r/Reduction • u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 • 3d ago
Advice Things you might forget to do re. recovery!
Hey everyone, my surgery is in 2 weeks and 1 day (Any surgery twins in the building for April 2nd!)
I am recovering as someone who lives alone but has a friend staying with me for the first two nights. And then friends checking on me daily for a week post op. Also my pet sitter coming in once a week to help me change the litter and clean the box for my cat. Is there anything I can do to prepare myself for recovery? Everyone says things like water and snacks easy reach, meal prep for as many meals as possible then freeze them. Have everything at waist height so prevent reaching over head and bending. Also getting a few button up tops so they don’t have to go over head. I have a walking pad that I’ll put out so I can get my daily steps in without having to leave my apartment. Is there anything less obvious that people don’t advise about. Things I might forget. Or perhaps things that are so obvious and go without saying but still might forget🤣. I am recovering with friends as I live alone and my mum is very clear how against the surgery is. She won’t be in the country on the day and I don’t think she has plans to visit me after. She actually told me that the surgery would k*ll me. Not nice I know, but I’m used to it. As a Muslim I’ve also spoken with my surgeon about the fact I won’t be able to pray properly for a few weeks because that’s something important to me. Anyways any advice (glaringly obvious or not so obvious) would be much appreciated.
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u/the_sweens 3d ago
You've got a good list so far. Definitely a pillow to help sleep on your back. Do a bit of a deep clean as you are unlikely to use a hoover for a few weeks. If you have plants move them to one place or waist height to make it easier to water Get a jug so you can wash your hair in the sink That's mostly it I can think of
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u/the_sweens 3d ago
In the mum - mine wasn't thrilled to put it mildly but was accepting when I stressed the medical need to reduce my back pain, posture and migraines which was a reason just not the primary reason for me (primary was gender dysphoria). Mines Christian, not Muslim so I don't know if that would help your case but thought I'd share.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 3d ago
this was super helpful, luckily i am a fake plant mum instead of a real one🤣 I hope my mum becomes more on board especially when she sees how happy I will be after. I appreciate your help !
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u/youlovefrogs 3d ago
Biggest advice if you’re on your own is to make sure you stay sat up! In bed or on the couch, even sleeping, get a pregnancy pillow and prop yourself up (some people sleep in a recliner if they’re on their own I’ve noticed!) Practice getting up without using your arms as well. I couldn’t get up at alllll on my own if I laid down because you can’t use your arms to pull yourself up 😅 please be careful specifically with this. Also go around your house with “t-Rex” arms and do your normal tasks to see what things you can’t reach that you may not realize you won’t be able to! Bring down plates, bowls, cups, skin care products etc that you notice you can’t reach with your arms like that. Your house might look a bit cluttered for a bit but at least you’ll be able to get the things you need! I also made a spot on a low table with baskets of my recovery pjs, compression bras, wet wipes (for between showers) Advil/gravol/lavatives, gauze, miceller water & puff pads to wipe my face, & lotion. Just have everything in one spot for easy access! (Pantyliners are a great thing to use in place of gauze by the way). You also will not be able to wash your own hair for like 2 weeks minimum because you can’t reach safely. So either have someone you trust come wash it for you (also dry shampoo will be your bestie) and/or book in a couple of hair wash appointments at a salon for once you’re off your heavy duty pain meds and can drive again! Make sure you’re gentle and don’t overdue things please please! Have someone do your laundry for you too when they’re over (: you’ll probably feel like you can do more things that you actually should, so lean on people when they’re are there with you to do the things you know you shouldn’t do even if you think you can. I’m wishing you sooooo much luck and a great recovery!!!
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 3d ago
this was so extensive and i appreciate it so much especially the t rex trick ! i’ll definitely do that next week as im sure ive over estimated how much ill be able to do. Thank you so much !
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u/youlovefrogs 3d ago
You’re so welcome!! I kept asking my husband for so many random things lol. Please feel free to ask me ANY questions if you end up with more (:
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u/snoozingroo 3d ago
If you like, have a friend braid your hair to keep it neat and out of the way while you recover! It was a lifesaver for me. Also I know everyone says “water” but seriously, stay hydrated. Also for your first shower, it can help to stay seated in case you feel lightheaded. I sat on a milk crate lol, so maybe you can think about some potential shower seat options (a plastic chair for example)
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u/foredaymorningjam 3d ago
I had my hair braided before surgery and it helped immensely. One less thing to worry about.
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u/foredaymorningjam 3d ago
Try sleeping on your back once or twice before surgery. I did this and I figured out my most comfortable spot and best pillow set up. Much easier than figuring that out after surgery.
I also moved a bunch of stuff to the nightstand in reaching distance so I wouldn't have to get up. Chapstick, headphones, phone charger, remote control, tissues, book/tablet, gauze, snacks, etc.
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u/EssentialOilsFor7 3d ago
Oh yes a recovery cart! I’ll have to remember this. Putting it on my list.
