TOP TEN

Kristen's Top 10 Mastectomy Must Haves!

10. Lanyard with large safety pin to hold drains up and out of the way when "showering". (it's not a real shower until all the drains have been removed)

9.  Snacks.  Giant, cold, crispy, green grapes, Ritz crackers, pretzels and Graham crackers.  (all the medications have to be taken with food and food was the last thing you want...couldn't get enough of those grapes though.)

8.  Hydro-Flask (with straw lid) Ice cold water, water, water!

                        

7.  "Nurses Station".  It was so helpful to have a table close for all the medications, med tracking sheet, drain cups, drain tracking sheet, hand sanitizer, chapstick, lotion and more.  It was especially good the first week or two when you were up at 2am giving meds.  (Also helps to have 24/7 nurse to go along with that station.)

6.  Drain Pouch, Belly Band, Belly Band Holster, Tummy Tube....whater you want to call it, it was awesome.  It kept the drains and the long drain tubes contained and camoflauged.  Thanks mom for whipping those up!

You couldn't even tell that Kristen was packing 2 'grenade' drains her first Sunday back to church. 

5. Tank Top!  Stretchy, padded top, tank top. Kristen has been living in these babies 24/7 since her surgery. (Not being able to lift your arms makes changing your top tricky so you can't have sleeves and the padding offers a little protection from all the tight huggers)

4.  Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.....Enough said.  =)

3.  Soft under arm pillows.  These were especially nice week one and two.  Used them every day until the drains were removed. Thank you Trina for making these. They were awesome!

2.  The Coz'E' pillow.  This thing has been priceless! Thanks mom! (we are going to try to market these babies.)  Kristen has 2 of these pillows.  One for home and one for the car.  She pretty much had one of these in her hands ALL the time for the first 3 weeks.  The car Coz'E' is a little smaller and is used in the car to help protect her chest from the seatbelt.  It also allowed her to sleep more comfortably going to and from all the appointments in Eugene. I have to say I'm a little jealous of her Coz'E'.  (need to post a picture of how she uses it.)

   
1.  Recliner, Recliner, Recliner.  Even now, 1 month after surgery Kristen still sleeps in the recliner.  She's tried a few times to sleep in bed but can't get comfortable.  To go along with your recliner you need a  super soft blanket. It helps make long hours of laying in a chair more enjoyable.