Getting Nervous
 

Hi Everyone....

Starting to get a bit nervous now. Suppose to be having my surgery within next four weeks and will only get about 24-48 hours notice to be there. I have not done the following:

1. No shopping done
2. No decorations done
3. No tree up and lit...
4. No Xmas cooking done
5. No cards done yet...

and....Heading to Florida on the 27th. I am worried about recovery, pain and how long I should be off, whether or not I am suppose to do P/T. I have tried to call Dr. office for two weeks and can not get through. I have been given little to no info on what they are doing and what to expect and my time is running out on being able to get some things done. Any thoughts or suggestions??

Rach

:yikes:

I would let the kids help to decorate the house - it can be a simple home made type of Christmas.
same with the tree or get a artificial tree and let the kids be in charge of decorating
gift cards for shopping after recovery?
just one big gift per kid { 1 expensive thing vs a bunch of little things}

I rarely ever do cards - email cards yes:)

I try to not fall into the commercial aspect of Christmas or any Holiday,
being with family and friends is the important thing.

totally get your anguish
 

Hi Rachel,

I feel your frustration but you have to realize there is only so much you can do. As for Christmas.....kids to help total bonus let them help with the baking...hmmmm maybe too much mess.....

Wrapping is always hell for me so I decided (and I LOVE to wrap presents) that bags are the only way to go....get some tissue and then stuff it into the bag and you're good to go.

as for surgery....dont even think about it.....I did this and it really helped me I just treated every day as normal until that day then worried is much easier on your stress level.

as for PT....not for three months I was told but depends on your doc. Mine gave me some exercises which I did in the shower so my muscles were warmed up.

as for recovery you WILL need help,. I stayed at my Moms but i moved in pre surgery as I was not moving to where dh was going.......anyhow you will need help to wash and help with hair and these things for at LEAST first two weeks then you can slowly start doing more.

I had pain so bad.....not joking or trying to scare iu....tos pain left but had acute surgical pain and I felt run over by a truck!!!! Will add more if I think of it later feel free to PM me if you need a good talk!!!

love and hugs,
Victoria:hug:

I agree with Victoria - gift bags gift bags gift bags!!! I love to wrap but it isn't worth the pain. Shopping online could be an option - get it down fast and don't have to leave the house! Let the kids decorate...I am sure they will have lots of fun!

When I had surgery I got the call Friday late afternoon, had my pre-op Monday and then the surgery on the Tuesday...that gave me the weekend to get stuff ready and I just 'winged it'...whatever wasn't done would find a way to get done

I started PT 8 weeks post-op...still going now (8 months post-op) and have been told to continue for another 6 months...I was told physio would be KEY in my recovery. Personally, I couldn't imagine having had no physio after surgery but that is just my opinion. I didn't even ask about it till my follow up appt...like victoria I was given some exercises to do in the shower on my hospital discharge and just went with that for the first lil while.

Best advice I have is not to get too stressed right now...the holidays will happen...just do your best!!!

Hi
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I did listen you all you guys before and got someone to help me clean my house...nice treat. I will get some help with the decorations and tree and shopping will be minimal with the trip to Disney. Some of my main concers are the pain levels, when will I start to feel better and what the heck is he doing in there? When I spoke with him, he wasn't able to give me a lot of info because he spent alot of time discussing the whole TOS thing. Other than what I have read here I am not sure of how everything works, and how I will be feeling and what to do/not do when I get home. What were your recovery times like?
I will be getting the recliner and lots of pillows. Those seem like huge musts from other posts.
Sorry for typing, going fast as hands hurt...I know u all can relate.

Rach

PS...Jamy...why the P/T so late? I have read posts where it is right away. Can you move you arm much after surgery? What kind of movements can I expect?
Gibbrn...got the hair helpers all arranged....a couple of close friends of mine and going to help me with that....I'm sure it will be a quick wash but I will take what I can get...

Hi Rachel - there were two things that lead to my late start with PT. One was that the PT I had wanted to use was sick the day of our appt and it was going to take months to get in for a consult with him (he is quite the guy - hard to get appts with) I made many many calls and most places went 'TO what?' - so those calls ended quickly. Also it was about 6 or 7 weeks post-op that I actually had my follow-up with the surgeon...

I basically have full range of motion now - some limited on the end range. Some days are better then others...everyone agreed (docs, PT, etc) that the last thing you want is a frozen shoulder. Movement was limited after surgery not to mention it hurt like heck, but I did my shower exercise and have really listened to my 'team' (I like to call them that...I see a PT, MT and Chiro weekly...adds up to a lot of appts!). Right now I find I am weak and likely will be refered to a (sports rehab type) clinic to gain some strength. If you want to PM me with any questions I'd be happy to share my experiences...

Hi Rachael,

I would have to aggree with the others here. This is a pretty major surgery, and the recovery really isnt a piece of cake either. Take time to take care of yourself. Dont worry about Christmas cards. And if I were you i wouldnt even bother with decorations, getting the tree up, christmas lights, etc. you dont want to be bothered with taking them down after Christmas and after surgery. Everyone will totally understand. And besides you will have many more healthy Christmas's to come!

Good luck! And take care of YOU!

Thanks
 

Thanks Everyone....I will do my best to get through the holidays unscathed....

