Question:
WHAT IF WE HAVE UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS , DO THEY SEND US HOME WITH A BED

I HAVE A UPSTAIRS BEDROOM , AND I WAS WONDERING IF THEY GIVE YOU A BED TO BE SENT TO YOUR HOUSE TO USE TIL YOUR BETTER , DO WE HAVE TO REGREST IT OR WHAT . JUST WONDERING . .    — LUVROSE4U (posted on July 25, 2004)

July 25, 2004
I have never heard of a place sending home a bed. Some buy recliners and lay in them for a week or so to sleep. I never had one, I just used all the pillows in the house for the first week then slowly took one away at a time as I healed. As for stairs. I had stairs up to our front door, 5 of them. I just took it very slow and had hub support me just in case I struggled. For me and I want to believe for most others, stairs were not that much of an issue. Of course if I had to walk up them every time I got up I might not have liked it. I think I would have slept in the livingroom or something. Good luck!
   — TheresaC

July 25, 2004
I have a two story house as well as 5 steps leading up to my front door, a step down into my den, dining room and kitchen. I had open RNY and managed the steps fine. I slept in my bed with pillows around me--I was afraid my 70 pound dog would jump on me, but he didn't. I managed the steps fine all by myself. I showered before hubby went to work (in case I needed help) and then he went and I would spend the day doing my thing. I managed fine--never used a recliner (don't have one)--never slept on the couch. Give me my bed with my pillows and I am fine. Good luck. Everything is doable, albeit slowly.
   — Margaret S.

July 25, 2004
I had an open rny and the last thing I needed was a bed. Recliners are wonderful. I think I finally slept in my bed at about 3 1/2 weeks post op
   — debmi

July 25, 2004
Rebecca, I had open RNY 2 yrs ago. I did 5 steps the night after surgery while still in the hospital. I slept in my bed from the first night. My DH helped me up the first 2 mornings. I was 55 and not in good physical condition. You'll be fine.
   — Janis D.

July 25, 2004
I had open RNY, about a 10 inch inscision, 37 staples. I was 6 days in the hospital(standard). When I got home, a 4 hour drive from the hospital, I was stiff, shakey and weak. Hubby helped me up the stairs on the porch(5 steps). We have a bathroom in the basement and 1 on the second floor, none on the main floor. I did stairs right away but slowly. It was going to be either 13 stairs up or 12 down so I had to just do it. I managed ok, took the stairs slowly for the first few days. By the end of my second week po, I was doing stairs better than when I was preop. I slept in my own bed with several pillows behind and beside me for the first 3 weeks or so. I was pretty comfortable with sleeping this way. BTW, the big electrical blackout(Eastern Canada and US, Aug/03) happened on my second day home from the hospital, power was out for almost 24 hours and the temp was in the 90's with high humidity, no A/C, no fridge. I was feeling very "sick" from it all, like I had the flu and my anxiety level was high not knowing how long the power would be out. All I had was water to drink during this time. When the power came back on the first thing I did was head for my bed which is beside the air conditioner LOL.
   — mary ann T.

July 25, 2004
I have a long flight of stairs to my bedroom and did them just fine. My sleeping wasn't great for the first few nights, but I managed with a lot of pillows. Others have mentioned recliners. I don't know if that would have helped me, but I just dealt with the discomfort for a few nights, then napped during the day til I got a good nights sleep. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

July 25, 2004
Doing some stairs is good for you and helps keep the blood clots away. Your doctor will not order a bed for you, too expensive and most insurance companies will not pay for it. If a person wants a hospital bed they have to pay for it themselves. Now, I was told that I could go up and down the stairs but I could not use it as a form of exercise.
   — ChristineB

July 25, 2004
Should be no reason you would need a bed. I had LAP RNY on 8/15/2002 and came home 3 days later. I have a 3-level townhouse and did just fine. The more you move during your recovery, the better.
   — Cathy S.

July 26, 2004
I had lap RNY on 1/5/04 and came home from the hospital on 1/8/04 with a two and one half hour drive to get here. I was sore, but never had any more trouble than I usually have sleeping (I am an insomniac). I had to climb 5 steps to get into my home. I was pretty sore for a few weeks, but didn't need extra pillows. I just tried to move slowly whenever I needed to turn over. The sorest point was the area around the largest incision (I think it's the one that holds the "camera"). I had a palm sized lump around the area, which was most likely a hematoma (collection of blood) that resolved about 4-5 weeks after surgery. I went in and out of my house (going down and coming up the five steps each time) every single day. I think you'll do stairs just fine. Just go slowly, at your own pace. Stop and rest if necessary. Be sure you walk around in your house and keep moving your calf muscles (tightening and releasing) to decrease the risk of blood clots. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless.
   — Katherine F.

July 26, 2004
You probably won't get it, or need it either. In the 3 years I've been meandering on OH, I haven't heard of a single person who's had a hospital bed at home or had insurance pay for it. Now, mind you, maybe there are some out there with great insurance and I just haven't heard about it. It's always worth asking your insurance company about, but the only time I've ever heard them pay for such a thing was when patients of a different kind went on oxygen or had knee surgery, etc. But honestly, I don't think you need to worry about it. Climbing the stairs might be challenging and take you awhile at first, but you can do it. I had mine open, and I climbed my front steps and a full flight at my friend's house regularly. (She was home during the day and for the first few days my husband had to go back to work, I stayed and hung out with her.) Of course, you'll probably want to arrange your day so you only have to go upstairs once a day, to go to bed, and come down in the morning. Frankly, with all the painkillers and weakness, I could have gotten comfortable on a bed of nails. Check out your downstairs and you might have a couch or recliner to sleep on? If not, and you're really scared of those steps, consider renting one from one of those furniture rental places. It would be much cheaper than a hospital bed, and I found recliners much easier to get out of too. I even slept in one in the hospital. The best alternative: I had open RNY, and when I got home, my husband had found me a used recliner at a yard sale, in excellent, brand new shape for 30 or 40 dollars. I slept in it for a few days till I was more comfortable getting in and out of my own bed. A couple of weeks later a friend/neighbor had a yard sale and we hauled it over there. We got back every penny he'd paid for it! Good luck hon! It's good to be prepared, but don't worry, you'll do fine!
   — christied

July 31, 2004
I had my surgery on June 28. I was home on July 1. My bedroom is on the 3rd floor of our apartment. I made sure that I took it nice and slow. It was not too bad. Make sure you have a small pillow to hold on your stomach the first few days. Other than that I don't think you will have a problem. Good luck.
   — strmybreeze

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