Home Healthcare Nurse - Post-Op?

Was just wondering if there's anyone here who is post-op, who lives alone. Did you have someone stay with you? Stay with a relative? Have a home healthcare nurse come in? Would a HHN be covered under insurance? There's not room here for someone to stay with me, and I really didn't want to stay with relatives unless absolutely necessary. My cats are here, and I need to do work emails from home when I can to keep caught up. How long did you need to have someone there? Was it 24/7 or just part time? Just wondering what others did in this situation. Thanks!!! Dayna 310/308/120 Surgery Date: 4/6/05

I WAS A BIG BABY LITERALLY POST-OP. IT'S TRUE, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MAKE THE WORST PATIENTS. I HAD MY COUSIN WHO LIVES IN THE APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS FROM ME, COME UP AND TAKE CARE OF ME. I REALLY DIDN'T NEED HER EXCEPT SHE WOULD CHECK UP ON ME. SHE HAD MY SF ICE TEA AND LEMONADE READY FOR ME IN THE FRIDGE. I ALSO HAD BOUGHT A COMMODE AND HAD IT IN MY BEDROOM. SHE WOULD CHANGE IT EVERY COUPLE HOURS. I ALWAYS TRIED MY BEST TO GO TO MY BATHROOM, BUT MY TOLIET IS SUPER LOW SO IT WAS PAINFUL WHICH IS WHY I INVESTED 38.00 FOR A PORTABLE JOHN. I SAY, YOU'LL BE FINE, BUT ITS REALLY UP TO YOU AND HOW YOU TAKE PAIN. GOOD LUCK, GRACIE

I do not think that you need one. It also depends on if you are having lap or open. Lap, you will definately not need one, open probably not either. Is there any possiblity that a friend or relative can come over during the day and check in on you while you take your shower and get ready for the day? I just needed someone basically for that and to take me to the store or doctor until I could drive myself. Though I liked having someone in the house if I needed help in the middle of the night. You may want to stay with someone for at least the first few days after you are released. As far as insurance covering a nurse, you will need to call your insurance because every policy is different. You will need someone to drive you for at least the first 7 days. You will not be able to lift anything over 8# (a gallon of milk) for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll probably end up staying with relatives for a few days.

Dayna everyone handles pain differently, I felt great the night of surgery and I didnt take anymore pain meds... I know people who had lap and needed morphine through their entire stay... My only real advice is, after surgery if you have it lap, if your feeling ok with minor discomfort refuse the pain meds and get up and move you will feel better faster. The more pain meds you take the less likely you are to get up and walk around because you feel wooooooozie!!! That will slow down your progress... I didnt need anyone but my mom was there anyway since it made her feel better to take care of me... ( I still ended up doing dishes etc... some help!!!) but then my mom is a retired nurse who I lovingly refer to as nurse ratchett... She cuts you no breaks!!! If you think you might need someone then call your insurance company and see... if someone comes out 1 or 2 days and your ok then send them on their way... Staying with relatives is a good option but I personally wanted to be in my home.... I felt more secure there.. Good luck!!! you got a month to decide what you want to do.. Debby

Dayna, As the other notes indicate - everyone is different. Part of the determination will be how well you manage your pain. I have a four year old daughter, and am a single parent. Originally I intended to come home from the hospital and my aunt was going to transport her to and from day care. I was planning on staying home alone. My family had other ideas. My best friend brought me home from the hospital and informed me that my brother was meeting me at the house and taking me to his house, for at least a week. I fought it - being very independent - but was not allowed to stay home (she can be very persuasive when she wants to be). I am totally glad I didn't stay home alone. I stayed at my brother's (with my daughter) for two weeks. His wife and kids were wonderful, I was allowed all the time I needed to recover, and the things I wasn't able to handle were taken care of for me. My advice is that if you aren't going to have some one stay with you, and you don't want to go to a relative's house, have someone check in and visit with you at least once a day. Get them to drag you outside for walks or something. Good luck! Debby

Dayna, I live alone and I did not have anyone stay with me. I had a couple of friends who visited.. and once I needed someone to pick up a prescription for me (and my village has a senior medi-car service.. the director of that program went and got it for me -- I don't even know him!). Honestly, post op recovery was relatively easy.. I live in a brick walk up building on the 2nd floor.. so once I was up.. I was pretty much up to stay for about a week.. then I ventured down once or twice.. and at about 2 1/2 wks, I felt a LOT better.. was able to stand upright again and go for short walks outside (but got tired easily). What I'm trying to say is I was able to take care of myself pretty well. (Melissa did come and help me clean up my place a little).. It depends on you, though. If you know you won't get up and walk around on your own without someone pushing you to do it, then you might do well to have someone stay with you for a day or so.. or at least visit regularly.. if you know you are pretty independent and take care of yourself when you're sick, then you'll probably do fine.. just have friends check on you occasionally. Hope that helps. Stef Lap RNY 11/12/04 390 -> 322 -> 175