General
Surgery Tips
When you are diagnosed it isn't just about doctor appointments and making sure you have all of that in order it is figuring out what you need for your upcoming surgeries. This is a list that has been compiled through many different people and what they found most helpful. What may work for one person may not for someone else. Did you have something that worked for you that would like to share, please comment!! We need to reach out and be there for each other....
-Set up a table next to the bed so everything was within arms reach. The first few days the less you have to move the better (for me anyway. I put my meds, music, ipad, phone everything I needed close by, the major pain for me was the drain where they were stitched to my skin, when I moved it would pull and hurt.
-A notepad to keep track of your drains and the amount you dump. Plus keep track of your medication.
-A couple of cases of water and opened one case and put them out on the table and used one of those plastic cups with the plastic straw. Easier to -sip a straw then tilt a bottle
-A eye patch and ear plugs to help in sleeping, this worked great!!
-Button up jammies.
-Button up shirts to go to your follow up appts.
-You can’t shower for a while, so I bought Facial cleansing cloths and also -Body cleansing cloths to clean your parts.
-Can of dry shampoo, absorbs the oil.
-If pain meds bind you up (like they do me) you might want to start taking a stool softener a few days before surgery and keep taking them as long as you’re on the pain meds rust me, you DO NOT want to get bound up.
-An ipad or tablet or computer right by you to help pass the time.
-Back scratcher
-Lots of pillows, as laying down was not an option. A lot of people actually borrowed or had a recliner to sleep in was the most comfortable to sleep.
-Satin PJs or sheets make it so easy to get in and out of bed.
-The drain pouches are great for keeping those stupid drains in one spot and keeping them from tugging.
-The husband pillow is a great alternative to a recliner
-Change your shower head to an adjustable one, makes showering so much easier!
-Pre-cut snack like veggies and cheese sticks helps to stay healthy while sitting around and not being able to cut up those items
-A corn bag was PERFECT for both heat and keeping cold!
-Draw string pants are fabulous!
-If you have children have a basket of new books, coloring items, movies that you can pull out when you just need a break
-gift certificates to local delivery restaurants when there is no way you can cook
-A pill holder for all those meds
-An organizer for all your information.
What would you add?
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What a wonderful list to share. Thank you so much AnneMarieSDBC. I wish We had this list back when surgeries were a bigger part of our lives. I will keep a copy of this list for future reference for sure! :-)