X-post: Not as much help after surgery as I hoped...
Anyway, some of you may remember my plastic surgeon offering me a surgery date a month sooner than originally planned. Well, I went ahead and shot them my deposit with the intention of doing just that. Well now I am not sure I am going to have the aftercare support that I thought I would. I have a dear friend who has offered to help with getting the kids to school. I can probably make arrangements of somewhere for them to go after school until she or my husband can get to them. But now I'm facing down possibly being home alone during the day as soon as 3-4 days after the surgery.
Do you think I will be able to handle it with drains to be stripped and difficulty moving to get to the potty, grab a bite to eat, etc.? I will hire someone if I absolutely have to, but I hate to pay $$$ if they will sit here reading a magazine all day. I just don't know how often drains have to be tended to or if I can even do them myself. I can get my husband and friend to set me up with a cooler of food/drink so I don't have to get around much, but getting to the potty is another story all together!
Any suggestions/opinions about the feasiblity of doing this without much help?
Thanks,
Denise
Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.
RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!
*6.5 lost preop
Laura
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.
RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!
*6.5 lost preop
I had help, I had my Mother and niece their. My niece is a pre teen, she handled my lil ankle biters, and if I dropped things she'd retreive them. My mother helped, but she didnt fully understand how I eat (still), so I premade things like deli roll ups & my greek yogurt.
The hardest time for me was first few days, everyone is different, but I was able to do more for myself by day 4.
It will be challenging over all, but yes things like a cooler would help. I prepositioned things prior to surgery, kept meds, tissues, chucks at waist level. I set up 2 areas I knew I would spend most of my time with (magazines, computer phone) . I shuffled, from one spot to the other.
I purchased at a thrift store a walker for $3.00! I used that when I would walk around abit, and to help me straighten up, as you get sore and stiff. I also used it to lean on when I would lean over tub to wash my hair , and to shower.
I also purchased a A raised toliet seat from the thrftt store for $20. bucks. It was well worth it!!! Its the type that looks like a walker, so I pulled myself up to go potty real easy!!!!!!!!!!
I know there was another person on the boards here who was faced with taking care of little ones (maybe preschoolers and older). Hopefully she will chime in soon.
I hope this will help,
prek3
Carmen
Nov 10,2009 I reached GOALL BYE BYE 130 POUNDS! It wasn't about the FOOD, it was about what was eating at YOU! Time for a Head adjustment! **July 2011 Plastic Surgery Lower Body Lift
Exercise 
is not a LUXURY!
Exercise is a 
NECESSITY
It will be an adventure--that is for sure!!
Thanks!
Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.
RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!
*6.5 lost preop
When I would wake up I would lean over and take my pain meds, then slowly start to get up and head to the bathroom!
I had and am still having a hard time with food...textures are making me VERY sick. (This happens when I have to crush meds and choke things down. My tastebuds just get mad and want nothing) So whenever someone was coming over or headed out they would call and see what I wanted/needed!
I also recommend having some salad tongs near your recliner to help reach things! A tall grabber is also good for when you are standing and drop things! I live by myself and washing dishes was out of the question so I used plastic silverware and paperplates! I did create a lot of trash, but it was very helpful.
You should be fine, Just take it one step at a time!
Make sure the things you need are not up high...and don't make pre-made meals that are in heavy casserole dishes. My family ate premade pizzas and burgers (hubby BBQ'd when he got home) with bought salads. I wouldn't have been able to lift a casserole dish into the oven that early out.
That said - think about a back-up plan in case you have any complications or whatever...make sure you know who you CAN call to hire if you need it.
HW293/LW147/CW158 Height 5'9" Working on Maintenance!
Fleur de lis TT and Brachioplasty - Oct. 19, 2010 Breast reduction and scar revision August 2, 2011
I made sure all my meds and a phone were close to the chair I spent most of my time in. And mom gave me a BIG glass of water to start the day.
You will want to get up to get your lunch and water because short walks will help keep swelling down. I was instructed to walk around the house for 5-10 minutes every hour.
I was also able to get to the potty on my own, even in the hospital.
I think this should be totally doable for you. go for the earlier date!
Anna
RNY 10/14/08 LBL 6/14/11 135 pounds lost, after bounceback regain. And I am OK with that. It enabled me to have double hip double knee replacements in the 9 month periond between Oct 2011 and June 2012.
Thanks!
Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.
RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!
*6.5 lost preop
I didn't pick up anything on the floor until week 3, when I finally picked up all the dog toys that were scattered around. I also used paper plates and plastic ware. I had very easy to heat and serve meals for 1, or went out with my daughter, who did my shopping and lugging the heavy dogfood in for me.
I didn't lift my dog up to my waterbed until I was 4 weeks out and he helps by lifting his paws up and doing a little jump. I was sleeping in my waterbed when I came home at 2 weeks out.
I did move several items down so that I didn't have to reach. The arms don't like to stretch. I'm short, so sitting down on the pot wasn't too difficult. I did protein load for over a month before surgery getting in 200g/day and also for the 3-4 mo after surgery.
Chris
HW/225 - 5'1" ~ SW/205/after surgery 215 ~ CW/145~ BMI-25.8~Normal BMI 132 ~DS Dr Rabkin 4/17/08
Plastics in Monterrey - See Group on OH Dr Sauceda Jan 13, 2011
LBL, BL, small thigh lift, arms & a full facelift on 1/17/11 UBL 1/21/13
Love my Body by Sauceda
