Going to the bathroom post surgery

hidden · October 28, 2014, 02:32:09 PM

After top surgery (mastectomy) will I need help going to the bathroom? Specifically, wiping. I will have help for everything else, but it just occured to me that I might need someone to help me wipe.

Also, what products do you strongly recommend I get for my recovery?

maxman · October 28, 2014, 03:54:33 PM

I didn't need any help with that. I only required help with washing my hair as I couldn't reach my arms up to do that.

Alexthecat · October 28, 2014, 10:08:04 PM

I didn't have trouble wiping, pooping was another story. Just take it slow when you go.

Arch · October 28, 2014, 10:34:13 PM

Some people recommend that you keep a box of baby wipes for easy cleanup. I didn't, but I made sure to move the toilet paper off the spindle because it was hard to get at in my old bathroom. I moved a bunch of stuff to easy-to-reach spots. TP, shirts, dishes, and so on. But I still had to get my ex (we had just broken up and were still living together) to get my frozen dinners out of the freezer for me. A side-by-side refrigerator/freezer would have been a real gift.

Bimmer Guy · October 29, 2014, 06:50:02 AM

Quote from: maxman on October 28, 2014, 03:54:33 PM
I didn't need any help with that. I only required help with washing my hair as I couldn't reach my arms up to do that.

Same here.

Not that it wasn't tough to reach around to wipe the butt, but you can do it.

aleon515 · October 29, 2014, 02:38:29 PM

Interesting question.

I was not as "disabled" as I have heard some guys say they were. I put everything in easy reach. I had a bit more trouble at NBR because I'm short and they are all taller. But go thru the legs rather than around, but no I had no trouble. I put the tp where I could reach (and everything else).

Baby wipes are good after surgery, not specifically for that, just in general.

I did not wash my hair. Got a very short cut which helped.

--Jay

blink · October 29, 2014, 03:02:21 PM

I was able to wipe after surgery no problem, and I was t-rexing it pretty good.

Here's a test for you. Stick your elbow to your side. Keeping it next to your side as much as possible, try to reach around like you were going to wipe. If you can do that you'll almost definitely be able to wipe, as limited as I was my elbows weren't glued to my torso.

Ayden · October 29, 2014, 07:18:39 PM

I didn't have much trouble. I could go around and when I was really stiff I just went between my legs, though that was only once or twice. I had the same concern and it turned out that I had way more movement than I thought I would. It was a short range but it was a lot more than I thought I would have

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Going to the bathroom post surgery