Spending the night

The DH and I have been discussing my upcoming surgery. His will be in six months. I have read that it is better to have someone stay with you the first night to help with the chapstick and other stuff. He says he does not need to stay that the nurses will do it for me. Your opinions and comments please. Thanks, Beth

My roommates mom stayed with him the entire time. My mother stayed with me the entire time, and its much easier! I think the nursing staff keeps better care of you since your person is there to monitor the care. but thats my opinion. If it were left up to me, I wouldnt remember a single nurse or single thing happening. I was out of it since I am so easily doped up on pain meds of any kind... and my mom still talks about stuff that went on at the hospital. I just look at her like, "what?" deer inthe headlights sort of stare. I dont remember! She got to talk to the nurses, ask questions etc. Sometimes I wish she hadnt gone or read materials cause she reminds me of what to do if I forget!!!!

Melinda, Thank you. I willl keep all of these postss for DH aka rjsdad. Beth

My hubby stayed with me the entire time. The nurses are stretched so thin that they don't have the time to deal with the little things that you will need help with. My DH was there to stop the tech from using Dial soap to give me a sponge bath. I am allergic to Dial and he let her know that we had brought my Aveeno body wash. And, the nurse was not going to stay by my side and feed me ice chips or help with Chapstick. Other than coming to check vitals and the IV and such, I saw very little of my nurses. Maybe part of that was because DH was there. However, I have been hospitalized in the past for surgeries and DH did not stay with me and I saw very little of the nurses then too. That is the exact reason I had told him that I wanted him to stay with me this time. (DH hates hospitals!) The nurses were great...there are just too few of them on duty at any one time and they have too much to do.

Elizabeth, My husband could not stay with me, because of his work schedule and getting our son off to work, however a good friend "Gina" (who happens to be an attorney) did, because she would not let me stay by myself. I do not want to scare you, but too many things can go wrong and if you have someone there with you they can make sure you are okay, while the nurses are not in the room. Gina had gall bladder surgery and was on one of the pain pumps lasts year, these are not supose to over-dose you, but hers did!! She was by herself and it was by the grace of GOD that a nurse came in and saw her in the condition she was in, otherwise she would not have been her if it had been another 5 or 10 minutes. This alone, is a BIG reason, you need someone with you, because you do not know how you will react to the medications after surgery. Don't let this scare you, just take heed!! Shelia

Hi there, No one stayed with me atthe hospital... But everyone is different I really needed help when I came home and had my sister for about 10 days with hubby's help tooo. You will need help no mater what but you have to do what ever you can yourself. So its what ever you want. Nurses are very busy and understafed. keep that in mind too hope all goes well and I will be praying. Annrenee Knoxville RNY April 24th,2007

Hi Beth, my oldest son stay with me for the first 2 nights. I had to be there for 5 days because my potassium was too low due to my chemo medications. After I was discharged mom stayed with me in a motel for 5 days until the second drain tube came out. Then she stay with me another week to help me out. I appreciated my son being there as he was able to help me get up and walk, when the nurses were to busy. He would even get me ice and water and made sure I drank as much as I could. Because it was tap water and making me very sick, it was my son who helped me when I was throwing up. The nurses would show up afterwards and give me a shot. They appreciate you having someone sleep in the room with you and to help you out. They have recliners for those who had the open procedure to sleep in, and DH's can sleep in the bed, or vice versa. My son was in a recliner type of bed, not your normal recliner and he slept great on it. I am single, but if I was married, I would want my husband to stay with me. It's a life savior just knowing someone is there for you and will help you out when the nurses can't. Kathy