All by myself...don't wanna be....

My kids were home for a week or so after surgery.(summer holidays). I really needed them. I was unable to bend over for weeks. Couldn't tie my shoes, bend over to do anything.
I think most people didnt have that issue.
I was never told not to do stairs. Never had a problem with them
Was thankful my kids were home to help the first week.
However if they were in school I would have had to do it on my own!

Hey.. Good luck!!  I stayed 2 nights (thur/Fri) in hospital and went back to work 2 days (Monday) later.  I had my Mom staying with me, but she mostly went to work so she wasn't around much.  It was difficult getting out of bed, but like someone else said... hold a pillow to your tummy and roll on your side.  Go slowly!

As for stairs.. doc never told me not to either and I live upstairs.  I was told not to lift things heavier than a gallon of milk for at least 2 weeks. 

I also stopped my pain meds 4 days after I got home.  Still achy, but no pain meds needed.  I am now 21 days out (Oct 20th was my surgery) and I'm still a bit achy at times.. but just take it easy.  Slow and steady wins the race!!!

Good Luck!!!!
~B

Congratulations on getting your approval! 

I live alone but have a great familial support system.  They came to visit and helped me with things like emptying the dishwasher and picking up my dog from the kennel but, for the most part, I was on my own.  It was not too difficult but I had made some clear soups before I had surgery and did my grocery shopping for the other things I could eat immediatly post-op beforehand, too.

My insurance only approved me for one day but I stayed two - my decision because I was still in so much pain - the surgeon cleared the 2nd day.  I had a lot more pain than most people I have heard from or know personally that had the surgery.  I was on the Vicodin for almost a month and ended up being send to the ER by my surgeon because the pain was so strong he thought maybe I tore something.  I didn't - just discovered I don't have a high tolerance for pain!  Then, one Saturday, I woke up and didn't need the pain meds any more!  I haven't had any pain since.

I slept in my bed.  It was hard getting in and out of it but, for me, just as hard getting up from the couch.  Any up/down motion hurt.  But that's just me.  I work with a guy that never even took any of his post-op pain meds!

I didn't even try going up and down steps for probably a month so I can't speak to that. Fortunately, I didn't have to.

One thing I'll recommend - borrow or buy (I don't think they're too expensive) one of those picker upper things that you can pick things up from the floor without having to lean over.  I used the heck out of the one I borrowed during the first several weeks!

Just keep asking the questions - I wish I had asked more - or found this site more than a week before my surgery!

Good luck - you'll do fine.  Just follow the good ole boy scout motto - be prepared!

Tricia

Hi, Stronger!  I am glad you have come out of the shadows :-)

I live alone, had one night in the hospital in Mexico, flew home two days after surgery, and never had the first problem.  There was never any problem with the bed.  The only caution is not to lift things.  Before I left for Mexico, I put everything that I use regularly up on countertops and such so that I would not have to bend over to get things.  I also thought through my daily schedule to see what lifting I do regularly. 

The one thing I realized I wouldn't be able to do for a while was tote a laundry basket, so instead of putting dirty clothes in a basket, I put them right in the washing machine (sort of used it like a laundry basket).  When it was full, I washed everything together in cold water ... no problem since I wasn't wearing any *fine clothing* during those days, ha ha :-)  Then I used a "grabber" to move things from the washer to the dryer and to get stuff out of the dryer.  Worked like a charm!

I cleaned the house well before surgery and stocked up on chicken broth (the organic kind in boxes; the canned stuff is foul!), Crystal Light, protein shakes, sugar-free jello and popsicles, etc etc ... anything that Dr. Alvarez said I was to have for the first few weeks.  If I needed anything else, friends from church checked on me and offered to swing by the store. 

You can do this!  Take good care of yourself, and let us OHers be your support!  Best wishes on your journey :-)
--Dorothy

Emotional

I wrote a lot about the physical issues below.  But please consider that you are probably going to need some emotional support.  Surgery is stressful to the body and people react differently to it emotionally as well as physically.  Many people have a blue period after surgery, probably as a reaction to the anesthesia.  I had about the easiest recovery imaginable, and I didn't get depressed, but it was overwhelming sometimes to just feel crappy and kind of helpless.  Make sure you can reach out to friends over the phone to keep your spirits up.  It will help you recovery physically.

Physical

Being home alone really depends on your recovery.  The first couple of days home I was alone during the work day.  They kept me two nights.  I didn't have any trouble, but I was very happy to see my gf in the evening.  We have a dog, and I could not bend over enough to scoop her food out of the tub.  If I dropped something on the floor, I could not bend over to pick it up, so it just lay there. 

