I am scheduled for surgery on my right side on Oct.23, and my left side Oct. 25.
I am very nervous. What I was hoping was that someone could tell me what I should do to prepare for the surgery and hospital stay.
I am assuming most of my time in the hospital will be spent sleeping and trying to get my pain under control. Are there any MUST do or MUST haves that I need to know about?
As this is only 10 or so days away, I need as much info as possible ASAP.
Thankyou all in advance for your advice, help, and encouragement.
Tracy

Tracy, congrats! I hope this is the beginning of much pain relief for you! Is there someone who can post for you after surgeries to let us know you are OK?

I'm surprised that they are doing both sides so close together! I hope you have ample help at home. To prepare for the surgery, I'd have my lungs in the best shape possible: no smoking; walk daily to keep the circulation up; breathe deeply, also for relaxation (I KNOW you are nervous!!); eat well.

In the hospital, you will need a heating pad, and someone to remove it occasionally. When I was alone, I had it cranked up to high and nobody noticed it for days - almost cooked myself! I used that on my back, while I prefered ice on my incision areas. Hospital should provide you with ice and heating pad. Cold drinks also helped a lot - and serbet/ice cream. I developed a frozen Coke addiction Also if the nurses allow it, try to walk the halls - it's important to keep circulation going and lungs clear. You may be getting PT in the Hospital too.

Once home, rest, rest, rest. Watch that posture, go to PT as directed, use ice/heat, and take your meds ON TIME. That's very important in pain control. Keeping a steaady level of meds in your system is better than waiting till you are in pain (like sleeping thru a dose). I also had to write down when I took my meds, as 5 min later I'd forget. Keep a pain/pill journal.

I'm sure others will have loads of good advice for you.

YEAY PROGRESS!
Anne

Yes, short notice indeed. I need to figure out what to do with my daycare. I am hoping that my mom and husband can take care of it for me. The week that I am in the hospital I will close the daycare. I just cannot afford to have the daycare closed for more than one week.
My husband is very stressed out. He doesn't know how to fix this, and he certainly has never had me being completly out of commission for more than one or two days.
I am very nervous, I can hardly think straight. I need to worry about getting a great many things organized in a small window of time. I have to temporarily give up my volunteer work, and that bothers me a lot.
Well, enough babbling. I hope to hear from others soon.
Tracy

What I found helpful:

Stock up the freezer beforehand with frozen meals. My mom made a huge batch of chicken and noodles while I was in the hospital - it was wonderful, fed us for days. If anyone asks how they can help, don't turn them away - a meal or ride to and from Dr's appt is a real help - and they wouldn't offer if they didn't mean it! Stock up on some good videos and books,too.

Pack socks and slippers - hospitals are cold, and you'll want slippers when you're up walking around to prevent slips and falls. Shave legs the night before as you likely won't care to do so afterwards for awhile.
I usually bring peanuts, raisins, some chocolate as I never know what "surprises" hospital food has in store, or in case I'm hungry between meals.

Be sure to ask for extra pillows to place under your arm, scapula and wherever else you need to make you comfortable(I brought my own!).
You may also want to bring your own stool softener/laxative if you have problems getting your bowels started after surgery, usually they won't release you until a BM has been "produced". My own are more effective for me than what they give me to take for some reason.

For me, heat felt good over the plexus area, but I wanted ice on the incision. It's whatever feels best to you. But if there's any suggestion of RSD, ice is STRONGLY discouraged. To wear home and while recovering, drawstring "sweats" like pants, and blouses or sweaters that zip or button (no tiny buttons) rather than pull over your head are most practical (and least painful).

Hope some of this is useful, keep what is, ignore the rest!

beth

Oh my god!!!! GEt the maid, cook and husband(asssumptoion sorrry ) lined up now and telll them wha they are in for if you have kids....hope they are old enought to help you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you go well

prayers and hugs,
Victoria

I think I have some things worked out. My MIL and FIL are going to come up the week I am in hospital. They will take care of the kids, and the after school daycare kids. My DH is taking two weeks off starting the day I get out of the hospital. My mom is then coming after my Dh goes back to work. She will stay for about two weeks. Through this time the daycare will remain open for the after school kids. I am in the process of letting the full time moms know that I will be closed until January, for any kids under 5.
I am fortunate that my kids are all school aged. They are 15, 11, 7 and 6. They do a lot around here already. We believe that they are expected to pull their weight around here. They do laundry, vaccum,mow lawns, clean bathrooms and kitchens, and a lot more as neccessary.
I am also very fortunate that my DH is the cook. He is far better than I am.

