Question:
Ok . . . I have to know . . . what is this wooden spoon thing all about!

I am 1 week pre-op and have read to bring a wooden spoon to the hospital for your bathroom duties. Will I really need an extension from my own hand? Has anybody been able to take care of them selves without the aid of someone or something?    — Diane S. (posted on October 26, 2003)


October 26, 2003
i needed no help with a wooden spoon or anything else in the bathroom. 9 days post op lap rny. melinda ps congrats on the 1st step to the new you
   — melindainfla

October 26, 2003
i had open rny and I needed no wooden spoon but a lot of people have. I think it depends on how large you are to start with. I started at 228 and am only 5'1" so it was quite a stretch for me but i didn't need any help and did fine keeping clean.
   — Delores S.

October 26, 2003
I had to have a nurse clean me in the hospital - mainly because of the "hat" that was on the toilet but after I left the hospital I had no problems with personal hygeine. It hurt a bit but that was ok. And, quite frankly, I wasn't even embarrassed to ask a nurse for help - maybe it was the pain meds but that's ok - and she was so sweet about it - said it was part of the job.
   — Patty_Butler

October 26, 2003
hi Denise, well i am post 4 weeks, and i think alot depends on your weight, i was 317...and my iv was on my wiping hand....so i just asked the nurses...only one was rude about it...its hard to place your hand in the right possition cause my legs are quite big so tough to get my hand in poper possition due to that dumb iv.... so if you feel a spoon will help do it, if not just bug the nurses, if your not shy. HugsDawn
   — sweetdarling_ab

October 26, 2003
Hi, Denise: I had lap rny and I didn't need a spoon. Due to the IV's I only had to urinate; I didn't have a bowel movement until I had come home from the hospital. Fortunately, I never needed a nurse either; the anesthesiologist put the IV in my left hand (I'm right handed) so I had no problems taking care of myself. <p>Good luck on your upcoming surgery! I hope you have no complications and a quick and easy recovery!
   — Moysa B.

October 26, 2003
Because you "maybe" somewhat swollen and sore, it may be difficult to wipe. Some people use the wooden spoon wrapping toilet tissue around it. There is also an item called a "Bottom Buddy" that is made just for this purpose. Here's the website link for the product: <BR><BR> http://www.dynamic-living.com/bottom_buddy.htm
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 26, 2003
My husband had to wipe for me. I went pee 5 times a day! I was only 230 lbs. I had lap rny. Then when I got home I had my husband wipe for numbder 2's. I wish I would have known anout the wood spoon? You are very sore and don't want to move to much..
   — Amy M.

October 26, 2003
My husband had to wipe for me. I went pee 5 times a day! I was only 230 lbs. I had lap rny. Then when I got home I had my husband wipe for numbder 2's. I wish I would have known anout the wood spoon? You are very sore and don't want to move to much..
   — Amy M.

October 26, 2003
I had open RNY and having to wipe was the absolute hardest thing about the surgery. I DID have bowel movements in the hospital from the second day to the fifth, when I was finally released. Do yourself a favor and take one JUST IN CASE! I didn't and wished I had. I even begged my mom to go find something I could use it hurt so bad!
   — Leslie G.

October 26, 2003
I bought a thing like the bottom buddy from the occupational therapy department at our pre-op meeting. It was about 30-35.oo. But, after surgery my mom helped me out there was no way for me to reach. I still have the wiper, still in the plastic bag, let me know if anyone's interested in it.....
   — Sungurl B.

October 26, 2003
I was able to take care of business without the help of any extensions, although it was not comfortable. You may have a very hard time bending to do so. My pride was much greater than my inability to bend, so I suffered and did it myself. Good luck.
   — Happy I.

October 26, 2003
I was 248 on the day of my surgery at 5'7". I had a LapRNY and peed quite a lot in the hospital. I was fine to take care of myself. I didn't have a bowel movement til almost a week out and I was ok then, too. More important than anything else is to be sure you have a movement before you leave the hospital, even if you have to insist on a laxative. Read my profile and you'll see what I went through. Best of luck!!
   — Fixnmyself

October 26, 2003
Denise, I opted for the metal tongs myself - which I didn't end up needing. I also had this irrational fear on the way in the hospital that there would be metal detectors at the front entrance and I'd be forced to whip them out of my suitcase and explain them! Didn't end up happening either. Phew!
   — Kim B

October 27, 2003
I am 5'8, and weighed 286 the day of surgery. I had no problems going to the bathroom and wiping myself... I even had a bowel movement the second day after surgery. hope this helps
   — Katrina K.




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