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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