Suggestions for sleep positions after lumpectomy

I had a lumpectomy on my left side, and I'm a side sleeper. I wore a T-shirt to sleep in (not loose fitted for support), and a king size pillow along my left side and one on the right side. I could lay my arm across the pillow in a somewhat elevated position on the right side. It will be uncomfortable either way for several days due to swelling and bruising. Use ice for breast and lymph nodes removed in the armpit area. Small bags of frozen peas work great for this. Have several in the freezer for rotation. I had them in Ziplock bags too. Make sure doctor prescribes painkillers for at least 7 days if needed. Ibuprofen helps too.

Also, put towels on the bed incase the sutures weep fluid. The sutures in my armpit weeped lymphatic fluid and some blood for 2+ weeks. I had to purchase sterile bandages, 4x4 inches, and gauze cut into mini pads, 3x3 - inches, and change it out at least 2 times each day. No showers for the 1st 2 days. I used hydrogen peroxide to keep sutures/area clean.

Best of luck. I had a lot of swelling and bruising. I needed the painkillers, so make sure you get enough for 7 days. I had an egg sized lump in armpit area. Doctor said it was OK to allow for some drainage from this area because it alleviated more swelling and pressure/pain. Monitor for any signs of infection such as turning red and feeling hot around all sutures. I had glue sutures on my Breast and left it there until it finally fell off in the shower 4 weeks post surgery. You can barely see the surgical cut line now.

No heavy lifting for at least 2 weeks. Driving was a little difficult with having to turn the wheel. I tried to avoid driving for 1 week. Only if absolutely needed.

I needed 4 weeks of recovery due to the amount of swelling and bruising. I'm in physical therapy to help with limited range of arm motion. Exercises are helping with this. Don't be afraid to ask for this. It does help to get me ready for radiation therapy. I will start this in about 2 weeks.

Yea, my recovery was a little bit longer than anticipated. They took 3 Sentinel lymph nodes identified by the radioactive dye they injected in the OR. Slick process. I also had a large tumor, at the upper end for a lumpectomy. I had Neoadjuvant chemo treatments 1st which did help to shrink the tumor so I qualified for the lumpectomy. 6 cycles every 3 weeks. Month off to recover from chemo before surgery in mid March. I went and stayed with friends in Mexico starting 2 weeks post surgery. Before I left my surgeon drained some blood that had pooled in area of tumor which really helped. I stayed in Mexico for 4 weeks. Restarted on Herceptin and Perjeta targeted chemo drugs when I returned. I'll be on these infusions every 3 weeks through at least October. Just saw my surgeon and she cleared me for radiation therapy. I meet my Radiologist Oncologist next week to hear what she proposes. Number of treatments and rad dosage. I'm hoping for fewer treatments and possibly no need to zap armpit area since I had a pCR pathology report for the tumor and lymph nodes. No cancer cells found. The chemo drugs worked. No residual cancer, at least they hope so. Herceptin and Perjeta are needed as an insurance type policy to make sure if any cancer cells escaped they'll be taken care of. I'm HER2 positive breast cancer, stage 2.

Hope this helps.