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Surgical Outcomes and Blogs Discuss Surgery List in the Main forums forums; Hi, I found this on another site and have been using it as my guide to help me with my ...

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Old 10-05-2009, 06:16 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 138
Default Surgery List

Hi, I found this on another site and have been using it as my guide to help me with my fusion. I hope this can be of some help to people with upcoming surgeries. If this is posted in the wrong place, can someone help to move it? Thanks



Food Items
• Soft foods including: Yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, popsicles, jello cups, pre-made puddings & tapioca, protein bars, cereal, microwave oatmeal, bananas, chicken stock, microwave dinners, frozen pasta entrees....things to eat quickly due to nausea
• Drinks – Plenty of bottled water bedside, Gatorade, Powerade, coke, ginger ale, other soft drinks, yogurt drinks
• Bag of ice – small cubes
• Ice chips to help dry or sore throat
• Flexible and long straws
• Vitamins
Shower
Bathroom Items
• Shower stool to Chair to sit in shower with soap/shampoo/shower gel on another chair for easy reach
• Non-slip mat for shower
• Hand shower
• Long-handled Back scrubber
• Nylon bath poof instead of wash cloth; easier to hold
• Exfoliating skin towel. [Body Shop has these and they are great for rubbing off the dead skin and helping you feel fresh, especially if stuck in bed]
• Toilet riser with or without side handles - $15-$25
• Bedpan if necessary
• Walker and/or cane per doctor
Personal Items
• Deodorant body wipes / wet wipes for freshening up (Drug Store has near the Depends. They are a large size.)
• Pre-moistened facial cleansing cloths
• Powder – Shower to Shower or other
• Face cream (I would suggest small sizes)
• Body lotion for itchy skin
• Lip balm, Chapstick
• Mouthwash
• Throat lozenges / Chloraseptic Spray
• Kleenex
• Wound dressings per doctor
• Thermometer to check temp after surgery
• Stool softener / Suppositories for constipation

•Grabber/picker – preferably 36” long. Perhaps one in bedroom and one in living room. $10-$25
• Long handled shoe horn. $5
• Grabber-like thing to pull on socks with, or think about wearing flip flops or open-backed shoes.
• Bedtray
• Bell, cell phone or walkie talkies to contact caregivers
• Microwaveable hot packs –great for aching shoulders, etc.
• “Turning sheet” strip of heavy fabric that you put under you so that you can have a signficant other pull to turn you over as needed, particularly good for those first few days.
• Cold packs in freezer prior to surgery
• Phone near the bed. Get a wireless or wireless adapter from Radio Shack o Cellphone and charger o Blackberry, Treo and chargers
• IPod, headphones, charger o Update your playlists
• Books, magazines, audio books, crosswords, Sudoku o Booklight
• Extra batteries for remotes
• Remote controls for TV, DVD, etc.
• Plastic containers to hold and organize items you will use while confined to bed. Also to use after mouthwash or for small trash. o Put all the reading materials, crosswords, pencils, etc. in one. Put personal cleansing items in another.
• Small, lightweight pitcher for water next to bed
• Paper towels near bed
• Small wash basin near bed
• Small bucket for nausea next to bed
• Small garbage bags nearby
• Towel that lies flat on the bed beside you. Put items you may use on top then just pull the towel toward you to retrieve items you can’t reach.
• Extra pillows to help with comfortable positions
• Additional sheets, blankets, pillows near recliner, sofa, chair in living room
• Wheelchair, if necessary
• Think about placing every day items at waist height even if it means storing on counters.

Clothing
• Slip on shoes o Croc shoes with the open back. They are ugly but they are easy to get on, provide great traction, comfortable to wear and were recommended by the hospital.
• Slippers - not too loose with good soles
• Soft socks – NAP socks from Brookstone are awesome & keep your feet warm at night. $20/3 pairs
• Bathrobe
• Pull on pants – make them a size larger so they don’t bother your incision(s); check elastic so it’s not too tight.
• Front buttoned shirts or zipper tops for trips to PT and doctor
• Jogging suits
• Front button pajamas – numerous sets
• Camisoles or tee shirts to wear under brace, preferably cotton so it breathes. Ladies -try the ones with the bra built in.
Comfort Items
• Lots of pillows, body, small, wedge, cervical, etc.
• 3” memory foam mattress topper pad $100 approx.

• Have plenty of sheets, pillowcases, blankets, washcloths and towels ready for use. o Have sheets, blankets, pillows near a favorite recliner or sofa
• If you are planning on much reading or computer (laptop) work post-op, consider a stand that adjusts in position and height like a hospital bed tray –Brookstone. $150; There are less expensive ones around $60-70. Make sure they fit under your favorite chair.
• Linen spray to freshen sheets and pillow cases. Use lavender scent to relax and help with sleep.

To Do Prior To Surgery
• Shave, wax, pedicure, manicure, etc. right before surgery. If you have fake nails, think about removing since they may fall off due to anesthesia
• Hair cut
• Dentist
• Update prescription glasses, both reading and regular if you wear contacts since you won’t be wearing contacts much in the hospital or after surgery
• Give all doctor names and numbers to caregiver(s) as well as next to your bed
• Put together phone numbers of all concerned family members and friends on one sheet
• All grooming/personal supplies waist high to avoid reaching/bending
• Organize essential items at home to be within reach, e.g. telephone, shoes, etc.
• Arrange for care - someone to be with you for most of the first week post-discharge
• Make sure you give your surgeon a list of your regular medications including the dosage amount.
• Give blood prior to surgery and/or family members
• Checks made out for bills, stamped envelopes ready or online payments done in advance
• Have some cash handy for family members to run errands.
• Pet care arranged
• Car keys and house keys given to appropriate caregivers
Boredom Relievers
• Laptop
dated with playlists for recovery)

Take to Hospital
(check with hospital in case you receive items during stay)
• Button up pajamas
• Back Scratcher, cheap bamboo - invaluable!
• Bathrobe to cover up if use a Johnny
• Hairbrush/Comb
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Facial wipes
• Body wipes
• Hand Cream
• Facial Cream
• Lip Balm
• Lavender linen spray or Febreze
• For long hair, elastic bands to tie back
• Loose clothing to come home in o Underwear o Front button top o Socks o Comfortable, safe shoes
• Magazine, crosswords, notepad, pencil
• Glasses
• Laptop, if you want - a lot of hospitals have wireless access in the rooms
On the day you come home:
__________________
Chemically sensitive disc/Annular tears, DDD, mild bulging, facet arthritus

Dancing accident in 96. tried PT, acupuncture, pilates, pain mgmt. nothing worked. Epidurals, facet blocks, caudal blocks, discogram. Opiates for ten years, oral prednisone, toradol inj. & more.

Two level spinal fusion with BMS, cages, hardware. due to bone density problems from chemotherapy, they had to go in front and back. Surgery Nov. 6, 2010. So far no regrets.
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Old 10-31-2009, 10:36 AM
ans ans is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 362
Default Thanks

This is important; thanks for your time..
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Old 11-04-2009, 05:45 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,405
Default great list

this was very nice of you to do and very thorough~ thanx!!!
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