January, February, March 2010 surgeries...

[LynetteG]

Melissa - they are great questions to ask - I'm glad you asked them and will be interested to hear the answers

[ckieft]

answers

Take to the hospital: your own toilet paper and tissues..theirs are way too thin

Don't take: clothes...I didn't put any on until the day I went home...just wore the lovely blue printed gowns for 6 nights. (In fact I wore home the same warm-up suit that I wore to the hospital...just changed the t-shirt and underwear!)

I never read books or magazines...just slept alot and watched tv

I also used those little disposable toothbrushes (Wisp by Colgate). They were great the first few days when I couldn't get out of bed to brush my teeth...and I chewed gum.

You will get constipated in the hospital...drink lots of water. That was almost the worst part. Have good foods with fiber at home for when you return. You can also try taking fiber-one bars to the hospital to eat once they put you on solid food.

[LynetteG]

ckieft - they are some great tips for us - thank you so much. I've taken notes for what to take and what not to take

[mbeckoff]

Chris,

Great tips .Thanks so much.

Question about gum? Why?

Melissa

[ckieft]

gum

I chewed gum to freshen my mouth because I threw up quite a bit. I had a minor dural tear in the membrane surrounding my spinal cord which could lead to a spinal fluid leak. So to prevent that, right after surgery, my bed had to be completely flat for 24 hours. While on the morphine, I slept alot with my mouth open and my lips and mouth got very dry. So when I finally could sit a little more propped up in bed, I wanted gum to wet and freshen my mouth. I didn't get out of bed for two days because of the tear. Most people are up and walking the next day...so I was about a day and a half behind schedule. That's why I was there 6 nights...a little longer than I had anticipated.

But I am doing so much better that I ever thought I would be. I could put o socks and tie my shoes at 2 weeks. (I have long arms and legs, so that helps a little.) I have never needed anyone to wipe me, or bath me. My mom did wash my hair in the shower the 3rd day I was home.

Feel free to ask any other questions.

[kennedy]

plase put my new surgery date on it march 10 whit dr gupta at uc davis medical center

[mbeckoff]

Surgery cancellation

Please take me off March 7th as my surgical date

I will explain in another post

Melissa

[LisaB]

march surgeries

does anyone know who naptown78's(Kristi) surgeon is?

[Susie*Bee]

Just bringing this back to the top again. Does anyone know for sure when saribari's surgery date is? When I put it on here she had two possible dates-- either today or the 16th. We have a couple more surgeries going on next week too. Best wishes to all of you having your surgeries soon! Pretty soon the long wait will be over!

[Susie*Bee]

Added pint47's surgery...

Any others?

[Susie*Bee]

Just added TexEx on to the list in the first post. We're about to end this thread. Best wishes and many prayers to TexEx (Melissa) and Radiogirl (Laura) -- their big day is Wednesday. Hugs, Susie

[Radiogirl]

Susie, Thank you so much for your wishes and support and for doing this thread. It's so nice of you to maintain this. We are all soooooo blessed to have our support group here Thanks Susie!