Mastectomy is tomorrow, and advice?

one thing at a time
Hi I am just home from my mastectomy and am doing ok. One thing at a time is good advise and for you it is tomorrow at this time it will be done and you will awake and going to your room. Stool softners are a must if you are taking any pain meds. I have an OnQ pump which is a wonderful thing. It pushs novicane type drugs up and around my incision and makes it numb. That comes out tomorrow. My cami has pockets for the drain bulbs and that works really well also. I walked a little outside this morning and took a shower. My nurses suggested cling wrap for showers. It worked pretty good also.Good luck with your surgery and just take one step at a time.

unknown said:

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Start for stretches could be different if lymph nodes removed
I was given ok and shown special stretches two weeks after radical mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Under armpit Stitches need to be healed and staples taken off.

MyTurnNow said:

Lynda, I just wanted to wish
Lynda, I just wanted to wish you a successful surgery tomorrow. My only recommendation would be do not over do it. Just rest and recuperate and let others take care of you. Please let us know how you are doing. Good luck and ((((hugs)))) being sent your way!!

Wishing you a Quick Recovery
Hi!

Good luck tomorrow - it will be over before you know it and you will be back in the comfort of your home. You have been given lots of good suggestions. I got several exercises from the surgeon but not to the extent of previous posts. I did those faithfully and as soon as the drain came out, I started back to my yoga and the elliptical. For that first week with the drain, I drank lots of water, walked, and let others take care of me! Things that button down the front are a must. Also pillows to prop me and my left arm up helped. We didn't have one of those study pillows but one would have come in handy( we've since gotten one in the fall when we saw them in a store during back to school shopping.) I just hope you have my pain free recovery. I didn't need pain meds after the pills they gave me early evening. I took Tylenol for maybe a day and that was it.

All of us are sending positive thoughts your way. Take good care.

Lynda53 said:

mstar thanks for the advice,my biggest
concern is that this dx resulted in finding heart issues, a/fib, rapid beat and more. Although I do not have blockages my heart rate is still very high abd bp very low. Cardio wants to think about some surgery after the surgery, I really do not want anymore, but I am so short of breath and tired tired. My gardens are waitng for my attention!
Well all the "specialists" will be on hand tomorrow and they believe I will be fine.
Peace

I didn't have a mastectomy,
I didn't have a mastectomy, so, I couldn't offer advice. But, I want to offer prayers and strength to you!


Lex♥

n01kar said:

good luck
Having undergone 2 mastecomies in a space of 6 yrs, the best advice i can give you is to take 1 day at a time. The faster you get out of bed and start moving around, the easier and quicker the recovery. Dont baby the arm of the mastectomy, and do the postop exercises as soon as your are permitted to. Also remember to take colace if you are on any narcotic pain medications if you tend to get constipated quickly. The quickest way to bounce back is more of a mind game that a physical one. My 2nd mastectomy was last october and i was feeling like myself in 2-3 days compared to my 1st, 6 yrs ago, it took me a good week or even more to feel ok. The procedure has gotten quite advanced, so there is less down time

All the best and keep smiling

Hi Lynda, I just found your
Hi Lynda, I just found your post and wanted to join with all the others in wishing you well on your surgery tomorrow and hope you heal up quickly. My masectomy is coming in a couple of weeks and I also have heart blockage in 2 arteries. Cardiologist opened up one artery enough for me to have the surgery but I'm going to a new cardiologist and wanted a second opinion. My old dr can't go the the hospital where I'm having my surgery so that's why I need another cardiologist. As of today, first I have the masectomy, then rads, then will have to have some more heart work after I'm thru all this. Again, sending you prayers and hugs on a good recovery. Please post later and let us know how you're doing.