Trying to Prepare

Oh yippee... I cant wait and I know you cant either. Definatly need a ball cap at the hospital. My surgeon would not allow showers and my hair got NAPPY. On Sunday I bent over in the sink and washed my hair. Staples and all. If my hair is gross I feel gross. If I had had a hat I wouldnt have had to do that. The times I didnt have any family members with me I did cross word puzzles and word searches. I walked as much as possible in the hospital and I tried to stay out of my bed. I sat in the chair alot just to get me out of the bed. I felt worthless in the bed. I also did my budget at the hospital.. Haha... I have to live on a budget and I do it for about 6 mos at a time. I took the quiet time opprotunity to do this. I cant spell opprotunity by the way!! I had my surgery on Thursday morning - Saturday night I was online and posting here. My mom brought her laptop when she stayed with me. Be prepared to breath in a spirometer. It is painful but YOU HAVE to do it. I felt like such a failure and would go cry in the bathroom so nobody could see how upset it made me that I couldnt get that thing up past 500. The minute the cathedar gets out - GET UP AND GET MOVING! Dont let everyone do everything. You will heal quicker if you are active. Granted you will need help in and out of bed because your tummy is sore but dont let anyone wait on you hand and foot. Dont be discouraged when they weigh you every morning - you may gain a little weight due to the fluids they are pumping in you. Be prepared for shots in your stomach - this is a blood clot shot that helps you not get them. I cant remember what its called. I couldnt feel them so dont worry about that. I had a drip until the day I left and my arm was poked and prodded so many times I looked like a meth head. Bruises for days. I had fantastic nurses though and they tried their best to not hurt me. To me the worst part was getting the drain out of my nose and the tube out of my side. They didnt really hurt but it was very uncomfortable. The nose was gross cause it had stuff on it and looked gross. The tube in my side burned when they pulled it out - but only for a minute. The binder was uncomfortable because it was so tight but I learned to love it. Try to start sleeping on your back. Your tummy is off limits for a little while. I was back on my tummy 10 days post op after the staples were removed. It was hard to sleep when I got home. Get plenty of stuff now cause when I ran out of stuff is when I started trying the off limit stuff. I ate sausage 7 days post op - DONT DO THIS. Make sure you have lots of stuff. Keep a journal. I have one and my sister reads it everytime she is here - she is trying to get approval so my journal helped her see what to expect. Too bad you are so far away - I would come visit with you in the hospital. Just remember -- As Kristie E says "Every day it gets better" -- I had to tell myself that everyday until one day I woke up and felt 100% back to normal. I was back at work after 2 weeks and I had it open not lap. The drugs will make you loopy in the hosp - I tried not to take mine so much cause it made me feel like poop - slept alot. If you can tolerate not using them - try to not use them. I wrote you a book... sorry. I am just so excited for you!

Hey Christine! I am beginning to notice that you and I are alike in a lot of ways.. I feel totally gross if I do not wash my hair EVERY morning!! My hair gets oily feeling... Uggghhhh.. I do dread that part, and having all my friends and family coming by to see me and I will look like that! A ballcap is a great idea, although I look about as stupid in one of those as I do with oily hair.. I remember having to do the spirometer when I had my hysterectomy. It was not fun. I also remember how bad I hated the catheter,but to begin with it, it is better than having to get up to go to the bathroom. I just remember how hard it was for me to go to the bathroom the first time after they took the catheter out.. Why do you have a drain in your nose? I don't remember having one of those with my hysterectomy. But I don't remember a whole lot about the day of my surgery, I was pretty out of it. The worst part was the morphine drip, I had a reaction to it and I itched all over, this time I will be sure to tell them to give me benedryl with it or a different type of pain medicine. Don't worry about coming to see me, I know you are too far away. Maybe when it is all over and I am on the losing side and all healed up we can all schedule a "day of fun" somewhere midways between here and Hattiesburg area. I would love the chance to meet all of you from up there in person. Or if you come back to the Gulf coast, give me a call and we will go out and do something. Thanks for all of your advice and I look forward to joining you on the losing side!! Rhonda

A Notebook & Pen !!! That way who called & when they called can be kept up with. Visitors that come in to see you. ***Plus some may bring a gift & no card. Important info such as your BP & temp, etc. *** Somebody is bound to ask & you may not remember it. Questions for the doctor that your sure to think of AFTER he walks out. Very important "tips" from visitors or hospital staff. And Last But Not Least............. A CODE WORD !!! One that you & only the person that is staying with you has decided on. Visitor are Great !!! But they can stay a little longer than we all want sometimes . When you get tired, sick or what ever, that is the "HINT" for your care taker to give them a little nudge to PLEASE leave. Without hurting anyones feelings. Hope my List Helps !!! Tammy

Hey Girl!! I think I am going to take my school books so that I can study while I am laid up in the hospital. Keeping a log of visitors and phone calls is a good idea, I did not think of that! I will be sure to have a notebook with me for all of that stuff. My mom is coming to town from GA, so she will be with me at the hospital most of the time. (if I can keep her out of the casino) She will be with me, then at night she can go to the casino while my husband and son are there with me. The code word is a good idea too, cause I sure don't want to hurt anyones feelings. Sometimes I don't think about it hurting peoples feelings and would just tell them I am ready for a nap so they have to leave. I guess that is not very nice.. Thanks for the code word idea, that is much better! Hopefully, you will have a date soon.. Thanks for your help and support! Rhonda

HOORAY FOR YOU!!! Other items would be: a timer, chap stick for hospital. baby wipes for face and lips, SF popscicles,FF or skim milk, I found infant medicine cups helpful , like the cough syrup cups or dosage thingys, also small drinking cups like the ones for the bathroom, Water, and Water bottle. You will be super in no time flat.