All of your advice and wisdom is noted and I will do my best to follow what I can...

Almost Done...
 

Tree is up....
Cards are done....(kids did them)...
Decorations (what I am going to put up) is done....
Three of six gifts are done...(Disney World is "the" gift)

Demerol is in.....lol :winky:

I feel better now. I have a good start and if I go for surgery this week...gift cards will finish up.

My last wish would be to have a better understanding of the whole surgery process....but I guess I will wing that too...

My thanks to you!!
:Thanx:

Rachel - sounds like you have things under control...relax and enjoy all your hard work and hopefully that surgery call comes in for you soon!

I think the surgery is described somewhere on a website I'm sure, but can't recall which one.

Part depends on if he is going in thru armpit {axilla\axillary} or collarbone {supra clavicular} area - probably spelled these wrong:o
and part depends on what exactly the dr finds when in there, I guess it's quite common for things to be laid out with some minor variances.
rib resection, scalenectomy, scar tissue removal.

images of BP surgeries-
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2
http://www.medigraphics.com/ma_april01.html

Don't forget a gift for yourself!

I would highly recommend an "easy-care" hair-do if you haven't succumbed to one already...at least for the first few months after surgery.

Mara
 

Ponytail and or hat?? lol

I feel more at easy now that I have gotten some things done. If they were to call tomorrow, I am 90% ready and hubby and kids can finish.

I know some of you feel my health comes first before this surgery, but my kids are only 11 and 13...Christmas is for the kids and I couldn't just not do something for them in terms of decorations. Now I can relax and just concentrate more on me since the bigger tasks are over...

Thanks again...
Rach

Hi Rachael,

Don't be afraid to delegate those last Christmas gifts either! Any time cameras or electronics of any kind or on my girls Xmas lists, I tell DH the general details, and make sure he writes a note to himself, and I mark that OFF my list. He LOVES shopping for gadgets anyway, and hey, he's a parental unit too!

This pre-surgery (and holiday) time is a good time to call in those favors you've been turning down - all the "what can I do for you?'s" that are non-specific in nature, but well-meant, by friends, neighbors, relatives, fellow church members, etc. Ask those closest to you, and those you know like to cook, for dishes to freeze. If people ask what you want for Christmas, tell them restaurant giftcards (DH can pick up dinner and bring home). Arrange plans with girls' friends now for extra vacation days(non-Disney) or Plan B in case the trip is cancelled. A call when someone is headed to the grocery or drugstore to see if you need something, or a weekly Kitchen and Clutter session wd be most helpful, and the giver will appreciate feeling useful while you are down, honest!

Lay in videos or check into NetFlix. Be sure you have the things for an invalid set-up - a recliner, cozy throw, lightweight container for fluids, remote, a handy table or tray to set things on at chair-side. Easy-on/off clothes, pants w/out zippers or buttons and tops w/out small buttons. I found a few tops with snap fasteners that I liked. Zippers with a large enough pull are also fairly easy.

Frozen peas have been helpful for flexible ice-paks. I swear by my rice-bag for heat - throw in the microwave for 60 secs. Vit. E capsules once you have the ok to start treating the scar works really well.

I had surgery on a Thurs a.m. (Denver) Took abt 1 1/2 hours, went well, had no complications. I had a PCA with Diladiud for first 2 days w/ decreasing dosage, plus additional Oxycontin and a break-through pain med as well. It was needed those first two days! I was released on Sunday afternoon, so I was kept a bit over 3 days (admitted once I was brought to my hospital room after surgery). By Sunday I felt ready to get out of there! I was off of oxygen by Saturday morning and walking the hallway that afternoon.

Coughing, laughing, hiccuping hurt badly - avoid them if possible, if not, try holding a pillow to your rib cage! And keep your arm elevated on pillows to take the pull off the surgical site. In bed I experimented till I found the arrangement of pillows that worked for me - one under each arm and shoulder blade, another under the surgical shoulder, and therapedic cervical pillow.

Dr Annest sends patients home with a rib immobilizer, it has a strap w/ velcro closures to keep your arm close to your body in a good position. It's meant to be worn if you're going to be standing or sitting for a good period of time without any support for the arm, or in crowded situations like the airport to protect the arm post-op. I felt it was a life-saver for the travel home, and being in crowds. Since I never used it at home I didn't worry about developing a frozen shoulder or anything with it. Most Drs apparently don't rx these, but I was very glad to have it!

As to how you will feel and how long, it's anyone's guess, it's really individual. But a estimate might be, the first two weeks plan on doing not much but sleeping and taking your meds and praying to feel better. The first week is worst. The third week you will see some energy back but need to nap like a baby. This is when I slowly started to drive (to the Dr's and back)- but VERY cautiously!! By the 4th week you may stay awake 12 hrs in a row, and begin to be able to take on more and more things for yourself again - hair care, simple meals, etc. You may have an easier recovery or you could have some set-backs (we hope NOT!), but the best advice is to NOT RUSH things, as you really need to let your body heal during this time.

I always advise to pack socks and slippers as the hospital floors are cold and not always the cleanest, and nuts, raisins, cookies etc for a handy snack. And when you get the call, shave your legs before you go, as it's won't be on your to-do list for the next 3-4 weeks. :)

Best wishes,

beth