Laynards were my saviors! I used them to hold the drains. I felt like I was hooked like a horse for a shower but it left my hands free without wiggling the drains sites. I also found the drain bulbs would stick to my belly when I had them hooked to my bra they provided so I would hook them to the laynards instead. If you’re getting tissue expanders at the time of mastectomy definitely don’t reach! I ended up pulling a couple stitches off one of my expanders when I reacted to something teetering off the top shelf of the pantry. Yea that hurt! Lesson there - let people help you. Things can wait until someone is around. The road is not fun nor comfortable but it is doable. Rest, sleep, heal! ❤️

I think a lot of it has to do with how active you were before the surgery. I made sure I cleaned the house, ran errands, picked up meds- anything I could think of because of the lifting restrictions, and not being able to drive. Laundry was done- and I set aside any soft comfy button up tops. I wore my zip hoodies too!- since nothing over the head. Groceries were stocked, and I cooked and froze ahead. That way, throwing together casseroles, soups, etc. were not as time/energy consuming. And set aside some books, music, etc. to enjoy while you rest and recover.

Ask the nurse navigator what supplies or items they provide. Ours gave me two mesh aprons to hold the drains bulbs. This way I could wear one in the shower, and one under clothes. they also provided a U-shaped pillow to go under the arm to relieve pressure/friction at the incision site (really helped as that was where they removed my lymph nodes- and that area hurt more than the mastectomy site). If you are a side sleeper, practice sleeping upright in recliner, to see if you need pillows, etc. to keep your from turning to your side. I had a few small ice packs ready to use a few seconds on then off, then on again- very helpful for when I would fall asleep and then wake up when the meds wore off. The ice packs helped to bridge that time gap until the next dose kicked in. My pain was managed with OTC Tylenol.

Wishing you every success! Hugs!

Right after you mastectomy you don't want to lift, reach, push, pull, stretch or do anything else too strenuous with your upper body and arms. You will be in pain from the mastectomy and also the reconstruction if you have that done at the same time. Then there are the drains. They hurt. Everytime you bump them or the drain line gets pulled or tugged on it hurts and you will probably get red and irritated where the drain lines exit your chest. Before I have surgeries I cook a bunch of food that I can freeze and then reheat later. It's like making your own home made tv dinners. Anything you use on a regular basis should be easily accessible. Dishes, foods, etc. that you have on higher shelves that you reach for should be moved to a lower location. If there's stuff in lower cabinets, like pots and pans, that you need to bend over for and stretch and reach for then you should move them too. I find it hurts to press on soap, shampoo, and conditioner that have a pump so I put a regular bar of Dial antibacterial soap at every sink and shower and make sure I have bottles of shampoo and conditioner that are squeezeable. It took me about 2 weeks before I could pick up and fill my dog's water bowl. They're big dogs with a big bowl that gets refilled a couple times a day. I would have to take a big 32 ounce metal mug and pour water into their bowl while it was still on the floor. There's just things you do normally and don't even think about that hurt after this particular type of surgery. It also helps to have pillows in bed, on the couch, in the car, etc. to rest your arms on because it hurts to rest your arms at your sides right after surgery and with the drains. Things do improve around the 2 week mark after chest surgeries since that's normally about the time you get the drains removed. It's an instant feeling of relief after the drains are gone. Good luck to you with your upcoming surgery ❤️