The list above is good. I highly recommend the mastectomy pillow off Amazon. I would also add a wedge pillow. I got one from Wal Mart. I slept in a recliner 3 or 4 nights, then that got uncomfortable (unrelated to the surgery).Next, I used a wedge pillow in the bed so that I could elevate my upper body. I also put a small crib size pillow under each shoulder because I had to lie on my back for weeks. It just made me more comfortable. I was 60 when I had the surgery. Make sure you have front button shirts and PJs. You are not supposed to lift your arms above shoulder level for a while. If you won't have daily help, get food supplies out of cabinets and down on your counter top. No reaching up above your shoulders. You will also have lifting weight restrictions. So small size soda, not 2 liters, small milk, not gallon size. I got my hair cut/colored a day or 2 before the surgery. My surgery and recovery went very well and was not as bad as what I had envisioned in my head.

As SherrieB mentioned above, a wedge pillow definitely helps. I have a hospital style tempurpedic bed that I sleep in at home, but when I travel I always bring my wedge if there isn't a tempurpedic bed or a recliner to sleep in.

For the 1st couple weeks post surgery I couldn't lift my arms well enough to wash my hair. I went to the beauty parlor and had my hair shampooed every few days which was less painful than trying to wash it in the shower or kitchen sink.

I posted the below response a few days ago to another person with a similar question.

I've had 12 cancer related surgeries to my chest and armpit areas and have learned a few tricks that make life more comfortable for me.

After my double mastectomy it was really painful to press down on the liquid soap bottles. I found it helpful to have an old fashioned bar of soap at every sink in my house and also in the shower. It was also easier to use shampoo and conditioner that were in a normal bottle instead of the big pump bottles.

It can be hard to move, stretch, bend, etc. after surgery. I got one of those grabbers with a long handle which made it much easier to pick stuff up that was out of reach or I had dropped on the floor.

Having a back scratcher was also helpful since it's harder to stretch and reach any itchy spots you might have.

You will have surgical drains & tubing installed during your mastectomy surgery that you will have in place for 2-4 weeks. They are really uncomfortable, especially when the drainage tubing gets caught on something or pulled. You will need some way of securing the drains/tubing so they are out of the way. Some people will use safety pins to secure the drains/tubing to the inside of their shirt. There are special garments you can buy that have pockets to put drain bulb and tubing into so they stay out of the way. I personally got a piece of material and sewed 2 removable pockets that I would safety pin to the inside of each side of the shirt I was wearing. It was a cheap and effective solution and it was easy to change the placement of the removeable pockets depending on the type and size of shirt you were wearing like a baggy t-shirt, button up shirt, etc.

At first it is more comfortable to wear button up or zip up shirts, especially while you still have drains. Same goes for sleepwear.

It can be difficult to stretch to reach things. If there's items you need to get to and use on a regular basis, like dishes, glasses, food, etc. it helps if you move them to a spot where you can pick them up without having to stretch.

I am more comfortable sitting on the couch or sleeping right after surgery if I have pillows next to me so I can rest my arms on them. It can hurt to have your arms by your sides when your chest and armpits are sore from surgery and the surgical drains.

It helps to have a pillow in the car that you place between your chest and the seatbelt.

@A MyBCTeam Member thank you for sharing your advice and wisdom. 😊

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A MyBCTea...

Thank you so much , definitely fallow your advise

Thank you so much for the information