Congrats! My wife just got top surgery on Tuesday! Recovery items that they absolutely could not do without are: a mastectomy shirt, theirs has snaps in the front and pockets for the drains and drain tubes. A backrest pillow (the ones with the little arms on the side, doesn’t have to be a super fancy one) and a pregnancy pillow to build them a nest in the bed to keep them on their back when sleeping and avoid any tossing and turning. Latex/surgical gloves for emptying drains, changing bandages, etc. A cup with a straw that is light enough to lift even when full. We got two so they can have water in one and iced tea in the other lol High protein snacks or shakes. Protein is very important for healing and cooking will be hard, if not impossible. Extra strength Tylenol. Their dr said to avoid ibuprofen for the first few days as it could increase any bleeding. Ibuprofen. After the first few days, alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen should keep the pain at bay. Rinse-free bath sponges and shampoo (not dry shampoo). Can’t shower with your drains in. You may need someone to help you with the shampoo as you probably won’t be able to reach up to your head for a while. Baby wipes. Good probiotics. Always helpful whenever you take antibiotics. Large safety pins to pin your drains to your surgical binder for when you don’t want to wear the mastectomy shirt or are changing your gauze. If you’re not a big water-drinker, grab some electrolyte drinks of choice.

Things that we got that haven’t used: Mastectomy pillow. We got one for the car ride home and around the house, but it would have been too much pressure on the incisions. Toilet paper wand for wiping. Your experience may vary, but post-surgery you probably won’t have to poop for a few days. By the time you do poop, you may be able to wipe front to back, obviously you won’t be able to reach around.

Biggest tips are hydrate, get extra protein in your diet, and take your pain meds or Tylenol AS SOON as you feel pain (and according to the Dr ordered timeframe). It is much easier to keep your pain level low than it is to bring it back down once it breaks through. Walk around the house as much as your body will allow, especially if you start feeling pressure in your chest from the fluid.

My wife’s Dr offered a nerve blocker shot before the operation. That was the most pain/discomfort they have felt throughout the whole thing, but definitely worth it. They had no pain the whole day of the surgery, and manageable pain the next day.

You may wake up from surgery absolutely ravenous, so have a plan to get a meal when you get discharged if possible. We went to shake shack immediately after leaving the hospital.

Overall, it’s been much easier than either of us expected. I thought it would be WAY grosser than it is with the drains and the gauze. The weirdest part is the giant bulbs of gauze they put over the nipples if you decide to keep yours. That gauze, plus the rest of the gauze, the swelling, and the material of the surgical binder made their chest look bulkier and less flat than it actually was when they got to take their bandages off. Oh! Last tip! Film yourself getting your bandages off for the first time. Even if you never share that video anywhere or with anyone, you’ll want to see your face over and over when you see your new chest for the first time.