Hospital’nightie’ for mastectomy

[Northernlassie12345]

Hi all so to be confirmed I think I’m looking at a double mastectomy in the coming weeks. Just wanting to get stuff sorted asap one being what to wear comfortably ( will be in for a couple of nights at least I think) I don’t like pyjamas and need cotton or at least nothing too synthetic. Any ideas , recommendations or experience?
Thanks!!

Drains - my hospital gave me drain bags both times, they are long handled bags you wear cross body (mainly) to hold onto the drain bag. Drain bags are like smaller catheter bags and you'll be shown how to change them (make sure you are shown, I struggled with my first one).

I also had under arm heart shaped soft pillows, mine were from a charity that has now ceased, I'll see if I can find any links, you tuck the Pillows under your arms to take the pressure off your surgery sites.

Be ready if you are staying in hospital overnight, have book, kindle phone, powerbank, earbuds etc to hand, ideally in a bag so that you can get at them.

Thankyou for your kind message xxxI’m fortunate in that counseling is available in my hospital. I ‘m still waiting on treatment plan so will ask about it then I think.

Thanks yes you’re right I’ll start getting a bag ready pretty soon as things can seem slow now but I know it can speed up all of a sudden . Those pillows sound good !

Yes I’m the same, definitely couldn’t sleep in PJs. Re the drains, I opted for no reconstruction so I think that was a contributing factor, but my surgeon also said he just generally prefers not to use them where it can be avoided. I had a very straightforward op and easy recovery anyway, so not complaining. Hopefully yours will be the same

No, I didn’t have a reconstruction. I couldn’t face it. But they said I could choose to have one even years later if I wanted. Mine was a recurrence of the cancer I’d had the year before in the same breast that I’d had a lumpectomy for. This second time, they tried another lumpectomy and sentinel nodes removal that wasn’t successful, so I then had a mastectomy. The second mastectomy was a year later and was elective. But no drains on any of my surgeries (four in total).

Also, I’m sadly a hospital veteran. Here’s what I have in my go bag:

• medications, and a written list of medications
• books or Kindle or magazines or whatever you like to read
• noise-cancelling headphones or ear plugs (all hospitals are noisy at night and maybe you’re more of a podcast person)
• a handheld fan (your hospital may be freezing, but this is always a good idea just in case as some are very warm in the winter)
• period pants or large, overnight pads (you may have some slight incontinence whilst you’re groggy and on painkillers after surgery, OR you may not at all, jut best to be prepared; also the bodily stress of surgery can cause strange things to happen to periods - early starts, spotting, etc).
• something that comforts you (I’m an adult who still has stuffies so I had one in hospital and I was definitely not the only one; consider bringing some bags of your favorite tea or whatever you find comforts you)
• slip-on footwear! These don’t have to be slippers - they can be Croc-like shoes or flip flops or yes, slippers.
• spare “going home” outfit (a pair of track bottoms and a hoodie for me)
• pyjamas
• extra socks
• the longest charging cables you can get your hands on 😂

Thanks! Yeah I’m really thinking of not have a reconstruction. It just seems too long an op, and both breasts have had radiotherapy for past misbehavior so more chance of healing problems I think. I don’t think I can be doing with it. An easy op coming home in the evening sounds perfect!! 😊

I'm looking at these for a hospital stay.

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc146890835

I hope your op is a success and that you have an uncomplicated recovery.

The Pillows are like these, you may find that your hospital or cancer centre will give you them.

https://shop.cancerresearchuk.org/products/post-surgery-heart-comfort-cushion

With double mastectomy you'll have very little movement in that first night so make sure whoever is with you helps you to have all your "bits" (kindle etc) in reaching distance.

Assume you won't sleep that first night if you stay in.

My second mastectomy was risk reducing and I was so relieved when it was done. I did have direct to implant reconstruction, but the decision is different for each of us

Ok so more less the same as me. ( except I also had a separate BC in the other breast which I now want away with too! ) And yes I can’t face a reconstruction either, at least not for now. How are you finding living ‘flat’ ( don’t feel obliged to answer if you don’t want to) I’m thinking of getting padded bra top things for a bit of shape?

Ok so more less the same as me. ( except I also had a separate BC in the other breast which I now want away with too! ) And yes I can’t face a reconstruction either, at least not for now. How are you finding living ‘flat’ ( don’t feel obliged to answer if you don’t want to) I’m thinking of getting padded bra top things for a bit of shape?

Good advice from everyone above can I just add I found giant safety pins the kilt sort really useful for pinning the drain tubing to clothing.
When you start walking about the excess tubing gets caught on everything especially door handles…..nightmare
heart shaped cushions are a must.
you won’t need it but I wish you luck.

I’m fine with it and am glad I didn’t have a reconstruction. I initially wore my prostheses all the time and then I went through a long stage of never wearing them, defining myself as flat, but now I’ve have gone back to wearing the prostheses again.

@Northernlassie12345 Good luck with surgery OP, hope you get better.

I've got nothing to add to the discussion, I just wanted to offer you my best wishes 💐

Just came to say good luck, I think everything I was going to say has been said. I had a mastectomy with diep reconstruction in June this year.

Had a mastectomy in 2022 and a delayed DIEP last year in April 25. Ask me anything? Drains every time. 4 after the DIEP.

Primark have recently brought out an adaptive clothing range, with poppers, tube holes etc that look pretty clever.

I had a mastectomy initially no reconstruction, out same day and no drains for operation 1. Then needed full node clearance out next day and no drains. Then had delayed reconstruction, it was a 3 year wait on NHS, and then did have 4 drains and a 7 day hospital stay.

You have to show your breasts lots so I definitely would not do a nightie. I had short PJ's with button front opening which worked well. It wasn't too hot apart from after diep when it felt like 50C in the room as they keep it extra hot and the heat was something else but with no reconstruction you won't have that. Only advantage of the heat is then you get own room and own bathroom. I didn't need much stuff at all in hospital. I did take hand gel as you can be wired up

Primark do a range of ‘accessible’. Nightwear. It has poppers up each sleeve and side so they can be opened in specific areas.

When I’ve had to be admitted and have heart monitoring I’ve just worn the gown they give you with jama bottoms. Meant that they can get to what they need easily and it’s nice and loose round the front.
i quickly realised that no one is bothered what you’ve got on, and the gown was perfect for easy access to all the front. Good luck x

I got pj's with shorts. The long nightdress was awkward with the drain

https://amzn.eu/d/dBcgMqD

Just came in to wish you all the best.

Hi op. I took Velcro pjs in with me but never wore them because my mastectomy was day surgery. You should bring some with you just in case but you might not even be in overnight. Especially if you chose not to have reconstruction. I was operated on about 9am, out of surgery by 11 and discharged by 1/2.

Chances are you won’t need drains either, it’s the more “modern” way of doing the surgery but not all surgeons are trained in it so some are still having drains but we’re moving away from it. Ask your team if it can be avoided.

flat friends on Facebook are a great charity for women who are thinking about or choosing to have mastectomy without reconstruction.

i saw you mentioned getting padding for your bras, you do not need to do this. You will be given a “softie” by your cancer nurse just before your op and then once your are healed the nhs will fit you for a more hardy prothesis. When i wear mine you honestly can’t tell which boob is fake when im dressed.

Im pleased for you they are allowing you to get a double mastectomy, they made me get a single one and then wait for the second after cancer treatment, I even had to see a psychologist to make sure I was certain it was what I wanted!

sorry you need this x