Post-op clothes question

[judy13]

Started thinking about the type of clothing you can tolerate when you get home. I would imagine putting a shirt over you you head would be very difficult, not to mention painful. Did you find button-ups more comfortable and easier to manage? And for the ladies is it painful to wear a bra? Should you wear one? read that alot of you wore sports bras post-op. Most folks say they removed bandage in the hospital, so does the clothing bother the incision site? I have a couple of weeks so I want to have everything I need when I get home. Already set with comfy chair, and my husband is lowering the bed to facilitate getting in and out (my bed is very high and I'm pretty short) Sorry to ramble but everything is coming to mind at once.

 

[Ross]

Wear the lightiest, easiet possible things to deal with. It's going to hurt to move your arms much higher then your chest. I can't speak for bra's, but forget anything with underwires for a while. Use what you need to support your breasts and nothing more.

 

[Mentu]

Experiences differ, Judy. I had no trouble raising my hands above my head or pulling on a T-shirt but mine are V-neck. It was a problem, however, to reach up above my head to lift things down. I really didn't like anything pressing against my incision so I didn't use buttons. Your familiar soft clothes will probably be fine. Shoes that are easy to slip into without needing to bend over were nice for that first couple of weeks when bending down left me feeling dizzy. The thing I found that I could not do was toss a sheet out over the bed. The arms were OK but the chest muscles rebelled and I didn't do that for several weeks. I think you will likely find that for the first few weeks, you will be able to do more each day. You will be able to bring the spirometer higher each day just as you will be able to walk a little more while noticing that you begin to need fewer naps. Moving around the house will get easier and you will discover that your range of motion is improving. Those first few weeks are filled with discovery.

What you heard about bandages on the incision was certainly true in my instance. Mine was covered by a clear thin plastic tape sort of like saran wrap. It didn't leak and was water proof until around the end of the third week after AVR when it fell apart in the shower; at that point it was completely healed on the surface. My drain holes had to be kept covered with light gauze because they leaked a little until the last one closed around the end of week 6.

Larry

 

[Freddie]

I just wore sweatshirts until the scabs where gone and I was able to get the shirt over my head.....mind you it was also one size larger than what I usually take.
Being summer a stretchy tank-top should work without a bra. What you want to attempt to do is to avoid any rubbing around the incision.

 

[OldManEmu]

I cant advise you on bras, try to avoid clothes that have buttons or raised stitching down the centre as these can rub on the incision, I found the drain holes tended to rub more than the incision.
As far as chairs and beds go you do not want them that low that you need to use your arms to push yourself up to get to the standing position.
Post surgery pushing to get up I found more painful than any other activity, in hospital there was actually a rope on the bed that you could pull your self into the sitting position with and this didn't cause any pain as opposed to pushing.

 

[Angel]

First off, I wish you well on your surgery! I'm 4 weeks post-op as of yesterday. I'm a 47 yr old female. I always love to wear silk to bed. I found that I LOVED my silk pj's that had a short sleeved button down top and the thin silky pants or shorts to match. I bought about 5 pair, all different colors and they provided me with the most comfort, along with dearform slippers that were divine! I did not even attempt a bra, until a week after I went home, when I had to go for my surgeon's visit. I had already bought me a wireless bra from Sears that surprisingly didn't bother me at all. Now I wear it everyday, but I do not sleep in one. As for me, I was able to wear pull over tops and things probably about a couple of weeks after surgery. I just have to take it slow getting them on or off. Our bed is very high also. We did not lower the bed, but I had a little step stool beside my bed that I stepped up on to get in! lol. Be prepared if you're going to sleep in your bed when you come home, to have plenty of pillows to prop you up with! I was surprised that after surgery, I couldn't lay down. Fortunately, and gradually, I was able to do away with a pillow or two at a time and now I'm down to 1 pillow and 1 pillow wedged up to my back. In the hospital, I slept in the recliner chair, but when I came home, I didn't want to get that started, so I slept in my bed from the first night I came home (with lots and lots of pillows!). We also placed a long (probably 4ft long round pillow roll in the middle of the bed, because I was scared my hubby would accidently reach over for me or hit me in the middle of the night! Didn't want any accidents!! Take care. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers! Any more questions, please just ask. We all love to help out here! I know the help I received from this forum was phenominal!!!

