Before my mastectomy, I spent hours upon hours online. I read every single blog and Instagram post I could find about what I would need post surgery to make things as easy as possible. While I found a lot of helpful information, I really wanted something that would lay out what I would need the first month vs. once fills started vs. once I had my reconstruction. I just didn’t want to spend a ton of money on items that I may not need or use or need right away!
So I’m going to do a few posts as I go through this process to try and provide what you’ll need for each stage. This first post is just about items that I found helpful for the first four weeks.
And just in case you’re new, I had a prophylactic nipple sparing mastectomy with tissue expanders on November 18th! Eventually I’ll go back in for silicone OTM implants 🙂
1: MASTECTOMY PILLOW
A mastectomy pillow is my number one! My friend Brittany actually got this one for me as a gift and it was everything! Initially I thought I would just use it in the car, but the day I got home, I fell asleep with it and that started our month long love affair. I used this during the day, when I slept, and in the car. It provided a sense of security and chest protection that I didn’t realize I needed!
2: COMPRESSION BRA
A good compression bra is a must, but if I can give you a word of advice then it would be to NOT spend a ton on them prior to surgery. I panicked over bras and ended up spending upwards of $200 on doctor recommended ones…only to find that they were super uncomfortable for me. They were too tight around my incisions and the sides hit right where my drains were. Ouch!
The hospital gave us these Dale bras which I LOVED (they compressed + didn’t irritate me at all) and I ended up buying more of them on Amazon. You’ll most likely need to change your bra daily, so I would suggest having at least one at home that’s ready to go and then buy more as soon as you figure out what will work for you.
3: A DRAIN BELT
I went back and forth on how I wanted to handle my drains. Did I want a belt? A bathrobe with pockets? A bra with holders? I had no idea. I ended up with a bra with holders and a robe, but didn’t end up using either! The hospital actually gave me a drain belt that I loved and so I ended up using that the whole time.
It had a velcro waist, so the size was adjustable, and then four separate velcro tabs, one for each drain. That made handling them SO easy – or at least easier than it would have been 🙂 They never got tangled and I could wear it in the shower since it could go in the dryer. They don’t sell the exact one online, but I found a similar here. If your hospital gives you a belt like this, just ask for an extra. You only need two to get through!
4: PILL TRACKER
I was lucky enough to have Ben at home who was able to handle my meds and remind me when to take them, but if you don’t have someone who can assist, you’ll need a notebook to keep track of everything! You’ll have antibiotics, main peds, muscle relaxers, stool softeners…so many things, so get a cute notebook and set alarms on your phone so that you don’t miss anything! These cuties are some of my favorites!
5: WEDGE + HALF MOON PILLOW
For the first month after surgery (and probably much longer), you’ll need to sleep on your back. If you’re not used to it, back sleeping can be tough. Ben ended up building me a pillow fort to keep me elevated and comfortable. The base of this masterpiece was a wedge pillow and then I used a half moon pillow (which goes under your knees) to help sleep. It made such a big difference and I would highly recommend.
6: CUP WITH A STRAW
This one sounds simple, but it was one of best gifts I got. Moving your arms right after surgery is tough and so having a cup with a built-in straw made drinking water (for hydration and for pill taking) SO much easier. This one is perfect – I got the marble pattern!
7: SHOWER SEAT + DETACHABLE SHOWER HEAD
For the first week, showers are tough. The first few I took required me to sit and we didn’t have a shower seat which was a bit of a dilemma. Ben ended up scrubbing down one of our waterproof balcony chairs and it worked like a charm. You’ll only really need this chair during week one, so if you have a waterproof/no slip chair at home I would try that first! If you don’t, here’s a good option that’s on Prime!
We also have a detectable shower head which made such a big difference. Ben actually helped me shower for two weeks just to make sure I didn’t put too must water pressure on the chest or get too much water near my drain sites! He was able to spray me down with the detachable shower head and that made it the process so much easier.
8: COUCH CUP HOLDER
This is going to sound silly lol but this thing was SO helpful. This three cup holder held my water, a coffee/tea/protein shake if I had one and then I would put odds and ends in the third slot (think a portable battery, remote control, snacks, your phone, etc.).
9: STOOL SOFTENERS + MIRALAX
The constipation from the pain meds is REAL. Man, was it real. Being constipated and not fully being able to use your chest muscles to push is really tough. Make sure you talk to your doctor to see what they suggest, but stool softeners are a must. We also did Miralax and that was a huge help as well!
10: COZY BLANKETS
You’re going to be spending a ton of time on the couch/in bed, so having blankets you love make that time a bit more enjoyable 🙂
Ben actually bought me two new blankets, one from Amazon and one from Target and I loved both. This pink one is the prettiest and this grey one is so cozy.
11. SILK OR SOFT PJS
At first I tried to wear leggings and a button up top and it was the worst idea! The leggings were so hard to pull up and made sliding in and out bed really hard. The pain meds will also make you super bloated and leggings may be flat out uncomfortable. I would suggest silk or jersey pajamas to make the process easier! I stocked up on these from Target they were life savors!
And that’s it! Do you have any favorite products that I missed? Let me know below!
