Prophylactic Mastectomy: Everything You Need
Recover peacefully at home with these must have items.
Yup, that’s me with my handy dandy, type A, must take an insane amount of notes at my appointment binder. My weirdness is your gain because prepping for this surgery feels similar to prepping for bringing home a baby. Recovery can take a couple months, you need a comfortable chair because you’ll be spending hours upon hours in it, freezer meals, coordinating with grandparents and friends to assist with the older kids. I researched as much as I could and thankfully friends who had already been through this also shared with me their at home must-haves. Now that I’m about 20 days out from surgery, it’s time to start shopping. Let’s get started!
Shower Drain Holders- People keep telling me how awkward showers will be for awhile based on the lack of arm movement allowed for incision healing. Save yourself the trouble with these. Just plop your drains in and keep going!
Post Mastectomy Pillow- This is an essential ladies. It offers protection while driving and also at home when hanging out with young children and dogs. It’s super soft and has pockets.
Magnetic Pill Box- I was surprised to hear how weak you are after surgery. One woman told me should couldn't even open her pill bottles. My sister ordered this first to keep track of her meds and said it’s a breeze to use.
Overnight Lip Balm-There are so many different types of mastectomy procedures but they are either long or longer! I also feel like a “medicated” sleep is an ugly mouth open sleep (truth!) so save your lips with this!
Slow Release Vitamin C- has been the topic of many prophy groups I’m in. It not only helps boost your immunity but it increases the amount of antioxidants in your body to keep you as healthy as possible as your recover.
Abintra- This is a nutritional supplement for tissue synthesis and wound healing both of which are needed after this procedure. It also contains Arginine which supports healthy blood flow.
Post Mastectomy Bra- I feel like this one is tricky. Buy your normal size but also buy a size up or size down based on conversations with your plastic surgeon. Plastic surgeons vary on their opinion on whether to wear a bra and what type of bra to buy. A mastectomy is so different from augmentation in that you wake up and don’t really know what size you’ll be. I did read that the clasps are easier than the zipper which is the opposite of what I would have thought. (edit post mastectomy: clasps were easier!) This bra from Soma was the most comfortable for me. I tried several others but my skin was extremely sensitive and other fabrics made my skin feel like it was on fire.
Medical Recliner- I feel like this is split in half between women who prefer the chair vs. a wedge pillow. You’ll be sleeping slightly elevated for a while so really ask yourself what will make you most comfortable. I chose the chair for a few reasons. The first, our large dogs sleep in our room and there is no way I am risking them jumping on the bed while I’m in it. The second, if I’m home alone, I want to make sure I can get up to grab something to eat or use the restroom. Lastly, there’s amazing groups you can donate your chairs to for women going through the same thing! WIN WIN WIN!
Stool Softener- Any PTSD for women who have had babies? LOL! Just don’t get behind on these.
Sleep is a major part of healing and managing pain so get yourself one of these! Not only is it pretty, but it feels so cool to the touch on your eyes! I’m obsessed!
Not linked but also extremely important, a loving family and group of friends who offer to bring you meals, wash and dry your hair and offer to do movie nights at your place since you’re going nowhere.
Also, a huge shout out to the wonderful Amazon drivers who delivered all of these goodies to me especially the giant chair :)
I’ll be sure to update this list once I start my own recovery process.
Love, Lanie
