What kind of support will I need???

I'm having a Tummy Tuck with muscle tightening on January 15th.  I'm wondering what kind of support (both physical and emotional) I'll need?  I'll be in the hospital for 1-2 nights.  I'll be staying with my daughter.  She works 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week.  Her husband works 8 hr shifts during the day, but I'd REALLY like not to have to inconvenience him.

1.  Will I need someone to help me up from bed for a few days? (I did with my RNY)
2.  Will someone have to help me with the bathroom (I don't really think so but don't know)
3.  Will someone have to help me put on/take off my compression garment - if so, for how long?
4.  How about stairs - will I be able to go up/down stairs?
5.  What about emotional support? 
6.  How long beforeI can drive again?

I know there will be more - so please feel free to chime in about anything else you can think of I missed. 

Thanks for everyone's support - I'm definitely going to need it!

 

Hi!
I had a tummy tuck with muscle tightening 3 months ago.  For me it was a very easy recovery but I will respond to your questions..

1.  Will I need someone to help me up from bed for a few days? Yes, you need help getting up and down since you can't use your stomach muscles.  From a recliner I could get myself up without help on day 2.  From bed in a sitting position I could get up and down alone on day 4....from a flat position in bed I needed help getting up till about day 10 but I normally slept in a reclined position so it was not a problem for me.
2.  Will someone have to help me with the bathroom (I don't really think so but don't know). Yes but only the first day...
3.  Will someone have to help me put on/take off my compression garment - if so, for how long? I was sent home in a "BINDER" not a garment....but once I moved into a garment on day 4 or 5 I needed a little help getting in and out of it for the first time or so (Not a big deal I just waited for a good time to take my shower so I knew I had someone here to help me step out of it.)
4.  How about stairs - will I be able to go up/down stairs? I don't have stairs but I would guess yes the first couple of days.
5.  What about emotional support?  Yepper.....you will have a little bit of an emotional roller coaster going on for the first week or so.  Personally I find coming to this forum very supportive.  Nobody else really understands what I'm thinking/feeling because they have not experienced it...but here they do so please post questions/concerns!
6.  How long beforeI can drive again? My surgeon said I can drive as soon as I don't need presorting pain killers.  I could have driven around day 7 but I didn't need to.

Other stuff:
I would recommend you arrange for help for your first couple of showers.  It's exhausting and difficult to reach every where so having someone there to steady you, wash your back and feet is a big help!  I'd also get a shower chair for the first couple of days it comes in very handy when you get tired.

I recommend preparing a bunch of meals and freezing them so you can easily re-heat them yourself. 

Move a pot, pan, dishes you need to the lower shelf because you might not be able to stretch to reach stuff on the top shelves or the very bottom of floor cabinets.

You can't bend so get the stuff under your bathroom cabinet you'll need (gauze, sanitary pads, etc ) up to a higher spot so you can easily reach them.

Hope that helps!
Post more questions if you have any......
TTFN
Ruth

WOW - that was very comprehensive - thanks!  Its going to be a bit tougher recuperating at my daughters' place versus mine, but just the way it has to be (its only 30 mins from the Dr's whereas I live 4 hours away..) 

I'll be continuing to read this board - I've learned SO much from it so far! 

It's impossible to answer that question not knowing much information about your general health.  We're all different with healing. 

For me:

1.  I didn't go to bed - I stayed in a Lazboy recliner for the first two weeks after my LBL - and no I didn't need help once I arrived home (spent one night in the hospital).

2.  No bathroom help, ever.  I did purchase a raised toilet seat insert from Home Depot for $20.  If I hadn't done that, I might have needed help early on.  I showered on day two - no problem.

3.  No help with compression garment.

4.  I did stairs from the moment I got home.  However, I did not bend over (I had an LBL, much bigger surgery) to feed the cats or take care of their potty needs.  My family took care of housework and cats.  I did cook immediately after returning from the hospital.

5.  No emotional support.  Never been a problem through 9 major surgeries.

6.  I drove at four days PostOp - only to go to the surgeons office for a check up - I was off narcotics by then.  I wasn't out and about or back to work because I had four drains hanging off me.  When the last drain was removed, I went back to work - that was two weeks PostOp. 

Thanks for your input!  The raised toilet seat I'll definitely have to do!

well you will be in the hospital a day or 2 so by the time you get home it will be day 3 and you should be fine.you should be able to go to the bathroom by yourself. post-op they usually give you a binder which you shoud be able to get off & on by yourself. I was able to go up & down immediately. I have emotional support from my family. I was ab;e to drive in 7 days as long as I was off pain meds which I was.
I had a TT & hysterectomy together so you will do great.
raised toilet seat was great

I was just trying to fill my daughter in on what I'll need from her - she didn't even volunteer - but got volunteered!!  I guess makes up for all the runny noses and fevers we dealt with them growing up - right?

Yes I'm definitely going to check out the raised toilet seat!  I've heard many people on this board swear by it - and anything to make things easier is a good thing.

 

 

Jody, I know you are short like me so the raised toilet seat may not be something you will need. I had one avaible but didn't use it after my LBL. I never needed help going to the bathroom after my LBL or my medail thigh lift and that was a challenge. I tried the raised toilet seat after that surgery and found it was way too high for me. I was dangling from the seat and that was just horrible w/ swollen thighs.

I would say you'll definately need help the first few days, especially w/ the first shower. I almost passed out the first time I took a shower and that was just my mom sponging off the incisions and such. I would recommend getting a shower chair. W/o that I would have been laying on the floor in the bathtub.

I needed help getting up from the bed from a laying position and help getting the binder back on for the first week. I didn't sleep in my bed for a good 3-4 weeks. Slept in a recliner for the first week then switched to the couch. I was able to get up off the couch during the second week should be eaiser for you than me since I also had my arms done at the same time and was limited in thier use but you should be albe to use yours to push yourself up instead of using your core muscles.

Stairs probably wouldn't be too much trouble as long as you have strong leg muscles. I could drive as soon as I was off my pain meds.

Emotionally, I really didn't have any issues but everyone around me was very supportive so maybe that made a difference.

Good luck w/ your upcoming surgery.

Sonya

Thanks Sonya!  Unfortunately my daughter doesn't have a recliner - just a couch (and a chaise).  I'm going to have to see how I can make that work.  Now - my dad has several canes, I may be able to borrow one off of him to help me get up - to give me a little leverage. 

I did tell her I'd need some help with the shower - she was ok with that... we'll see how that goes!! 

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it!

Congrats on your upcoming TT!!  So happy for you, Jody!!  I guess you decided against Mexico?  My batwings will be gone one week from today.  I am soooo excited!! 

Laura