Hopefully, all will be in order by the time I go in.
Tracy

Tracy- Best of luck to you!!! Sounds like you have a good plan in place.
Try to let us know how it comes out.

Johanna

sounds like you are getting it all worked out pretty well.

Make lists {i'm a list maker!!}


I'll probably link this thread to the TOS tips thread as pre and post op surgery tips are needed there too.

Good wishes for you

Tracy, This is wonderful...... I wish you all the best and will most certainly be looking to you for advice when my date comes. Take it easy though ok? Let yourseld relax and let others do things for you. I know I am stubborn that way....Keep me posted on how you are doing. I wish I had more advice for you. Good luck!!!!

Rachael

I'm VERY surprised they are doing both sides so close together. When you have the surgery, the phrenic nerve is irritated. The phrenic nerve is responsible for deep breathing, and when it's irritated, it's VERY difficult to take a cleansing breath. I could not be released until I could breathe properly, having only ONE SIDE done, and that took me a WEEK having only ONE SIDE done. My doctor didn't want me having my other side done for at least 6 months after the first side was done. I'm very concerned yours is willing to do both sides so close together. Please make sure your surgeon and nurses are checking your breathing. Additionally, if you aren't breathing well, the risk of pneumonia is greater, cuz the fluid is not being expelled frmo your lungs. If they are going in the second time, 2 days later, it would only stand to reason your lungs will be operating at even LESS capacity, so the risk of pneumonia will be even HIGHER.

To exercise the lungs, blow/breathe deeply into the sphagmometer that they will hopefully give you at the hopsital. If they do't give you one, ask for one. This is important. Also, walk the halls as soon after surgery as you can. This moves the fluid around and exercises your lungs also.

Okay...I had my right side done last December. My left hasn't been done yet, and I doubt it will cuz I had rsd also, and the surgery made my rsd worse...I refuse to be "cut" again, cuz the first cutting making this rsd worse has totally KILLED me. My rsd has spread, so obviously my body is telling me "don't get that other side done!" LOL!. Anyway, after the right side only, I was out of commission for at LEAST 6 weeks. So I'm telling yo that if you only have help for 2 weeks, you best round up MORE help for about 4 additional weeks. I hope yu have closed your daycare for at least 6 weeks, hon. There is NO WAY you will be able to chase after kids for at least that long...maybe longer. I only had ONE SIDE done and was out o it for 6 weeks. I have really no idea why they are doing both of yours so close together. I have never heard of this...but hopefully someone pipes in who has cuz to me, this isn't right.

PILLOWS PILLOWS PILLOWS. That was my big thing. The sofer I could make what I leaned against, the better I felt. They were behind me, and under my arms, and on my lap so I could rest my elbows and not be in a "shrug of the shoulders" position. Pajama bottoms or sweat pants, shirts that zip or button up and that are LOOSE, and try to get some of the shampoo from the hospital that you can use to wash your hair without actually having to take a full blown shower. You won't eally have the energy for a few days.

Teh pain meds will constipate you, so get some laxitaves. You don't want to get anything that will cramp you up, so get something like senekot. However, the off brand, senna, works the same way. Or take about 500-750 mg's of magnesium daily. tha works the same way also, and is good for you. You may also want to start looking around for one of those little tables that you see for use in bed...like the ones used to serve breakfast in bed. That's where you'll be eating for a while. Hopefully you have a pull out sofa in the living room. That was my "bedroom" for quite a while. That way I could still be with the family while I recovered. I went to bed upstairs in the evenings.

But the biggest thing for me was PILLOWS. I think they saved me. You will also need them for the ride home, too, so have hubby bring at LEAST 4 of them. Tuck them under your arms, and hold one against your tummy, as a "cough pillow." You may cough, and it will HURT, but if you hold a pillow tight against your stomach, it will help to hold things tight so it won't hurt as MUCH.