 

[Debbrn]

For me a good sturdy sports bra was a must. I wore stretchy pants for about a week after I was discharged because I retained some fluids and my previously fitting jeans were tight. I had no problem putting on t-shirts. I was told to keep my incision out of the sun so i made sure I wore a top that completely covered my incision when I went outside. All of my bandages were off by the time I was discharged.

Debbie

 

[Philip B]

Clothing

Clothing

Experiences really do vary and you'll figure things like clothing out when your surgery is done. Personally, I didn't have any issues with clothing. I wore whatever I wanted.

-Philip

 

[Luana]

Hi Judy,
From what I've heard and read, even if you're not particularly well-endowed, a bra is good to wear. I was given one in the hospital a couple days after surgery. You certainly want nothing with an underwire! But especially if you're having a sternotomy, wearing it helps the incision. Ask when you do your pre-op if you'll get one in the hospital. There are a number of different kinds. It may not be pretty, more Mrs. Doubtfire than Victoria's Secret, but it is good to have.

It's good you're thinking of things like this ahead of time; comfort is an important part of recovery.

 

[Penny]

Hi Judy
I too was instructed to wear a bra. The less pull on the incision the better they told me. They also suggested a front closure bra for it it much easier to put on and take off. They also said to wear the bra as much as possible and if I were to remove it for anytime then they preffered it stay on at night.
As for my clothes, I too went out and purchased button up pjs. Mine are silky with the capri bottoms and I must say that the silk material really helps when you are trying to shift your weight around with your butt. I find it much easier to put on something with some stretch to it. I couldn't even imagine trying or wanting to put on my blue jeans..
Hope this helps. PS 2 bras are a good idea if you are going to purchase them that way you won't have to wait for the laundry to be done.

 

[Julieaka]

Find the "bra" thread in post op - good info there
Look at the "list" in pre op it is well done

I definitely had a couple of "zip" up pajamas - soft - and several button up shirts ready (as I did not have any before)

My surgeon's PA said everyone is different -some folks come in the office holding their t-shirt off their chest - others pull on a t-shirt

I definitely did not feel like "pull over" for several weeks

as to your bed - buy an aerobic step platform (wide) at a used sporting goods or even at Target..... .this will help you to use only your legs to get up on the big bed -working great for me

and various/multiple pillows shapes and sizes help alot

 

[Jkm7]

I had no trouble either of my surgeries pullilng jerseys and tops over my head. I wore cotton v neck and round neck. It was cold New England winter both times so nothing too bare.

Most important for me was slip on shoes. I didn't want to have to bend over to try and put on shoes/sneakers. Mules and open back slip on shoes were my choice for several weeks.

 

[sunflowergirl]

I was happy in soft t-shirts...and pajamas sets......but I did not like anything with buttons or anything scratching that might hit the incision. I seem to still hold things off of it. As for bras, I started off with nothing....I am a 40d....so, of course, I had to figure something out so we went and purchased a "granny" type bra...no underwire....no frills....just cotton and 3 sizes to big.....IT WAS PERFECT. Also here is a little tip that I have found in the last week. I am 4 weeks post op and I am now wearing my regular underwire bras and in the cosmetic dept of Target and Walmart they sell those thick cotton rounds for eye makeup removal and such. Well I have been folding these and placing them right over my incision and it is protecting the incision from the roughness and tightness of the underwire area in the center. Working well for me.
Also, because of fluid retention, I gained 20 lbs, and could not just put on the jean capri's I wore to the hospital 5 days prior so i would also suggest bring some PJ bottoms to wear home. Robin

 

[neil]

wore jim jams for first few days, good luck and am sure you will be just great

 

[DebbyA]

I had no trouble putting on a t-shirt. I wore them because the holes from the drain lines seeped for about two weeks. I had found some stretchy camisoles at Target to use when we went anywhere. But it was winter, so I always had a sweater as well.

Best wishes on your surgery!

 

[swim mom]

I wore a lot of cami's with the built in bra and wore a shirt over it if I went somewhere. I had a very hard time until recently (9 weeks) with my scar being sensitive and getting my arms above my head.