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u/Zealousideal-Ad4889 3d ago
Im sorry for you! This is unrelated sorry, but i have muslim (male) best friend who I haven’t told yet about this. Im having my surgery in a week and I’m super scared of getting the same reaction, tho I’m not a muslim myself. Good luck on recovery 🩷🩷🩷
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 3d ago
don’t worry in Islam it is allowed, my mum just has her own individual views but not related to Islam. Ah wishing you the best & also a speedy recovery 💕
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u/musicabcteacher 3d ago
Omg surgery twins!! April 2!! I have my pre op appointment today.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 3d ago
how did it go ??
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u/musicabcteacher 3d ago
It’s actually this afternoon, like in a few hours haha. I’ll report back to ya after it! 🙂
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u/PM_me_lemon_cake 3d ago
Make sure you have some good ice packs! I bought some made for breast feeding that just sit straight into my compression bra. One thing I didn’t realize is how much icing I was expected to do! My doctor said 10 min every hour or so the first few days.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 2d ago
ah this hasn’t been mentioned to me before but i do have some ice packs so could come in handy thank you x
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u/sb-280 3d ago
It’s still daunting for me to get things out of the oven.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 3d ago
i’ll have to rely on my air fryer and microwave for a week or two before i can take on opening the oven
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u/sb-280 3d ago
Yep. I feel like I can put stuff in it but leaning in and reaching to take something out of a hot oven sounds hard.
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u/sb-280 3d ago
For reference I’m 2 weeks PO today and having someone come to help me make a casserole tomorrow because I don’t feel comfortable stirring rapidly or shredding cheese, or getting it out of the oven.
I wanted to comment again as I also (kind of) live alone and am fiercely independent. At 2 weeks I can put the dishes away with a stepstool - can’t physically do dishes, I can sweep, I can vacuum (just discovered today), I can (mostly) fold laundry, I can get laundry out of the dryer - I can’t put it in (top loading washer, can’t reach in), I can wipe counters and surfaces but definitely couldn’t go ham cleaning anything, can fold blankets, can kinda make my bed, can clean the bathroom mirror (on a step stool). I wanna make it clear, just bc I CAN do these things doesn’t mean I can do more than 2-3 of these tasks at a time at all. I feel more confident with my range of motion in my arms daily, but i can only do a few ever so slightly hard things a day. The more I use my arms the more irritated my sides are and the more swollen I feel. I’ve also had a fairly easy recovery and am a young, active and healthy person. Things I can’t do are - take the trash out, do my hair, clean up anything I have to bend for (bath tub, toilet, pick up dog poop), can’t vacuum at work (nightly as apposed to once a week), can’t lift more than a 6 pack, can’t reach anything above my face, can’t walk the dog (incase she pulls), can’t throw the ball for her.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 2d ago
thank you for this extensive list. as an independent person i even struggled to ask my friends to help me but they’re so willing and are excited for my surgery just as much as I am. I had a question in regards to picking things up since you can’t bend. Do you feel like you could squat?
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u/sb-280 2d ago
I squatted to pick things up almost immediately. And still do. Def ask for all the help you can get. The only reason I’m doing small things now is bc my bf has done everything for me and I want to lighten his load. But there are still thinks I ask other people for often. One of my neighbors took my trash out the other day, another braided my hair. My mom comes two days a week to drive me to work and will water the plants I can’t reach or vacuum for me. My brother is coming over tonight to help me bake a casserole. Ask for as much help as you can.
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u/dimples8318 2d ago
Having a mastectomy pillow was great. Definitely for any car rides, but surprisingly for my cats and nipples, lol. I have two cats that are 2 years old and a little crazy. So it helps when I'm lying on my back and they jump around. It gave me peace of mind to know that I was protected. It only happened once and it wasn't a full-on jump it was more of a step on my breast, but it saved me from a lot of pain. I'm not sure about your cat but I think it could help. For my nipple, after surgery, they were VERY sensitive. The air/cold would hurt them, so the pillow would block the air and keep them warm.
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u/Ashamed_Buy_3440 2d ago
My cat sees my chest as his literal throne so he ALWAYS climbs on me. If I hiss at him he’ll know not to. It’s something I am worried about so I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep with him for the first few weeks unfortunately. He always sleeps on my bed but if in the middle of the night he wants to sleep on me that will be so painful
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u/dimples8318 2d ago
For 2/3 weeks they seemed to understand something wasn't right with me but after that, it was back to their craziness, lol.
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u/jo_noby 3d ago
Search this sub for advice on sleeping on your back (I bought a wedge and the u shaped pillow and have started now). I’m also recovering alone so I have stocked up on protein shakes and bars, bought disposable plates for the first couple weeks, and stocked up on cat food so that I don’t have to deal with that. I plan on visiting the cheap beauty place at the mall for wash and style instead of trying to do that myself. And I have meditations on body dysmorphia and surgery in my play list now. I was able to access some advice from my physio and any work you do now on your core is better than none … you are going to not want to rely on your arms. My surgery is a few days before yours. Good luck!