Surgery survival Kit

[kat]

Here is what I know for sure and, if I was rich, I would make a care package for each one of you getting ready for PNE surgery.

Before you go to the hospital:

Call the hotel you are staying at and let them know you are having surgery and will be having trouble walking. The people at mine didn't clean the room, since I bleed on their towels and I was so sick I didn't want them in the room with me. They would gather what I needed (trash bags, clean towels, decaf coffee) and would hang it on the door knob in a their plastic laundry bag. It was perfect and I left a thank you note with a box of candy at the front desk the day before my surgery also. They really went the extra miles for me.
They will also be helpful explaining where Walgreens or CVS is located since it is cheaper to get your meds there than at the hospital.

Care Package:

small pads for ladies = you will sorta drip blood and goo and the ones at the hospital are huge and uncomfortable
personal wipes = you will want to keep your bottom and privates clean and showering isn't always an option (restroom time will be sorta hard and uncomfortable and the wipes work better than tissue)
body wipes = these are damp and large and can be used over the entire body and face. It took me 3 weeks to shower alone so these came in very handy. I still use them on days when the pain is bad
gel ice packs = these take around 2 hours to get completely firm, so buy many of them. I switched out 8 during the days and nights
instant ice packs = these are nowhere near as good as the gel ice packs, but they work when you can't get up, in the middle of the night, or during travel. They last 1 hour so buy a lot of them
Extra strength bengay patches and lotion = the patches are good clean and convenient, but do not penetrate as much as the lotion. This is the strongest one I found. CHECK LABELS cuz some are not so great
Cup with lid and straw = you will be in messed up positions so spills are going to happen. Try to plan for it
Stool Softeners = It will hurt to push and remember that pain killers and epidurals stop your poop. My nurse gave me some at the hospital, but nowhere near enough.
Foods you can eat without getting up (trail mix, ensure, apples, bananas) you won't want to walk and you should eat with the meds so consider this
Something to suck on like candy (meds make your mouth taste funny so it helps to suck on something sweet)
Tums or something to sooth your stomach. The meds and not eating regularly can upset your stomach. I preferred the meds the doc gave me for dizziness and nausea though so do what you prefer

While at the hospital:

I took it all with me when I left.
The panties they put on me were way too big and were like mesh shorts. I used them the first month. I put them on over my underwear to hold the ice packs so I could walk without holding them
Towels to sit on and prop yourself up with since you will have to leave the hospital at some point and lay in some sort of vehicle
Pillows = i brought my own, but still took the hospital ones for the ride to the hotel to lay on
Lotions and soaps since I already payed for them and would need them at the hotel
cash = for the person with you. The coffee shop at my hospital didn't take cards or checks. Odd, but you may want a little cash

Before you leave the hospital:

Ask the doc about good dizzy and nausea meds. I used 2 different ones before the 3rd one worked. I spent my first night out of the hospital throwing up and I popped 2 stitches.
Pain meds. I know we are all different, but remember when you are at the hospital that the epidural is still sorta in you so your pain hasn't spiked yet. Be sure you get enough!
I didn't have a BM before I left the hospital and I complained about it all 3 days. The nurses gave me a lot of stool softeners but they did nothing and I was picking black rocks (I am not exaggerating, they were black rocks about the size of small gravel) for 7 days. It hurt like crazy and if you can avoid this it would be helpful

Before you leave the state:

I flew home a month after surgery and went to my OB for my check up and had an infection.
Ask your doc to check for infection before you leave to avoid this issue.

This is just a starting point of what I wish someone had told me before surgery. Edit it to suit your needs and good luck.

Kathy

[Quilter 2]

Kathy;
Great job . I'll be calling you before surgery just to make sure I've got the right stuff, especially if I'm doing the surgery in AZ.
LOL;
Doreen

[Violet M]

Kathy, I agree, stool softeners are not much help. I think you really need to take a laxative at the first hint of constipation post-op.