More Mastectomy Prep Tips
Photo via Jennifer Garam
In a previous post, I wrote about what to buy to prepare for a mastectomy on a budget. I’ve also written about how to set up your home for recovery from mastectomy and/or breast reconstruction for the website Everyday Health. But a mastectomy is a big undertaking — and I have more tips!
Here are a few more of my favorite tips for post-mastectomy recovery.
Photo via Jennifer Garam
1. Get your hair washed at a salon. Plastic surgeons vary in their instructions on this, but some — mine included — don’t want you to shower until your surgical drains are removed. (For me, this was about one week post-op, but this varies from person to person based on fluid output.)
During the period when they’re not permitted to shower post-op, some women choose to use dry shampoo, or keep their hair in a low-maintenance style like braids. But I got the best tip from my friend, artist, activist, and fellow BRCA1-positive breast cancer previvor Melanie Penn: Get your hair washed at a salon. Even if your plastic surgeon allows you to shower when your drains are still in, post-op showering can be tricky; getting your hair washed could help you avoid a complicated, unwieldy shower situation and indulge in a nice self-care treat to boot.
In the weeks leading up to my prophylactic double mastectomy, I called a few salons in advance to explain my situation and inquire about their hair-washing services. I even stopped by a few in person to see what the atmosphere was like (I wanted a quiet, emptier salon vs. a loud, bustling one). If you’re in treatment and immunocompromised, you’ll want to take that into account, too. For instance, you could schedule an early-morning appointment when the salon will be relatively empty, and request that the person who will be washing your hair wear a mask.
I waited to get my hair washed until I’d been home from the hospital and recovering for a few days, and I deliberately went at a time when the salon was mostly empty. I also told the person who was washing my hair that I’d just had a mastectomy, and asked them to be careful not to lean my chest or splash me.
If you’re only getting your hair washed (i.e., not getting a blowout, too), it will likely be inexpensive enough to do several times while you’re unable to shower, if you’d like. My hair wash only cost $15 — $10 for the service plus a $5 tip — and another one of the salons I’d called even offered to do it for free when I explained my circumstances.
Photo via Jennifer Garam
2. For restful sleep, block out the light… After any kind of surgery, your sleep can be disrupted: It can be hard to fall asleep and sleep through the night, and you might find yourself waking up a lot earlier than usual in the morning. Several factors could contribute to these post-operative sleep disturbances, including pain and discomfort from the surgery, and certain medications and the type of anesthesia used during the procedure. However, sleep is essential for surgical recovery — and I wanted to get enough of it.
It was too uncomfortable for me to get in and out of bed for the first week or so of my recovery, so during that time I slept on the living room couch. There aren’t any curtains on the windows in that room, so the bright morning light woke me up at the crack of dawn. To remedy this and help myself get enough much-needed sleep while I was recovering, I bought a sleep mask to block out the light.
Photo via Jennifer Garam; Print by Lizzie Christian / Rare Press
3. …and the noise. Another thing that I was sensitive to when trying to fall — or stay — asleep was sounds. The sound of the TV in the other room or my upstairs neighbor’s music could keep me tossing and turning. So I used a white noise machine to drown out the noise and help me sleep through the night. To this day, this remains one of my favorite purchases — it not only blocks out nighttime noises when I’m trying to fall asleep, but also helps me concentrate on work when lawn mowers and leaf blowers in my neighborhood abound!
My Pick: Marpac Dohm Classic Original White Noise Machine, $41, Amazon.com
In case you’re wondering about the heart-sharped pillows I’m cozying up with in the lead photo of this blog post, they are the Billow Heart Pillows ($24-$28 each) and you can order them here.
For more mastectomy tips and information, read:
“Mastectomy Must-Haves on a Budget” on my blog
“How to Prep Your Home for After Breast Surgery” on Everyday Health
“The Best Post-Mastectomy Bras From Under-the-Radar Brands You Might Not Know About — but Should” on Everyday Health
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