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I am currently scheduled to have a bilateral mastectomy January 26. I am trying to prepare myself as best I can. I’ve seen articles about sleeping in a recliner and other post about sleeping in my bed with a wedge pillow post surgery. I am trying to determine what is best for recovery and sleeping. Are there any ladies out there that could provide insight about what is the best option?

December 20, 2023
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A MyBCTeam Member

I slept in my bed and used the "U" shaped pregnancy pillow. I also used a mastectomy pillow and I took lorazepam at bed time to help. I am just now starting to sleep on my side but still using the pregnancy pillow to wedge me.

December 22, 2023
A MyBCTeam Member

I slept in my bed but I had pillows all around me so I could not roll over onto the drain or my side where surgery was. Before my surgery the doctor gave me a nerve blocker in the truck nerve that numbed my whole right breast. This lasted for 5 days so I did not have to take any pain medication post surgery. What a game changer and it helped keep the area less sensitive.

December 21, 2023
A MyBCTeam Member

I had my left breast masectomy last year July 2022. Immediately after I got home I sat in my recliner because it was so comfortable. I remained in that chair and slept in it for at least a month before returning to my bed. So yes recliner!!!!

December 20, 2023 (edited)
A MyBCTeam Member

Recliner for me!

December 20, 2023
A MyBCTeam Member

I had a bilateral and 2 lymph nodes on each side removed. The first 3 nights, I slept in a recliner, then switched to a wedge pillow for about 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, I still slept on my back but with a regular pillow. I have always been a stomach sleeper so the back sleeping was hard to adjust to. I started back sleeping about a month pre-surgery so that I could start getting used to it. It was probably 6 weeks or so before I went to side sleeping.

December 20, 2023

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