Surgery tomorrow

thank you ladys for all the advice on what you need after surgery...
scared to death but i know i will be fine...talk to u all later..i will say a prayer for all of you whos surgery is coming up.

I hope that your surgery went well today... Thoughts are with you and keep smiling
L

Cough drops -- any little cough was hard for me. Some have a dry throat from the anethesia.

I had a "husband" pillow - I think that's what it is called. I had it on my bed and it gave me some support to get up.

I'm short, so having things close in the kitchen helped me to get snacks, etc. for myself. Also, at first, having milk poured into a small container, like a water bottle was most helpful.

good luck

Lovetowalk:

that is a really good point about the milk! We usually buy the 1 gallon jugs because we go through milk really fast around here since we have kids at home. I also enjoy drinking milk. The first week home when I finally got my appetite back, I went to get some milk, and realized I could not lift the 1 gallon jug out of the fridge!! So, my DH also poured some milk into a small container and put a label on the container saying it was MINE so nobody else would use it. haha.

That is a good point... it's amazing how things that really aren't that heavy are too difficult to pick up right after surgery!

So another tip to all you who are still waiting and preparing for surgery:

I guess if before surgery, if you have to use any effort to pick something up that you use often, then assume at least the first few weeks after surgery, you won't be able to pick that item up, and maybe try to figure out an alternative of how to use the item or pick it up before you go into surgery....

I found I couldn't even cut an apple into slices after my surgery! It took me about 3 weeks post-op to feel like I could finally cut an apple, and even then, it was hard, but i was able to do it. And, we had a loaf of garlic bread (the kind you bake in the oven when it's still in the bag) and I tried to slice that, I couldn't even slice that because it took to much effort to cut through the hard crust! It's amazing what things are really hard to do after surgery, at least for the first few weeks. (for some people... not everyone has this experience!)

So, pay attention to things like that pre-surgery that causes you to use any effort and assume you won't be able to do it after surgery, so that will help you plan even more!

I am a large lady so in addition I got a electric lift recliner to sleep in and help get me upright independently. A toilet riser seat also helps if your procedure is with an abdominal incision. The grabber tool is an absolute must have. I also stocked up on jello pudding, fruit cups and simple nutritious snacks. Take the stool softener as long as you are on the narcotic pain pills. Good luck to you. My anxiety was out of control preop and I was fine. Have your family stay with you in the hospital even at night until you can get up independently if at all possible.

I was OK to stay by myself at the hospital at night. What got my nurse quicker than anything was a call that I felt nauseated. She was there with a shot in a flash.

It is so totally amazing how many things we do that involve our abs, even like cutting bread as loves to run mentioned.