The Royal Walk

Ok, so I'm supposed to bring a robe for my walks around the halls in the hospital. I'm picturing a backless gown with ample flesh flapping in the wind and IV hookups...how exactly does one put a robe on over that? And, oh, I almost forgot, won't I have some sort of pad on as well? Will walking be a balancing act of squeeze and grunt or will I need to put on a pair of panties before I take my regal stroll? And how does one accomplish that?!?
These are very important questions you know...

Hi Sojourner,

These are very important questions! Dignity is essential. However, the visual you created is causing some serious giggling! Thanks for the happy start to my day. You are going to wake up from surgery with a very sexy pair of soft mesh underwear to hold your pad and bandage in place so the squeeze and grunt don't have to occur. Gosh that's funny! If you have your own robe, you'll put your arm through the sleeve without the iv and drape the robe over your other shoulder. Any flapping that may occur will be completely covered. If you choose not to use your own robe, they'll use another johnny. Many hospitals have johnnys that have snaps at the shoulder and sleeve to accomodate the iv. They can just snap it on and voila! You've got yourself covered again.

Thanks for the laugh, and good luck to you! I'll keep you in my prayers.


Tracy

Oh my gosh this doesn't sound fun. I figured the IV would be removed the next morning along with the catheter, then the walking began. I'm the clumsiest ever, somebody is going to get mooned, I just feel it.

The morning after my surgery my iv and catheter were removed and I was up and walking. I wore my own nightgown and panties and slippers. I did have to wear their TED hose, and man did I look good! It really wasn't as bad or awkward as I imagined it would be. I even walked outside on the 4th to watch the fireworks.

I wore 2 hospital gowns at a time. One facing front & the other facing back. That way I was covered It had the bonus of less laundry to take home. I didn't use my robe until the trip home.

S

My gown provided more than adequate coverage. It snapped at the shoulders and crossed over in the back (like a wrap skirt) so there were actually 2 layers of gown in the back. I brought a hip length robe from home that I put one arm in and draped over the other shoulder to accomodate the IV. The night nurse disconnected the IV tubing at bedtime because my saline bag was empty and I wasn't due for anything for a while. That way I could sleep easier without getting tangled up or pulling on the tubing.

I didn't get any mesh panties. They had a pad under me in bed, but I only had some spotting and it was that afternoon before I really realized I didn't have panties on at all. I stayed "commando" and found it was much easier moving around, going to the bathroom, etc. Not my usual mode of wear, but very comfotable. My catheter had been removed right after surgery. I know it was out when I was in recovery because the nurse asked if I needed to use the bed pan. Found out I really can't pee lying down.

I'm only wearing a pantiliner now just for the occasional discharge (doc said I would have some). It's really nice to not have a maxi pad on all the time!

Take it easy!

I took my own robe to the castle. It was a big soft, fluffy, comfy bathrobe and made me feel more comfortable on my walks. It only takes a moment to unhook an IV and a minute for the nurse to flush the line and reconnect it. I'm sure they will be happy to help you when you are ready to put your robe on. I think I decided to keep my robe on the second time I put it on. There's not much to the hospital blankets and it kept me warm. I wasn't about to risk an free peep show for anyone by trusting the lovely backless hospital gowns!

My castle actually provided robes. I just wore theirs. I didn't have to walk with IV's or anything, didn't get up to walk until catheter and IV's were disconnected the following morning.

Don't worry, the nurses are great at helping you maintain your dignity!

Good Luck!
Christine

Same here, I didn't take the stroll until they took me off the IV, though they kept the venous access thingy in the back of my hand just in case they wanted to hook me up again. That was a rather uncomfortable weight on the back of my hand, as I recall, and I had to keep my hand in such a position that I did not feel it pulling. I had my own robe from home for the walk, and I remember that it felt great to be up and moving around! They had me stand up briefly in my room the evening of the surgery, but I broke out in a sweat and sat right back down again.

Feeling kind of jealous of you all getting to stroll around the castle like that...
I stayed in my lovely hospital issue gown, "commando" style too , and didn't really care. I was throwing up still 36 hours after surgery and could have cared less who saw what. My cath was in the 1st 24 hours due to bladder sling, and they left my blow-up legging things on for 2 days (or at least it seemed that way), so I had to keep buzzing the nurse every time I needed to pee (like every hour or so).
Sooo.... I didn't even see the outside of my room till I was leaving, and didn't use any of my own things till I showered and got dressed after lunch the day I went home.