What are you doing to prepare?

I must have major anxiety tonight because I can think about nothing but surgery--and it is two weeks away.

Today I started getting ready. The overnight bag is packed with my going home outfit of super loose sweatpants, comfy loose top, and some giant panties.

Things I will add at the last minute--Kindle, phone and phone charger.

At home, I have a box of Smooth Move tea, some Dulcolax, a 12-pack of ginger ale, an electric heating pad, an extra pillow for the tummy if I need a brace, and 2 pints of homemade chicken broth, my favorite toast bread, and a box of fruit popsicles are in the freezer.

What are you taking with you? What are you setting up at home for your after care?

I am scheduled for a TVH on 9/25 for fibroids. I am feeling very anxious about everything from the surgery itself to my family while I am recovering. I have 9 children ages 18 months to 16 years. I am the main shuttle service for all of the afterschool activities, cook, laundress, child care provider...you get it. Basically I am the typical stay at home mom. How do I explain to a baby that I can't pick up anything heavier than 10 pounds when he weighs 25?? I am having a hard time sleeping... I have a few meals in the freezer and I have the majority of the ride situations worked out for the kids and their sports. I have been very blessed in that my friends from church have organized meals for my family for about 2 weeks. My wonderful husband is taking off the week of my surgery to help out at home. My mom is coming the next week. I am not sure about after that. I have been trying to take care of little projects around the house that I won't be able to do while recovering, like getting all of the kids warmer clothes out and packing away most of the summer stuff. I feel like I am nesting in preparation for surgery. I haven't packed anything yet, but I have made a list of what I want to take with me. I plan to take my cell phone and kindle also along with some comfy clothing. I am also going to take some pads...just in case the hospital ones are yucky. I am not sure about where to set up for the first few days of recovery. The couch...our bedroom? Not sure. I feel like I am going nuts! I don't really want to talk about it with my husband because he is already worried about the surgery. I don't want him to be more concerned if he knows how anxious I am. I AM planning on packing the booklet that I got from this website for him to read while I am in surgery so that he has somewhat of an idea of what's going on. Good luck to you!!!

Good idea about the pads!

I had mine done on August 30. I only took to the hospital my clothes for the next day as I was leaving the next day and my medications that I have to take every night.

As far as at home, I left a honey do list because I really didn't want my husband at the hospital with me. He wouldn't have let me sleep as much as I wanted. He had things like to put our case of bottled water up on the table so I can get it if I needed to without bending over. I also borrowed a t.v. tray from my mom and had it set up next to my bed with my medications on it, a few books to read, my homework and school books, a few bottles of water and my crystal light, and my phone charger. I do have a night stand but I figured the reach to get my stuff off there was going to be a problem and wanted something closer and taller to avoid the reach. I also had him make me a little home in the living room near and on the sofa for me to be able to watch movies or t.v. I had him put some water there as well as some foods for snacks so I didn't have to get up too much if I got hungry. I also had him do a few of the simpler cleaning things I just didn't have time to do before I went.

I didn't bleed much after surgery, just enough that it left a little spot on the pad that was on the bed. I think I nested worse before the surgery than I did before I had either one of my kids lol.

I hope this helped and if you have questions, just ask.

Mine is Wednesday, and I'm in full on prep mode!

We went out Friday and bought lots of supplies including easy night gowns and lounge wear without elastic, hair bands, snacks, movies (Target had a huge selection for $3.99), non-skid slip on slippers, on, and Mr. Moose - my new cutie Pillow Pet!

I've made a double batch of my applesauce, and have that now in family-sized dishes and frozen. I've got 7 gallon-sized ziplocks full of veggies that I washed and chopped. I have to go get meat and a few sauce ingredients tonight, and make and freeze some enchiladas and crock pot meals. I will have 14 meals frozen and ready to go by tonight.

I need to pack my hospital bag, do mountains of laundry, and pack up my son for Grandma's, and build my nest here at the house. My hubby has taken over the house cleaning, so that's great!

Oh, and I'm getting a pedicure with my SIL tonight.

Clothes I'm carrying - gown and robe, sweats, loose socks and granny panties.
Other stuff- chapstick, lotion, Gas-X.

At home, I'm planning on using the guest bedroom for a few weeks after surgery. It's usually full of toys and it's where the grandbabies sleep when they stay with me. I've been tidying it up, put away the toys, put up new curtains, bought new pillows, put a heating pad in there, some books I want to read, and I'm going to use my beautiful linen pillowcases, a favorite quilt and afghan (things I made) and other things I don't normally use. I'm thinking about printing and hanging some fave photos that I took, too. The bedside table will have my cellphone, meds I may need (including Gas-X), chapstick, water pitcher.

I'm making a list of questions for my pre-op visit.

My son helped take down wallpaper and painted the bedroom for me.
We installed new blinds, new bedspread..etc.
I haven't started meals yet...I go Oct 15th.
I have bought stool softener, gas x , chap sticks.
I bought the ab binder , reach aid, pre surgery wash from Hystersisters.
I bought a new themometer.
Do I need a cushion to sit on. I am having TVH with cystele and rectele repairs?

I am not sure what I am doing to prepare. We are moving right at the same time. My guys are promising to do it all without any problem. Hmmmm? I still need to get some support pillow and undies and loose gown.

Blessedbeyond9- you might share with your husband how you feel. Sometimes supporting others helps them focus less on their own discomfort. You might be helping him and you by sharing.