Help me prepare ~ Looking for suggestions or good advice

Surgery is less than 2 weeks away
I am looking for any suggestions or advice that will help me prepare and recover.
What was the best "thing(s)" that helped you.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Blessings,
J

If you have a two-story home and your bedroom is upstairs, I found it was helpful to set up a sort of "camp kitchen" to save me from going up and down stairs, and to minimize making my husband run around getting me things. I had an electric teapot, teas, instant soups, instant oatmeal, plus snacks! i pretty much lived upstairs for the first week so this helped a lot!

I stayed in the guest room for the first two weeks. I ordered a wedge pillow that I found on amazon so I could recline without having to mess with a million pillows. Also ordered a small bed tray/table for meals and laptop.

Have on hand your tried and true remedies for various maladies - something for nausea, a laxative compound, tylenol...the pain killers can sometimes make you feel sick and/or constipate you! be prepared! (Peppermint capsules work well too!)

Good luck! I'm almost 4 weeks out and doing really well!! You're gonna be fine!

Pam

Have a pad of paper near your medicines to write down what and when you have taken each med. I was often surprised that it was time to take my pain meds, and I would have put up with pain longer than necessary if I hadn't been writing this down.

I also wrote down the times that I walked and when I went to the bathroom. Just so I could keep track of what was going on.

Fishchick:
I love this idea of the electric teapot and instant food. I bought one not to long ago and have never used it.

Asterope:
I have such a bad memory lately that writing down and keeping track of meds, walking and bathroom trips is such a great idea. Now why did I not think of that.

Thank You Ladies

My heating pad was the love of my life. I still sleep with it on my tummy every night.

This is a daft one, but get some mints to suck on, and peppermint tea - wonderful stuff for gas! Also, try to have comfy clothes that won't rub or restrict - I bought a pair of really soft stretchy pants to wear home from hospital, and now I really wish I'd bought two! Also, for going home from hospital, wear something you can get away with wearing without a bra - you may find you really can't be bothered with all those straps. Good luck! xx

Hi~
I am 2 days post op and my abdominal binder has been a life saver. It really helps me feel protected and comfortable.
Gas-X and walking seem to help with the gas pains.
Hope this little bit of advice helps
Good Luck!!

SugarandSpice:
Just got my heating pad today (extra long one)

Rapidreader:
I did not know how mint tea could help with gas, its now on my to buy list along with mint hard candy. Also, I bought some discounted lounge pants at K-Mart (I think they are really left over Christmas pjs). I am pretty big-breasted, so not sure if I could get away without wearing a bra. Probably at that point I could giving a flying leap at what I looked like.

Law001:
I have yet to find an abdominal binder and Gas-X is on my to "buy list".

Thank you ladies.
J

A soft "lounge bra" is nice. I wish I had one after surgery. I just went braless. I have a soft one now and it's amazing.

Some precooked meals in the freezer and a pot of soup already made

Lots of different herb tea and crackers

Gas-x and extra strength tylenol and stool softener

I got loose clothes too. I'm busty and they don't make the softbras in my size so outside the house I wear a camisole under something loose

I wish I had one of those reacher grabber things

I also cleaned house a lot ahead of time--gave me peace of mind

My best friend arranged to come the first week and another friend the week after. Nothing like your best friend. Better than family