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NanaJoni · 10-05-2011, 11:38 AM

A couple of things - pack shirts or pj's that button up. You won't want to pull anything over your head. Also, one of the things that helped me a lot (and it seems like such a small thing) was dealing with the drains. I had mine quite a long time because I was heavier at the time (60lbs lighter now). Someone told me to get a good length of ribbon and tie a knot in it and hang it in the shower. When you get undress there will be no where to "pin the drains"....so the little ribbon was perfect. Just pin those drains to the ribbon and shower away. I was allowed to take showers from the 3rd day on so it was several weeks of drains and my ribbon was wonderful. Also my husband did all the changing of the dressings which was emotionally difficult for me but he was wonderful. I also found a camisole/t-shirt type undergarment that velcroed up the front. Even my surgeon liked it better than the one she had been recommending. It had pockets for the drains and was so comfortable. You'll do great and we'll be thinking and praying for you.

10-05-2011, 11:38 AM	#4
NanaJoni Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Elizabethton, TN Posts: 418	Re: Surgery Friday...any advice? A couple of things - pack shirts or pj's that button up. You won't want to pull anything over your head. Also, one of the things that helped me a lot (and it seems like such a small thing) was dealing with the drains. I had mine quite a long time because I was heavier at the time (60lbs lighter now). Someone told me to get a good length of ribbon and tie a knot in it and hang it in the shower. When you get undress there will be no where to "pin the drains"....so the little ribbon was perfect. Just pin those drains to the ribbon and shower away. I was allowed to take showers from the 3rd day on so it was several weeks of drains and my ribbon was wonderful. Also my husband did all the changing of the dressings which was emotionally difficult for me but he was wonderful. I also found a camisole/t-shirt type undergarment that velcroed up the front. Even my surgeon liked it better than the one she had been recommending. It had pockets for the drains and was so comfortable. You'll do great and we'll be thinking and praying for you. __________________ Joni -64 yrs old - 3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast 3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated 3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear 3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side 4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides 5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo 07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side. 07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin 08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont. 12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks 4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc. 5/2011 - NED!!! port out. 8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED 7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed. 2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.