BA Care package

[Jen]

As I try and prepare for my upcoming surgery (one month from today!!!!) I am seaking advice from the wonderful ladies who have gone before me. What would you want to have ready at home the days after you returned for surgery?

I am relating this to "self care package" of sorts, things that I could have handy that I might need that I can't think of right now, but won't want to send my fiance out for later.

Thank you for any suggestions. Who knows maybe someone can throw a "so your are getting breasts!" welcome baskets to sell in the future.

Jen

[L.A.nxious]

Hey Jen and congrats on having a surgery date scheduled! My favorite item after my BA was my neck support pillow. One of the horse shoe shaped ones used for traveling. I've posted about it before and it was a life saver when trying to sleep or had to ride in the car. Having snacks that aren't hard on the stomach is another thing to have handy. You might not have a full appetite or you might be nauseous so having something to eat that's light and doesn't require heavy preparation will be handy. I'm sure you'll get many more suggestions and the basket idea is great!

[Suzie1202]

Hello,

I know I am going to forget some stuff, but I will tell you some of what I found handy:

1) Ice Packs
2) Soft Pillows (about 2 or 3)
3) Pain killers and all medications closeby
4) Drinks close by, put them on a table at about your waist. Mine were on a table next to my head and it hurt a LOT to reach up to them. Put the table lower.
5) Easy on the tummy food. I felt very sick after the surgery NOT because of the pain killers, but because my blood sugar was SO low since I had not eaten since the day before.
6) Movies to watch
7) Phone next to you
8) Extra clothes

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but I will write more as I think of it!! Good Luck!

[Jen]

I hear a lot of chat about warm showers helping things better, when one doesn't get the pumps when can you safely shower? Also would a heating pad help at all, if you went with the "sports procedure" of hot for 10, ice for 10? Just trying to get all the questions out of my head while they are in there.

thank you again,

Jen

[suzzanne]

I just joined today-am going in for a full anchor lift w/BA on tuesday...one week! I am hoping I choose the right sizeI'm a 34B thinking about 300cc smooth silicone. I have my room all set-movies a great suggestion, and the neck pillow, to prevent roll overs in the night.
best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!!!

[Jen]

After posting this my fiance called and said "guess what I got you for your surgery recovery"
Thinking maybe he picked up frozen peas, or something not that exciting I responded with a "what's that?"
and his joyful response was
"A new 40inch flat screen sony tv, it will be all set up for you when you get home and I picked up a nice stack of girly movies for you".

Sometimes they can be so nice!! I just had to share.

[jayne]

Wow u lucky girl new boobies and a new TV...hold on to him girl lol J x

[karaoke]

Since the girls already gave you tons of helpful hints I'd like to add one thing that you might like to have: a journal. I kept it up for 2 wks and then stopped but it's fun to look at it and read it later cause you won't believe how much you forget!

[Suzie1202]

LOL! A TV!?! That's awesome. Nice guy.. although something tells me he might have gotten that for himself.. just a little bit.. VERY sweet none the less. I asked my PS that question cause I had a back injury a few years ago. He said NO! Ice only! Heat doesn't help the swelling. He said a warm shower was ok after 48 hours, but thats it, or you can use a heating pad on your back. OHHH definitely get one for your back though, I lived with mine for the first few days & nights.

[Jess]

What everyone said is great. I also kept my goldfish crackers close by so I could snack and I liked having a straw to drink with (a bendy straw). This way I didn't have to sit completely up to drink.

Other than that, I wanted to sleep.

[Suzie1202]

Oh yeah drinking was very hard at first I spilled my drinks everywhere cause bf was holding the drink up to my lips

[wonderwoman]

I didn't read every one of the previous post...so there may be duplicates....

Things I couldn't have lived without:

My recliner (strategically placed in front of the TV in my bedroom)
Crackers-goldfish, saltines, triscuits (pretty much all I ate the first week)
Jello was good too
A big plastic cup with a lid and straw
zip/button up shirts/track jackets & jammie pants
TV remote
A big bag of Skittles candy - this was not for me to eat. My 2 kids made many visits to my room to give me kisses & tell me they love me. It didn't hurt that they were grabbing some Skittles on their way out. I don't think that I would have seen them for a week without that candy, lol


I did not need any ice packs (PS said not to ice), sports bras (PS said not to wear them) - those were things I bought & couldn't use.

[Galore]

- bendy straws
- body pillow (I used this first to kind of wrap around me and prop me up, then when I was farther along in recovery I was able to hug this and sleep on my side)
- ziploc baggies to put your meds in (I labeled each bag and also put the bottle in each bag, it's a lot easier to pull out one than to unscrew the bottles)

There's an extensive list on the main page too. Good luck with your surgery!

[Ivy]

I didn't really go out and buy anything special. I washed up all my clothes and bed clothes, made sure the house was clean and cooked and froze about a weeks worth of food. If you don't have extra pillows to prop yourself up on you might want to get some. Make sure you have batteries for the TV remote and phone. A pad of paper is good to keep near so you can keep track of your meds. A nice cozy blanket and you are set.

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by Jen

I hear a lot of chat about warm showers helping things better, when one doesn't get the pumps when can you safely shower? Also would a heating pad help at all, if you went with the "sports procedure" of hot for 10, ice for 10? Just trying to get all the questions out of my head while they are in there.

thank you again,

Jen

Jen,

You need to ask your PS when you can shower again. All surgeons are different on this. No heating pads, it will increase blood flow and that is not good for healing a surgical site.