Pockets and possibilities

"It has pockets for the drain tubes," I told no less than 3 nurses. "You'll help me get into this thing, right? It pulls up over my hips, apparently." Pockets for the drain tubes! Imagine that! A camisole with pockets to organize those drain tubes. Now we're talking. Pockets. Genius!

It is true that the camisole Bob picked up for me at Cancer Services had pockets with velcro tabs that could accommodate two drain tubes and bulbs on the affected side. I had done some research of course, and saw lots of pictures of such camis online. They were supposed to be soft, comfy, and could fit over the ace wrap that I'd have to wear every day until my follow up. I did my research. This is what they look like.

Without the tubes and bulbs. 

I think of myself as pretty realistic. Apparently, that is, until I get cancer. Then I live in a sort of wish-world where tubes and bulbs have zero mass and add no bulk to the sleek look of my mastectomy camisole. Instead, it was a bumpy, bulgy, disturbing sight.

A day after coming home, I put the mastectomy cami in the closet, just for now. I decided it was probably much better for after the tubes are out, when I'm ready to try another pocket it's equipped with for the... ahem... stuffing.

It's just a problem that needs solving, I thought. I'll figure it out. I'm creative, right? I have tried no less than 10 different configurations, including various placements using pins, pockets, tucks, rolls, a lanyard, and today, a little zippered pouch clipped to a belt loop. Cute, huh?

This is all temporary, of course. The drains will come out very soon. I think the drain debacle is actually just a defense mechanism. Thinking about these things that have been added is keeping me from dwelling too much on what has been subtracted.

(Maybe a fanny pack... yeah, that could work...)