Question:
sanitary question regarding bm after lap rny????
How do you clean yourself (wipe) after surgery? was told no bending or twisting after surgery. I know this has probally been asked but I could not find it. — mexicomichelle31 (posted on December 29, 2006)
December 29, 2006
thats what your support person is for!! my mom is gonna be the lucky
person, after all she did it for years it's just a lot bigger now, haha.
— RNlvnCARSON
December 29, 2006
I am 7 day post surgery and i am not in pain at all. My first BM wass't
till the 25th. Just take it easy and ask for help if needed. You can do
it!
— Bridget P.
December 29, 2006
I am two weeks out and at the beginning was very difficult but I did some
myself and my dear husband helped too.
— Beatriz A.
December 29, 2006
In the hospital I was assisted only because my portable toilet was not a
larger size. But when I got home, I didn't have a problem. I also had no
pain with surgery. I had six sites because of my liver, but I never had
any pain to speak of. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op.
— Diane C.
December 29, 2006
If you take the required oral fleets enema the night before surgery, it
will be a few days before you have to go.(4-8 days post-op) I'm 8 weeks out
and when I finally went I was able to clean my self. If indeed you have to
bend or twist, just move very slow.So, if you can avoid needing help with
this particular task, have those helpful folks around you do something they
won't dread. You can do it !! Best of luck to you.
— purnellj
December 29, 2006
I used a wooden spoon but others use tongs.
— KimT.
December 29, 2006
I was given tongs in the hospital.
— MJP0520
December 29, 2006
I don't know if this would be helpful post-op, but I find it very helpful
pre-op. I buy Handi-Wipes (but NOT from Wal-Mart, they sell an inferior
kind), tear them in half length-wise and wet the middle. Then I put it
between my left and pull back and forth until completely clean. It's been
a real life saver - I just carry them in my purse.
My surgery is Jan. 3. Can't wait! But scared, too!
Jane
— Jane C.
December 30, 2006
This was a goal for me. I did not want my dad or his girlfriend to have to
wipe my bottom. I had help while in the hospital for a couple days, but was
able to do it myself once out of the hospital. I had an open DS Sept 19th
of this year.I did bring a puff ball on a stick just in case, but used it
in the shower to wash instead. The wipes they give you at the hospital help
too.
— Claire K.
December 30, 2006
Congratulations Michelle for asking a difficult question, or maybe I should
say one of the embarrassing ones! Many don't ask the hard questions. The
answer is not that hard though. I was very concerned about that for myself
because I really didn't want anyone wiping me if I didn't really
"need" it, so my privacy was a real concern (I am now almost 3
years post op). I took a plastic spoon (same style as a wooden, but
plastic instead), and also wet wipes. They make wet wipes that are not
baby wipes, but are in the baby section. The nurses thought I was nuts,
but I cleaned myself without one issue or problem, and I didn't have to
wait on the nursing staff for any cleaning. I also brought cleaning wipes
(Colman in camping supplies makes them). I used them to clean myself so
they did not have to bathe me either. My husband helped clean me and I had
my privacy, was clean and had my dignity. Not to mention I did not have to
wait on them for cleaning or that type of care. The hospital will want to
know though that you went to the bathroom, and view the results, so don't
flush so they can see how you are doing :). The more prepared you are for
your surgery the more confident you will be with your own care and your
results. Many people don't take the time to prepare for the trip to the
hospital. Please prepare and be the best manager of your own care. Also
be sure you have an advocate for those first few days, your husband, your
good friends, church family, be sure they are checking on your medications
and care. You will be pretty out of it for the first few days and someone
who is not out of it needs to oversee your care. Medical professions are
great people, but they make mistakes and get busy. That is what your
advocate is there for, to be sure when those things happen, that they don't
affect you while you are not watching! Be sure to have support for
yourself. Best to you, Patricia P
— Patricia P
December 30, 2006
Hi, I'm Christie - I'm Pre-Op & have had to deal with this particular
issue for the past 4 or 5 years or so ... I will be doing the same thing
Post-Op until I've lost enough weight that I'm able to reach my backside.
I'm VERY small - only 4'8.5" with extremely small hands, feet, facial
features, VERY short legs & lastly, VERY, VERY short arms! My highest
weight as 305 lbs. with most of my weight in the front; looking like I have
2 bellies! Once I'd realized that until I could have surgery, I would need
some sort of an implement. They sell them on a Bariactric website (write 2
me @: [email protected] if you'd like the information). The problem for
me however, was that it still wasn't long enough for me! However, it DID
come with it's own carrying case & it was small enough to carry in your
purse! Now, for myself (since what I found, was too short - because of my
short arms) here's what I do: I have a long wooden back-scratcher that I
thread tissue through, fold over the top, then wrap around several times;
no troubles reaching & I rarely get it "dirty". It washes up
just fine with hot water & soap! Good luck to you. Happy 2007! Take
care 'm God Bless!
— Christie W.
December 30, 2006
Thank you for asking that question! Before I had my surgery.. I heard from
different people..it was impossible to wipe and others said they had no
problem at all. I had an OPEN RNY two weeks ago. First let me say this part
too. I've worked in a hospital for years and are very familiar with a CNA's
responsiblities. I've also been with my husband for 15years (since high
school) we've been through everything..childbirth..everything! Now..when I
went in to have my surgery I was going to be damned if I let my husband
wipe my behind so I knew I'd never see any of the CNAs again. So, I asked
the CNAs **several** and EVERY single one of them made me embarassed and
made a huge deal about doing it. Even sat there and looked at me and
asked..."you mean you CAN'T wipe??" After TRYING to explain that
I couldn't and why some finally tried. This is so embarrassing for me but
my behind isn't exactly small..which I'm sure most of you all know this
too. Anyway, They needed to get in there you know and they didn't and I
kept explaining I had a BM they barely wiped and were like nooo you didn't.
I asked can you please wipe inside more.. soooo embarrassing as the seconds
of pleading and begging. Never felt more like crap in my life. I was damn
near in tears. Said okay finally and let them go. My husband being the
absouletly wonderful man that he is knew how I felt about all of this and
saw how they were being to me. Just came in there with the wipes that we
bought before surgery ( I used the platex fem wipes) and just wiped
me..said no to worry and he'd rather do it so it was done right. When he
wiped me he was telling me I did have a BM and how stupid they were. so,
please please if you have a support person like spouse or mother..please
let them. They care about you far more than the staff!! Sorry it's long but
just wanted to share with you my experience.
— Rebekkah T.
December 30, 2006
Taking a bath or showering might be the easiest way to clean yourself.
Good Luck.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 31, 2006
I brought a (new) wooden spoon & some wet wipes to the hospital,
planning to wrap the wipes around the spoon. As it turned out though, I
didn't have a BM until a week after surgery, and I was able to move around
well enough to wipe by then.
— kamykami
January 2, 2007
I took wipes to the hospital, maneuvered slowly, and used as many wipes as
needed to feel clean. It's doable :-)!
— Tigs
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