I agree with everything that has been said. When I headed to the castle, my DD, who is an ob/gyn nurse, insisted in staying with me the day (and night) of the surgery. She said that it is important for someone to be your advocate that first day when you are out of it and don't really know what is going on.
I told her that it wasn't necessary, I was a big girl and could stay in the hospital by myself with the family coming to visit. DH and DD were there for the surgery and they talked to the doc afterwards, so they could give me the news and results when I woke up. Of course I don't remember most of it, but I could ask again each time I woke up that day.
And, it was really nice to have DD there --I sent DH to the office, he's too hyper to sit still very long.
When I would wake up and was too disoriented to find the nurse button, she was there to help and to communicate with the nurses and CNA's as they came in. So, that was great and if your friend is willing to spend part of the day doing that, you will appreciate it.
Walking is an important part of healing, so if your hill isn't too daunting, it will be good for you and for your 4 legged furbabies and you should be able to do that pretty soon. There's nothing as therapeutic as petting fur.
I agree with movingforward about how animals just seem to know. We discussed sending our 8 month old wild child pug (empty nest puppy) to doggie day care for the first couple of days because we knew he would be jumping all over the place. But he was so calm--he would sit on the ottoman at my feet all day and just rest with me. He seemed to know that I couldn't play and that he couldn't land on me.
It sounds like you have a good support system of friends--don't hesitate to ask them for help, even if it goes against your normal way of doing things. I, too, am the ultimate independent woman, but I found it was OK to let others do things for me. It's not forever, your friends will enjoy doing something for you, and you can reciprocate at some other time. Your body will thank you for it.
Question on hospital stay
