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Pillow post breast surgery

Mummymartin
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I’ve not long been diagnosed but have  been reading up about sleeping on back etc after breast surgery . Not sure I will be able to effectively so been looking at pillows for post surgery. I can see heart shaped ones where you put affected side’s arm over the pillow where the indent is at the top of the heart. Does anyone have any recommendations. 

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    Hi Mummymartin, sorry to hear of your diagnosis, I think you will find this forum really helpful. Ì am 3 weeks +, post surgery and normally a side sleeper. I purchased a v shaped pillow and place it on top of two other pillows, so sleep slightly propped up. As I had a mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction, I also have a tummy wound. A section of tummy wound hasn't properly healed yet, so I will have to sleep like this for a while yet. I have found it quite comfortable and sleep surprisingly well. I wish you well on your journey moving forward. Xx

  • Hello, sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I had a mastectomy with immediate implant 10 days ago, the first night I got home I tried to sleep propped up with a wedge type support thing, I did that for 2 nights and suffered back pain, after speaking to the nurse and surgeon I was told I could sleep flat on my back, I didn't need to be propped, I just found the right pillows from all the pillows around the house and now I sleep on my back with my head comfy in softish pillows, also for the past few nights I have moved slightly on to my "good" side until it becomes uncomfortable, I really wasn't used to sleeping on my back, it did hurt for maybe 2-3 nights, but I soon got comfy, I honestly (sorry) don't think there is an answer or any particular pillow or support that is the ultimate item for this situation, it's just trial and error until you're comfy, I was propped here there and everywhere for a few nights until I finally got (mostly) comfy on my back.

    Good luck x 

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    Hi Mummymartin,

    I had a lumpectomy first time around and a double mastectomy for the second. I bought two small heart shaped cushions, which I found invaluable for both procedures. With the benefit of hindsight, I could have managed with just one, but thought that I might need 2 ,with having the double mastectomy. I never managed to sleep on my back, but had no bother sleeping on my side.

    You may also find it easier to have clothing that opens at the front, as this saves lifting it over your head. It is also handier when you are having check-ups.

    Kin regards,

    JOlamine xx

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    Hi, I found it very painful to transfer out of bed  after micap surgery, so I took to sleeping on a recliner chair with a duvet over it, for quite a few nights. This was much better and less painful. During the day I used a high back chair with about 3 normal pillows to cushion my back. I did have a heart pillow too, but used this much less. 

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