Two Weeks Until Surgery!

[dbalkema]

Hey Kathy!

I am so happy for you that your surgery is coming up! I have to say... You made me cry when I read your post. The 4 leaf clover thong made me laugh then I barreled over tearing up.... Very painful. Not nice....

Now that I have wiped away the tears, I do think wearing something green couldn't hurt.

Also, what I did to prepare myself for surgery was I got all the frozen foods I could. Easy and fast stuff to make for meals.

I also bought a couple of warm-up suites. You know, clothes that baseball or football coaches would wear. Those are really comfortable and I can wear the brace I got from the Doctor's office real easily. There are Reebok and Nike stores in Allen, TX near Plano. You can also find stuff online.

Also, make sure you get everything you need and keep it all close to your bed. The shorter the distance you have to travel, the better.

Hope that helps! and GOOD LUCK!

Dan

[treefrog]

I know that I am always questioning whether my pain is bad enough to warrant surgery. I even talked to my PM doctor about it, and she reassured me that my pain was real, and affecting my life, and I should not feel like I am not taken seriously. But I continue to have doubts, and at the same time look forward to having surgery. I have the same sort of excitement looking forward to surgery, and I don't even have surgery scheduled.

I will be hoping the best for you. And looking forward to hearing all about your surgery and recovery, and the lessening of your pain.

As far as things to have on hand, I've read that having some plastic containers, sorting-type boxes, to keep stuff on or by the bed to keep everything you need on hand. I've thought about the type of container that college students use for keeping their shower/bathroom stuff sorted and ready to take to the shower.

Remember stuff to stay occupied, though with a small child(ren), maybe you won't have much free time. But books, movies, crosswords, iPod, audio books, needlepoint...anything you like to do, and can do without much movement.

Here are some other things:
back scratcher
long handled bath scrubber
pill organizer and note pad to keep track of when to take them
satin sheets or pj's (to make getting out of bed easier)
extra pillows
slip on shoes
slippers with good soles
soft and warm socks
paper plates, bowls, plastic cutlery
deodorant body wipes / wet wipes for freshening up
dry shampoo
body lotion for dry skin
lip balm
mouthwash
throat lozenges / Chloraseptic spray
bed tray
cell phone or phone next to the bed
bell or walkie talkies for alerting family members to needed help

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Kathy:

I am so happy that you are going to get your issues fixed. I hope that this is the answers to all of your prayers and that you get your quality of life back. It has been nice to get to know you, in spite of the lousy circumstances we were in, that landed us here. I am very excited for you.

Terry Newton

[johnb]

Don't settle for one grabber. Here's why. It's not like one of your arms is going to grow long enough to touch the ground while the other is using the grabber. You have two arms, get two grabbers!!! I dual wield my dual grabbers like a ninja using two knives!!! I've gotten so good with them, I can pick up a full coffee cup without spilling a drop. The best of luck with your procedure!!! (disclaimer: I do not own stock in a grabber or manufacturer or sell them directly to the public)

[Eastex]

Kathy,
I just went through with a ALIF and I was scared also. I had many questions running through my head too. I almost got up and left the hospital, but I thought about all the pain that I had been in the last few years. I also wanted my life back. A few things that I thought I could recommend are:
1. Allergy/Cold Medicine that you can take with your other meds. (We are in Texas, and my allergies drove me nuts after surgery)
2. I slept in my recliner (still do sometimes) with pillows all around me and under my legs. My wife had to help me up. I couldn't barrel roll out of our beds that easy.
3. Stool Softener
4. Carmex
5. House shoes with rubber soles
6. Remove obstacles that might trip you, or get in the way of the toilet.
7. Shower seat
8. Ice bags (I am sure these are taken of already)
9. Another Grabber to pick up all the other ones that you have dropped!
10. Big cup to keep ice in with some water to sip on.

[Kathy]

Wow! I am now overwhelmed at how much I have to do! Tons of great information, raised seats, butt pad (think a boppy would work?), silk pj's, multiple grabbers (not just for grabbing; but possibly a future spiney grabber war in the future? as JohnB has so kindly shared) and so much more. The medical supply store will be happy to see me coming. I am already ike a kid in the candy store with all the neat gadgets they have (I know, horribly boring and sad).
Eastex- My allergies have been kicking my a** for over a month now. I initially thought I had the flu, because both of my kids had it (even though we all had flu shots; same thing happened last year). I hate Texas allergies, I take Zyrtec and Benadryll daily, as well as the Nasonex nose spray; all to no avail. So, I probably will have to get some good stuff from the my family dr. before surgery.

I had my pre-op bloodwork, EKG and chest x-ray today. My last hurdle to jump before I am cleared for takeoff! I am terrified that my bloodwork will have something not good in it. Hopefully, it will be fine and if not, maybe I can have a 'do over'. I know the other two were fine, no issues there. Although, I got more action during the EKG from the man giving it than I have had in awhile! I am not even sure why the heck they even gave me one of those nice little gowns to cover up, when they were just going to take it off (oh yeah, I got the guy in training, lots of fondling- I mean, searching for the right spots )

Thank you all for the great ideas, most of it was stuff I hadn't even considered. I'd be a train wreck without all of you! Thank you so much, Kathy

[sahuaro]

Kathy:
Wishing you all the best in your surgery!
Love the idea of the four-leaf clover thong--but your surgeon will never see it because you go into the OR in your birthday suit...maybe a tatoo???

Before each of my surgeries--wrist, both shoulders and neck--I felt "fine" and questioned whether they were necessary...and each time, once the surgeon opened up the area, there was no question about injury. I was excited about getting my ADR but when I woke up in recovery and realized that the surgery had been done, I really went into a panic--short-lived, thankfully!

I hope your surgeon has already given you the list of meds and herbal supplements to stop before surgery, such as aspirin.

Only a couple of things to add: the morning of the surgery, I showered with Betadine solution (don't know if that's really necessary but I had been told to do that for previous surgeries). Also, get laxatives in addition to stool softener, just in case, and vaseline or something to moisten your nasal passages which will be dry. The nexcare bandages Justin mentioned are a life saver enabling you to shower.

Good luck!

[trkdoc714]

Kathy,

As he was "lubing up" his glove he joked "I always feel cheap when I do this". My response was "If you think you feel cheap now, I'm making my co-pay with two rolls of quarters". I didn't realize he was one of those hysterical laughers. Just another one of the lessons you learn in life.........

Bob