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Mims70 07-20-2014 06:20 PM

Living alone and SCS implant preparation
 
You will be unable to use the dishwasher for six weeks. Buy tons of paper, plastic ware to use the first couple of weeks as you will not feel up to washing dishes. All plastic wear must be at waist height.
Buy a grabber or two. Mine came from rite-aid and I have used for unloading washer/dryer to picking up a dropped raisin.
Some else will absolutely need to change the sheets on your bed for several weeks.
Line up people to get your Rx, food or items you wish you had.
Hire a teen or professional maid to sweep, vacuum, etc for six weeks. Also you will need someone to mow grass if you have it. And you will need to either take out the trash daily or have someone lift the plastic trash bag from the tall kitchen trash container. When this is full it is too heavy to remove.
Stock up on frozen microwave food. It does not need to be all that healthy as this is a short-term fix.
Buy a ton of bottled water. You will drink more if you have bottle by the bed or couch.
Buy a dozen slighly over-sized t shirt. Wash 'em and stack 'em at waist high level. These along with elastic waist anything will be your outfit for awhile.
Anything you plan on wearing must be on the lower rack in the closet. You cannot reach overhead.
If you have a cat or dog, either board it or let a friend take it for six weeks, especially if the animal weighs more than a few pounds and you might want to or need to pick it up.
A liquid anti-bacterial soap is easier for washing incisions than the bar soap.
Get magazines as well as books. Magazines are light reading and distracting.
When you get to the grocery use the motorized cart, ask that only a couple of items be placed in each bag and ask for your groceries to be off loaded into your vehicle.
Be certain your pain meds are filled and have plenty of stool softener, prunes and laxatives. Inactivity makes constipation worse. You don't want to run out of tissues or TP either.
Be certain your toe nails are clipped short and plan on a trip to a nail place to have them clipped in about a month. You cannot bend at the waist. Place your shoes in a hanging shoe rack or on a spare bed.
Getting a really short hair cut helped me since for six weeks you cannot lift your hands above your head. Others might opt to schedule shampoos when they can drive.
Be prepared to give up NSAIDS starting the week prior to surgery. If arthritis in part of your pain bag, you will hurt. Be prepared to not use the SCS for a week after surgery or for it to possibly not work as well as expected. It gets better if all goes well.
Keep your cell phone on you at all times. Call someone if you are in extreme pain or overly anxious. People like to be asked for help. People want to help. The human race is generally a good lot.
Don't drive unless you are allowed to drive. You could hurt someone else. You could cause a wreck. Ask for someone to give you a ride.
Certainly others will make additions to this list of going it alone after SCS surgery. It can be managed with preparation.

---> You don't want to mess up the surgery<----There is no shame in asking for help.

eva5667faliure 07-22-2014 06:27 AM

Priceless
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mims70 (Post 1083680)
You will be unable to use the dishwasher for six weeks. Buy tons of paper, plastic ware to use the first couple of weeks as you will not feel up to washing dishes. All plastic wear must be at waist height.
Buy a grabber or two. Mine came from rite-aid and I have used for unloading washer/dryer to picking up a dropped raisin.
Some else will absolutely need to change the sheets on your bed for several weeks.
Line up people to get your Rx, food or items you wish you had.
Hire a teen or professional maid to sweep, vacuum, etc for six weeks. Also you will need someone to mow grass if you have it. And you will need to either take out the trash daily or have someone lift the plastic trash bag from the tall kitchen trash container. When this is full it is too heavy to remove.
Stock up on frozen microwave food. It does not need to be all that healthy as this is a short-term fix.
Buy a ton of bottled water. You will drink more if you have bottle by the bed or couch.
Buy a dozen slighly over-sized t shirt. Wash 'em and stack 'em at waist high level. These along with elastic waist anything will be your outfit for awhile.
Anything you plan on wearing must be on the lower rack in the closet. You cannot reach overhead.
If you have a cat or dog, either board it or let a friend take it for six weeks, especially if the animal weighs more than a few pounds and you might want to or need to pick it up.
A liquid anti-bacterial soap is easier for washing incisions than the bar soap.
Get magazines as well as books. Magazines are light reading and distracting.
When you get to the grocery use the motorized cart, ask that only a couple of items be placed in each bag and ask for your groceries to be off loaded into your vehicle.
Be certain your pain meds are filled and have plenty of stool softener, prunes and laxatives. Inactivity makes constipation worse. You don't want to run out of tissues or TP either.
Be certain your toe nails are clipped short and plan on a trip to a nail place to have them clipped in about a month. You cannot bend at the waist. Place your shoes in a hanging shoe rack or on a spare bed.
Getting a really short hair cut helped me since for six weeks you cannot lift your hands above your head. Others might opt to schedule shampoos when they can drive.
Be prepared to give up NSAIDS starting the week prior to surgery. If arthritis in part of your pain bag, you will hurt. Be prepared to not use the SCS for a week after surgery or for it to possibly not work as well as expected. It gets better if all goes well.
Keep your cell phone on you at all times. Call someone if you are in extreme pain or overly anxious. People like to be asked for help. People want to help. The human race is generally a good lot.
Don't drive unless you are allowed to drive. You could hurt someone else. You could cause a wreck. Ask for someone to give you a ride.
Certainly others will make additions to this list of going it alone after SCS surgery. It can be managed with preparation.

---> You don't want to mess up the surgery<----There is no shame in asking for help.

This is beautifully put together
Just awesome
And here is one
Should you suffer from OCD
All what you put together is very much
needed and is certainly helpful TO a OCD
sufferer
Thanks much
Me

Rimbanda 07-23-2014 09:00 AM

Well thought through and put together. Not being on my own I possibly didn't think some things through as well as I should have. Thankfully my long suffering and very patient wife has got a handle on most of it. :D:D:D

Phil


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