reaching up and grabbing heavy items -- will tear your stitches, as well as hurt your arms. Muscles and tissue in breast, as well as arm areas will be cut,moved and sewn back together.

    I tried to take a bath ..but hence could not pull myself out of the our spa tub, no muscles or strength in my arms after bilateral mastectomy.. It took my husband, and daughter some time to pull me out of the tub == without hurting me. Not a pretty time, or sight to say the least. So I opted to shower ...My husband removed our shower head, and replaced it with a flex hose type so I could shower maneuvering the flex hose from waist down, as well as place shower water under my arms.

    Lastly, please make sure you do your exercises as prescribed by Plastic Surgeon, and Physical Therapist.

    Strength, Courage, Hope and Speedy recovery.

    Vicki Sam
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #9
    It Was Summer Time
    I had a double mastectomy. Dearest friend bought me a light weight, soft, sleeveless cotton nightgown with a matching robe. I loved it. It was easy to get into and most comfortable. I also did not have a problem with the robe. It was the best gift that I received and I was so thankful to my friend for being so thoughtful.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janele
  • Frankie Shannon
    Frankie Shannon Member Posts: 457
    #10
    My friend got me button up
    My friend got me button up P.J's with pockets where my breasts use to be and i put the drain tubes in the pockets,worked out great,they where cotton,as soon as the drains where out the following week i got some soft button up P.J.'s.
    Hugs Frankie
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #11
    Frankie Shannon said:

    My friend got me button up
    My friend got me button up P.J's with pockets where my breasts use to be and i put the drain tubes in the pockets,worked out great,they where cotton,as soon as the drains where out the following week i got some soft button up P.J.'s.
    Hugs Frankie

    I wore button up as well. I
    I wore button up as well. I also got a jacket from Komen that held the drains. I returned it cleaned called a Jaqui My hospital gave an appliance that stuck to my skin and I could put my drain through it. I recommend a soft small pillow. I got it at target. I rested my arm on it in the car and while sitting on the couch. I even used it to get comfortable in bed. My arm was most comfortable with the lower part resting on the pillow in the car.
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #12
    I wore a button up short
    I wore a button up short (but not too short) nightgown. As an NP, I knew that they would be needing front access. I also brought a comfy robe and slippers and began walking asap. Hope this helps!

    P.S. That pretty short button-up nightgown served me well. I wore it again after reconstruction and other surgeries. It ended up with my sister-in-law after she had a C/S.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #14
    I wore zip or button up
    I wore zip or button up fronts, I couldn't find anything with inside pockets, so I put my drains in my jogging type pants pockets. Here's praying your surgery goes well and you recover quickly.
    Big Hugs & Miles of Love,
    Kari

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