Upcoming hysterectomy 8/3: Trying to prepare....

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Originally Posted by Onetame I am really scared and stressed about my upcoming surgery. I really don't have any help to depend on at home. I do everything and drive everyone to everything. I can do the shopping I advance, but I am really worried about housework and transportation. My kids are old enough to do some but, they are kids and I'm still trying to find them rides for school if I can't drive. Any tips to make this recovery period go smoother?

The most important thing is your recovery, not the housework. Can you hire help to come in occasionally? Did you try https://www.taskrabbit.com for help? Buy frozen food to make food prep easier. Accept offers of help, too. And your family may not get to do everything and go everywhere they did when you could take them. Hope all goes well.

I think you are really underestimating you fiance and kids. My two oldest are 6 and 8 1/2. I took two weeks in the beginning of summer and showed them how to do a ton of housework. Between the two of them, they can clean the living room, dining room, bathroom, put away towels, put away clean dishes, put away their own clothes, clean their bedrooms, do laundry, and take out trash. This includes things like washing windows and vacumming, as well as making simple breakfast, snacks, and lunch.

It took me two weeks to teach them this and now they can get everything done in an hour. All that is left for me (or dh once I have surgery) is to load the dishwasher, fold laundry, and make dinner.

In an hour a day your kids and fiance could easily keep the house clean and see to all meals. I say all this for you to see the potential in your available helpers. Even once they are in school, they could spend 30 minutes a day and a couple hours on the weekend doing everything.

I saw someone else suggested preparing food ahead of time and freezing. That's a great idea! Take any help that is offered to you. I am very independent but im so glad I had the offers to help. I am used to going a mile a minute but this surgery really wiped me out. Listen to your body, it will tell you when its time to rest. I also put together a basket of things that I could keep close to me on the couch (or where ever you decide to set up camp) . Some items I found helpful were: hand sanitizer, lotion, cough drops or hard candy, tissues, prescription medications, phone charger, nail file, OTC pain reliever, my nook for reading, chapstick, and pen and paper. I wish you the very best of luck with your operation.

Can you give your kids money for taxi fare so they can get to and from school on their own?

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Originally Posted by GoldenGate The most important thing is your recovery, not the housework. Can you hire help to come in occasionally?help? Buy frozen food to make food prep easier. Accept offers of help, too. And your family may not get to do everything and go everywhere they did when you could take them. Hope all goes well.

Thanks, I unfortunately cannot afford to hire help, and we don't eat pre packaged foods. So I am just staying busy trying to do all I can before surgery.

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Originally Posted by byteme92784 I think you are really underestimating you fiance and kids. My two oldest are 6 and 8 1/2. I took two weeks in the beginning of summer and showed them how to do a ton of housework. Between the two of them, they can clean the living room, dining room, bathroom, put away towels, put away clean dishes, put away their own clothes, clean their bedrooms, do laundry, and take out trash. This includes things like washing windows and vacumming, as well as making simple breakfast, snacks, and lunch. It took me two weeks to teach them this and now they can get everything done in an hour. All that is left for me (or dh once I have surgery) is to load the dishwasher, fold laundry, and make dinner. In an hour a day your kids and fiance could easily keep the house clean and see to all meals. I say all this for you to see the potential in your available helpers. Even once they are in school, they could spend 30 minutes a day and a couple hours on the weekend doing everything.

Thanks , but I know my family. And with all the chores here I couldn't do it myself in an hour a day. But we will manage.

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Originally Posted by Astropuppy Can you give your kids money for taxi fare so they can get to and from school on their own?

Taxi's here are way outta my budget. But one can walk an I think I have rides set up for the other.

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Originally Posted by byteme92784 I think you are really underestimating you fiance and kids. My two oldest are 6 and 8 1/2. I took two weeks in the beginning of summer and showed them how to do a ton of housework. Between the two of them, they can clean the living room, dining room, bathroom, put away towels, put away clean dishes, put away their own clothes, clean their bedrooms, do laundry, and take out trash. This includes things like washing windows and vacumming, as well as making simple breakfast, snacks, and lunch. It took me two weeks to teach them this and now they can get everything done in an hour. All that is left for me (or dh once I have surgery) is to load the dishwasher, fold laundry, and make dinner. In an hour a day your kids and fiance could easily keep the house clean and see to all meals. I say all this for you to see the potential in your available helpers. Even once they are in school, they could spend 30 minutes a day and a couple hours on the weekend doing everything.

I may have to have my kids read your post! They are 16 and 12, and I am sure they can do these things on their own, but they act like it's killing them to clean their room or feed the dog!

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Originally Posted by Onetame I may have to have my kids read your post! They are 16 and 12, and I am sure they can do these things on their own, but they act like it's killing them to clean their room or feed the dog!

I was really impressed, I was hoping they could help out a little and we made an incentive chart while they were learning. They could earn points by asking to do more and that's how we found out just how capable they are. It's been a month and they still do this everyday, and before this they did next to nothing in the home.

I also want to add that I have a 2 story, 4 bedroom, 2 bath home. It really does all get clean between me and the kids in an hour. It's not deep cleaned, but it is tidy. I started this to enlist help for recovery but in the long run I am teaching my kids how to be responsible, and I no longer feel like my house would fall apart if I wasn't cleaning it.

To the original poster, we don't eat a lot of processed foods, there are a ton of whole foods recipes you can make ahead for the freezer, and then either put them in the oven as a casserole or the crockpot as a soup or entree. Best wishes!!

I went shopping a few days before and stocked up on non perishables as well as fresh food. I have used Amazon a few times when I needed something that would be hard for my husband to buy. Stock up on gasX, milk of magnesia, prunes/prune juice, and other laxative items.
I also had to have my Aunt buy me large granny panties as my bikinis bothered my incision. I also had to have a friend get me a few sleeveless short nightgowns as I do not find elastic waistbands comfy at all. I also got a lightweight robe.
Stock up on trash bags, t.p., dish soap, laundry soap ect.
Make sure your room or resting place has a tray for meds, a pen and paper to track medication times, a thermometer, a small pitcher for water( take it from the hospital, they will just throw it out anyways.) I also have ear plugs and an eye mask so I could sleep when it was noisy.
Write out the chores that must be done daily and post it on the fridge. - trash, dishes, etc. You might be suprised how helpful your family is when they see you need it! Remember you will need lots of rest so your insides can heal properly. I am at 19 days and just now doing some light things and I still need lots of rest.
If you can, let some friends know your need for help and see if they can pick up some things from the store while they are there or come by and transfer the wash, or unload the dishes. Even 15 min. Can help! In the end what has to be done will happen, your family will see how much you do and you will get much needed rest. Hope this helps!