It's hitting me now

last night carrying groceries into the house it hit me... I live in a raised ranch house (the licing areas are on top of the garage/bonus space) and I have to go up 20 steps to get to my house! How in the heck will I make it upstairs? There is no bathroom on the ground level and no space to put one. I will be having a vertical incision for the Hyst and am very worried about this. I was restless last night just thinking about it.

I guess I have to add that to my pre-op question list. Also at least I am hoping winter does not arrive early here in GA and we have ice or snow the first few days of December, that would make it worse!!!

Good news the gastroenterologist released me today and there will be no further tests needed as the c-diff infection is GONE!!!

I have started to stock up on yarn and crochet patterns for my "confinement" as the thought of running out of yarn is scary, not sure that DH could handle the trip to the craft store! (not his favorite spot) He is wondering how quickly I will get back to the knitting machine and my sewing machines. (I promised the GYN that I would stay away from them for the first 2 weeks! )

Ask the dr about the stairs. Different dr, different surgeries, different rules! I have heard going up them backwards, slowly, is better than going up them forward. I was carried up and down mine by my DH for several weeks. But I was blacking out when I was standing up so stairs were a double no no for me.

Maybe you can get a protable toliet to keep in your house! I mention that because I had one in my hospital room since I was not even allowed to walk across the room to go to the bathroom. My pulse was over 120 beats per minute so I was very restricted on my movements!

Best wishes! Send us all dollies!

I am recuperating at my dad's house because I am a single gal, and it is 17 steps up to the bedrooms. I was prepared to sleep in the living room if need be, but I actually found that going up and down the stairs was not too hard and not too painful (and I have an abdominal incision), as long as I took it slow and went up/down the steps one at a time.

I think the trick is to plan so you use the stairs as little as possible. For example, I would come downstairs in the morning with everything I needed (or would send my sis or dad up to fetch things I forgot) and only go upstairs again at bedtime. I would suggest camping out on the floor that has the bathroom, because I was drinking a lot of water (as we are supposed to do!) and had to pee a LOT those first few days. If the TV is on the lower floor and you would like to watch TV, then rent or buy a new, small one for the upstairs.

Hope that makes sense. Feel free to e-mail me.

Oh another crocheter. That's pretty much what i do every day. It's nice to hear another sister talking about spending her time doing the same. The portable toilet idea is fabulous. I remember when my Mom was dying from cancer we had one right next to her bed so she did not have to go too far. You should look into it.