Abdominalplasty recovery

Ok I'm having a hernia repair and abdominoplast(fluer de lys) on Wednesday and now it's panic time.  How many live alone and don't really have any one to help?  Do I really need someone?

I can get help from my 90 year old father, but he really wasn't that much help after my open RNY 3 years ago.  Do I need him to com 170 miles to help?  All of my close friends think that I need some family member here during the surgery.  I have a friend who will come and stay at the hospital but won't come to my apartment.  She can't do the stairs to my condo.  Should I make arrangements for her to drive me to my father's home?

I really don't want him to come he's been through so much this summer, being the caregiver for my brother who died from lymphoma in August.

Anyone have any ideas?

Jeanne

I know some on this site have been alone after their TT. I myself cannot IMAGINE that I would have been able to take care of myself the first few days without help. I don't really even remember much of the first 4 days so....My TT was 18 days ago. Are you going to be in the hospital for a few days? Or an after care facility? Please let us know what happens

You really need someone with you the first 24 hours after surgery.  If you have an overnight stay in a hospital or nursing facility then that's okay.  If it's day surgery and they send you home that evening, you need someone to stay at your home.  I live alone and I always have someone spend the night with me the first night.  A visit from your 90 year old father may be counter-productive.  You might be spending your time cooking and caring for him instead of working on your own recovery. 

Ask your surgeon's office if they have a service for in-home care.  Most of these surgeons have nurses who, for a fee, will come to your home and spend the evening with you following surgery.

I needed help after my LBL because I had trouble getting up and moving around for the first day.  Also, if there is an emergency - a blood clot or something along that order, someone needs to be there to handle it and make sure you get transported to a hospital.

Good luck - most of these surgery recoveries are smooth and uneventful. 

Actually, he did say that he would keep me at least overnight, because of the hernia repair and my sleep apnea.

It's scjedi;ed tp be a 5 hr. procedure.  The hernia is a very large ventral hernia at the incision site.
I did make arrangements for a neighbor in back of me to look in on me.

 

My husband was here with me after my TT but I have to say, I really didn't have to ask him for any help. None. I had my bed and nighstand all set up prior to the surgery with everything within easy reach and was able to get up & down by myself. BUT it was nice to know he WAS there if I would have needed something!! 

BUT, I have to say, PLEASE be sure someone is there with you before you take that first shower after surgery. I was SOOO looking forward to that and was shocked when I got super light-headed while in the shower. I have never fainted but I know that's what was about to happen! It took me completely by suprise. I got soo dizzy, so nausious, sooo sick during the shower that I immediately got out, & laid down. Since that happened I have often read on the forums that it is not unusual for the first shower. I didn't expect that.

PamT

Jeanne,  I hope you can find someone to help you, either a friend or maybe a nursing asst.  I'm having an anchor cut TT the same day, with a possible hernia repair, too.  Even though I don't know for sure yet, I just don't think I could do it alone.
  I'll be looking forward to hearing how everything turns out for you.  Let's compare notes!
  Wishing you a smooth surgery and a fast recovery.
                                       Bonnie

A ninety-year old man is not a great candidate to help you post-op.

Since your close friends are all pointing away from themselves and towards "some family member" -- my advice is, see if you can hire some help for a few days.  You won't need help for very long, but it's nice to have a person around.

Good luck to you!  I'd like to  find out how you decide to manage this.

Hi
I really only "needed" help the first 24 hrs. I especially needed the help to get back and forth to the bathroom and the first shower.  Not sure that's something you'd really want your father helping with.   I stayed at an after care facility so that worked out well for me.  I did have help when I got home but honestly didn't need it but it sure was nice.
If you can stay at an aftercare facility for the first 24-48 hours I would recommend it.  After that if you have someone who can stop by to heat a meal it's nice.

BEST WISHES!!!!
Ruth

Per my post-op instructions I was not to be left alone for the first 36-48 hours. I was lucky that my mom is a nurse and was able to help me out. I really needed her to help w/ the first shower. She also was needed to get everything for me for the first few days. She made all the meals, stripped and drained the drains, helped change bandages.  After a few days she would just pop in to see if there was things that I needed and bring my food.

Hope you are able to find someone. Maybe look to see if there is a school that trains medical assistants and if there are recent grads that still haven't found a job as of yet. In home nursing care can be expensive.

Best of luck to you.

I would make sure you had a lift chair to help lift you up from the sitting position.  That would be a big help since you may not have anyone to help you up.  Your stomach will be sore especially the first few days and having the chair will help with that.  Plus it seems that some people experience more pain with a hernia repair than having a TT alone

Good luck.