Considering surgery...Question on bathroom stuff

[lelc2002@yahoo]

I guess it all depends on how low the fusion goes & if you have brace on?? Are most people expected to leave your brace on while using the bthroom? I would hope you could take it off????

[LindaRacine]

For the first 3-4 months, I had to have my brace on every time I got out of bed with the exception of taking a shower.

--Linda

[SandyC]

I was only allowed to take my brace off to take a shower, no exceptions

[katblack]

I guess it all depends on how low the fusion goes & if you have brace on?? Are most people expected to leave your brace on while using the bthroom? I would hope you could take it off????

Lynne,
I was ordered to wear mine all the time except while sleeping and showering but I took it off to use the bathroom.
My brace comes below my hips and so getting pants undone and undies down, the brace made it impossible. So I would take it off, use the bathroom and put it back on.
I think when they say wear it all the time, they don't intend for you to struggle using the bathroom. They just want you to wear it to stabilize you while walking and sitting, standing etc.
But if you have any questions about taking it off to use the restroom, please, ask your doctor. He will be the only one who can tell you how long to wear it and what you can do with it/without it, how many hours a day etc.

[sweetness514]

Toilet tissue aid

I tried it for this last surgery, b/c I could reach my butt but not the front too well and oh it's heavy and I didn't like it at all...Maybe some of you will have better luck with it but the salad thingie sounds like a good idea too i got a trick after a while; I just squat really low with my knees and then I can reach down there. For my first surgery I did have a problem wiping my butt and not the front, but I still managed and it's not as hard to wipe when you are constipated and you know what I mean, it's "cleaner" I'm fused to L2 though, can't imagine what some of you who have been fused much lower and had to wear braces went through.

Kat, I have to say that every time you talk about your boys I'm amazed, and if you think about it, tell them that. What great boys they are and all this sure builds character and makes them mature and aware about life

[edejkeller]

Yikes Once Again

I must admit I am glad this topic was brought up. I have been practicing and hoping my arms are long enough to do the job. I know I would never ask my wife to take care of that. KatBlack- those are two great ideas- esp the shower one. I am having trouble wrapping my mind around salad tongs. I will have to experiment before Tuesday. I am getting a long fusion down to S1 so I think it will be needed.
Once again- what a great board even with its potty talk
Eric

[katblack]

Sweetness, they are great boys, I couldn't have asked for better sons if I had gotten to hand pick them.


Eric, I understand about the salad tongs but trust me, it's the same basic idea as the bathroom aid for a whole lot less money.
It can be sort of a private joke you'll have for the rest of your life but it really did work. I'm glad sis bought it for me. I had days where I would literally cry over bathroom usage issues.

[Karen Ocker]

self care post-op

I am fused T-4 to sacrum and never needed such aids even when newly post-op. Maybe my long arms are an advantage and I'm not "fluffy".

[Marcia]

Another hint.....I had major abdominal surgery a few years ago and it was excruciating for me to get up and down from the toilet. For several weeks I kept a large plastic cup to "pee" in while standing up. Then I just poured it in the toilet and rinsed it out for the next time. This would not be an issue for guys, but for women the pain of getting up and down from the toilet numerous times each day is horrible early on. One of the nurses in the doctor's office suggested it and it was a big help.

[katblack]

I am fused T-4 to sacrum and never needed such aids even when newly post-op. Maybe my long arms are an advantage and I'm not "fluffy".

Fluffy? Is that a kind word for fat?
I lost a ton of weight after the surgery,35lbs., so fluff wasn't a factor. It was bending and reaching while being in horrific pain that made it an issue.

[slprncess]

Katblack.

Do you recommend any specific brand of saran wrap? After my last surgery I bought saran wrap and it didnt work! It did kinda keep the water out from my back but not completly. I have long hair so I would have to turn sideways to rinse it or it would drench my back.
As for the salad tongs great idea! I didnt ever think of this issue but it is good to be prepared before it could happen! I have had 4 back surgeries and so far not any problems, but doesnt mean I cant have any for my next one. I will be fused to my sacrum and am currently fused to L3. I guess I do have one good thing going for me is I have really long arms and I am extremly thin. I bet one of my arms could wrap around my whole body. Kinda weird I know. I will buy the salad tongs and be prepared and practice. You never know!

Thanks for the advice! I love this forum and can never get enough!

Sarah

[makaylasmom]

Thank You Thank You Thank You

I was laughing my butt off when I was reading this post!!!! I've got two weeks to go, and have been pondering that exact question. My family and I have been wondering if I would be able to wipe my heiny after surgery! KatBlack- Thank you very much!!!

[katblack]

Katblack.

Do you recommend any specific brand of saran wrap? After my last surgery I bought saran wrap and it didnt work! It did kinda keep the water out from my back but not completly. I have long hair so I would have to turn sideways to rinse it or it would drench my back.
As for the salad tongs great idea! I didnt ever think of this issue but it is good to be prepared before it could happen! I have had 4 back surgeries and so far not any problems, but doesnt mean I cant have any for my next one. I will be fused to my sacrum and am currently fused to L3. I guess I do have one good thing going for me is I have really long arms and I am extremly thin. I bet one of my arms could wrap around my whole body. Kinda weird I know. I will buy the salad tongs and be prepared and practice. You never know!

Thanks for the advice! I love this forum and can never get enough!

Sarah

Yeah, it's not saran wrap. It's called Glad Press N' Seal. That stuff they advertise that sticks to itself? That's the stuff. It sticks to skin really good.
http://www.glad.com/plasticwrap/pressnseal.php

[slprncess]

Ok, I will be sure to get that kind. I will let my dr know too so he can recommend it to his other patients instead of saran wrap.

Thanks

[sweetness514]

I wasn't overweight either and had trouble wiping, but my arms aren't that long.

I used a waterproof taping over my dressing that a nurse gave me when I had reached the ten day mark this last time b/c I wanted to wash my hair without wetting my incision, after I tried and did get it wet with the normal tape, so this saran wrap Press 'n Seal idea is a great one. I had tried with the normal Saran an it didn't work either. I will use it now when I get my roots done, don't like the idea of my scar getting hair dye on it.