That said, if I had to have been by myself, I would have been okay.  I would have had to have had someone put the dog food up on a bench so I wouldn't have to bend, and stuff would have laid on the floor until I could lean over and pick it up (about a week).  I never needed help getting up or down from the chair or couch. 

They told me I was completely cleared for stairs when I left the hospital, so I climbed them several times a day.  I did several desperation loads of laundry, where I carried a few pieces down the stairs, went back, got a few more, ran a load, and carried them back up the same way.  I felt really good a week out, and got a little bored at home (shh, don't tell work - I took 2 weeks off).

Just because your insurance approved one day doesn't mean you necessarily will go home then. My insurance approved one day, I questioned it and they said further days are approved as necessary as you go. I had surgery on Monday and went home Wednesday.

I've since seen this same issue mentioned multiple times on these boards, so that way of doing it is not uncommon.

Good luck!

 congratulations on getting your date!  i would see if any friends could come by and stay with you or if you can stay with someone else.  i know plenty of people have done it alone but i know i personally loved the extra help.  

my insurance only approved 1 day as well.  they mean less than 48 hours when they say that.  i called aetna cause i freaked out that they would only cover me until midnight the day of.  they said no, as long as i didn't spend 2 nights that i was ok.  of course it turns out i had to spend 2 nights so my dr. just submitted for approval for it being medically necessary and so far things are ok.  

i had my recliner all ready to go and ended up not using it.  after the hospital bed i really wanted to just sleep in my own bed!  i was sore when turning over but not too bad.  take your pain meds before bed and you'll be fine.  

i was really low energy and don't have stairs in my house so can't answer this question.  however after 3 days at home was taking little walks outside and was ok with the front porch stairs.  

lots of luck to you!  it's soooo worth it! 

I am 55 yrs old.....had surgery at 54. I had a ride to the hospital, and ride home. My hospital was 2 hrs away from home, so my surgeon required I stay at a local hotel for 2 nights after discharge from the hospital. I had a 4pm surgery -- so I stayed 2 nights in the hospital. The second night was not approved, but surgeon got it approved right then and there as "medically necessary" and no problem at all. I did not have anyone visit me post-op, and I was really really grateful for that. Frankly, I felt like crap, and just wanted to recooperated and do what I needed to do. I had a rough two days in the hospital, but really I was GLAD to be just by myself. The nurses took care of me, and I had what I needed with me, close at hand. (a couple magazines, my cellular plugged in, reading glasses and chapstick.) My 85 year old dad came to the hospital and he drove us to a local hotel, where I made sure he had my home made frozen broth, protein powder, bottled waters....and was located with 4 resturants nearby so he could walk to get his meals. The hotel had microwave and little fridge.

I was able to get in and out of the hotel bed carefully and slowly. I showered on my own with drains in; took walks around the hotel grounds with my dad, and watched alot of tv ! Had my dad drive me to surgeon to get drains pulled 4 days post op. He drove me home, and I was on my own, and fine. I did the stairs once a day for the next few days. I slept in a bed flat with lots of pillows fine. I took care of the dog, and parrot and other critters also. No problems.

JUst look at your supports you DO have, and plan things ahead of time, so that you have what you need at hand.

Thank you guys for all the responses and encouragement.  This makes me feel like I will be just fine after surgery.  I'll be sure to have my laptop at the ready so I can check in here on a regular basis...I'm sure I will need it for emotional support!!

Congrats on getting your date!

For me I stayed in the hospital 2 days and I live alone but my mother came to stay with me. I had prepared before the surgery by stocking up on the things I needed so she was basically just there! In fact the I was up washing my dishes the next day after I got home and my mom panicked LoL  I dint have a recliner  I slept in my bed just fine and was so happy to get back home to it! I just took my time getting in and out of bed (which sits high so I have to climb into it) and I slept on my side a lot and held my stomach but that's just me! Personally I could have gone without my mom being there because I did everything myself but the hospital recommended that you not be alone at least for the first 24 hours (you  know just in case) but she stayed a couple days and was soooo over protective LoL but I guess that's what moms do! I would say it may not be a bad idea to maybe stay with your mom at least That first night just to make sure you dint have any complications then go home most people have an easy recovery and are able to do most things on there one. Just make sure whatever you do that you have someone around to do your heavy lifting! 

Good Luck to You!