One step closer

 Hey all,

I spent most of the day  at Norton's going through tests and then the two hour meeting to discuss what to expect during surgery.  I just wondered if anyone was there yesterday that gets on here?  

My surgery is scheduled for Feb.3 and I can't wait. I was super nervous during registration just realizing how close and real everything was.

I'm not too excited waking up the N-G tube and the compression boots on hopefully I can get up right away and get all that stuff off!  I'm a bit claustrophobic.  ANyone else have any problems with that?

I know about the pillow for the belly but did anybody have to wear the binder?  I'm also worried about not getting in the shower until the steri-strips come off. I think I'll have to get in and just be careful.  Did anybody else get told that- that you can't get in the shower until the wounds are healed?

I've still got to get all my Christmas stuff down this weekend.  I thought I had them all down and still see stuff in the corner and hall that I need to pack away and take downstairs.

Thanks,

Dana 

hi Dana,
   congratulations on gettign ready for the surgery,  I don't think I was ever nervous, I was to excited, I had waited so long,  I never had the tube or boots, or alteast I don't remember the boots, I did wear the white hose, Can't remember what they are called right off hand, but it was for blood clots. I didn't get a binder in the hospital, but I got them to call me in one, after I got home, and it help me alot, I had an incision, that I guess was sewn to something else inside me for the first month I had a hard time walking, and when it came loose I was like a new woman, but the binder helped alot, I haven't heard of anyone else having the problem I diod with that, so you may not even need the binder, but I had a big belly, or maybe that call it a skirt or something, where I had 2 c-sections, i had alot of excess hanging over, and still have some of it.
    you will do just fine, just sore for a few days, and remember the more you walk the quicker you will heal.
                                                      Lisa

Congrats on getting closer to surgery!

I used a different hospital and Dr. but was able to take a shower that next morning.
The compression boot things weren't bad at all.  They take them off so you can get up and walk around.  Once you are more active and walking - they will probably only leave them on at night when you sleep.

I didn't have a binder.   I think most lap surgeries don't require them.  If it turns into an open surgery - you'd probably have one.

Best of luck to you!

Leslie

   hey dana are you having the band or bypass? I didnt wake up with anything.. no oxygen, no tubes just the heart doc with the solid white hair that stood up all over in my face going dawn wake up so I can go home!!
  but I was a band patient.. I woke up said I was a lil nasueous and asked when I could get up to walk.. I was up I think two hours after that.. oh I did have the binder.. it became my bedt friend because my stomach pulled on my incisions..
  I got in the shower with steri strips... covered them with bandages, but I only did it every other day... cause it was alot of work for todd cause Katelyn was only 3 at the time..
Dawn

Hey Dana

Glad you made it thru 'boot camp'. I was so excited when I had to do mine. I knew I was so close...it was great.

NG tube wasnt a bother to me, I actually didnt feel it so much. It was taken out later that night.

And personally I loved the boots, they felt great. I wasnt allowed to walk for the first few hours after going to my room so it was like getting a massage. I wore them the whole time I was there but I got to take them off when I was either walking, standing or sitting in a chair. So basically just while I slept.

As far as the binder went, I had that too but didnt wear it after the second day. It felt really good to have the support but I was afraid I would become dependent upon it. There really was the big of a difference of having it on & not. 

And now for showering, I bought some big waterproof band-aids and covered my incisions despite what Dr Shina told me...he said to wait til the strips come off.....HELL NO! I was taking a shower no matter what!!!!! And let me tell ya....OH IT WAS THE BEST!

Congrats on being one step closer!!

   hahha I do remeber the boots.. I did wear them when I was in bed.. Because I was terrified of blood clots.. I did the same thing Traci did about the shower.. I was not waiting..  no way...
   Dana, just remeber everything Connie said yesaterday and you will be fine.. If I remeber right aren't u Dr.Shina's patient??
  Dawn

Dana...I hated the boots. I had to get up and go to the bathroom so many times I finally started undoingh and disconnecting everything myself because they were soooo pissy about it. Can't help I have to go....small bladder I guess. No tubes, binders, etc...but I was a bander. I did buy some butterfly bandaids and they worked great. I was having problems with my incisions trying to open up because of all the weight stress on them. They are way cheaper than steri strips and worked better in my opinion. I was able to put them on after I showered and still get the neosporin on the incisions with them in place. Try them! I just bought the rite aid brand of them. I was in that shower as soon as possible. I cannot stand not to shower every day! I think if I had used the binder it would have taken some of the stress off those incisions!  I also washed the incisions with liquid dial soap (antibacterial). They had me use it on Mr Sunshine after his triple bypass and it helped them heal very quickly and avoid infections! 3x a day.....I am glad you are almost there...seems like its been a long haul Dana!

YEA FOR YOU ,WHEN I woke up the NG tube was already out did not rem it at all & the boots WOW I loved them felt so good I had to go buy me a pair lol nope & you can shower also at least I did after day 2 ,just bring a robe from home to walk in & house shoes that is all I needed oh & THE MOST IMPT THING IS CHAP STICK MY LIPS WERE SO DRY IF YOU ARE HAVING RYN ,