surgery on the 11th && 14th

[debbei]

Ok ladies heres another question..what did you do about wearing a bra?! I can't imagine it being comfortable and rubbing up against the incision. Also, did anyone have to goto Physical Therapy after or have a visiting nurse come into your home..I will be staying with my mom for a couple weeks and she wants to get me a hospital bed and put it down in her dining room..She feels it will be better than sleeping on a pull out bed. How would I go abouts getting a hospital bed.

Hi,

I'm with your mother--a pullout bed sounds HORRIBLE after this surgery. They are usually uncomfortable for normal backs! I didn't have a hospital bed, but we bought a 3-in memory foam topper for my regular mattress, which was (and still is) heaven.

As for the bra question, I didn't wear one for months. Instead, I wore camisoles with shelf bras. Sometimes to this day, over a year later, too many days in a row of wearing a bra will give my upper back muscle spasms and I go back to the camisole.

I had a visiting nurse and PT's come to my house the first few weeks home. THey were pretty useless, except for the nurse checking that the incision looked good. The PT had me do little things that I could have done on my own, things that they mentioned in the hospital. I started 'real' PT out of the home at about 8 weeks post-op.

[Vali]

Toothbrush/paste, nighties, dressing gown, socks, hairbrush and ties, moisturiser, chapstick, palmers cocoa butter, book - which i didn't end up reading (too many visitors and too many nurses congregating in my room to admire flowers), mobile phone and 'grabber' - think thats about it.

As for the bra scenario - dont worry about it, they are really uncomfortable. I bought two crop top type bras for when i went walking, they are not as restrictive as conventional types. Apart from this, i didn't go back to wearing a normal bra until about the 8 week mark and even then it was off and on.

Good luck and i hope all goes well for you.

[loves to skate]

Hi Meg,

Every hospital is different. The Baptist Hospital gave me a booklet ahead of time telling me what to bring. Instead of slippers, I was told to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes per the Physical Therapists. They gave me elastic shoe laces for them. Don't bother with a nightie unless it buttons down the front. You won't be able to raise your arms comfortably to put it on. The first few days you will have IV's in place anyway. They provided a robe for me and of course the socks with non-slip soles. Forget the bra. The hospital also provided a dry shampoo that worked surprisingly well. The only clothing I brought in was two pair of sweat pants that tied and two hooded sweatshirts that zipped. I had a cell phone but no brains to figure out how to use it. Same with the TV set in the room. I had hallucinations for 2 or 3 days post-op and had some really strange conversations with people who were not present in the room.

You have been and will still be in my prayers.

Sally

[Doodles]

I'm sure you'll want to ditch the bra for sometime! It was very uncomfortable. I still am not crazy about it. You will definitely need a firm bed--a pull-out couch/bed would be really awful I'm thinking. So if there is no other option I'd go with hospital bed. Our bedroom is on first floor and quite firm so it was OK. Previously, I went to rehab for 8 days after 8 days in hospital. I had p.t. coming to my house 2 or 3 times a week for about 2 1/2 months, I think. Then I started going to regular p.t. & water p.t. at our local hospital at about 3 months. Janet

[ScoliSkye2]

Evesdropping

This is all so great! Thanks everybody!!!
okay I will get Skye Memory foam matteress topper, Lip Balm, Face moisterizer I think everything else on the list we've covered. She has long.... long hair which will be salon washed, conditioned and braided on Tuesday - I don't think she will want anyone touching it during her stay at the hospital and I will have her sister-n-law (hairdresser) come to the house to do whatever else she needs done (yes 12 year old Skye has a sister-n-law (big smile). I already told her to ask for those nice heated blankets - I've had a couple procedures in my time and remember them fondly

[sheri66]

I had a hospital bed in my living room for 2 months.I just could not get comfortable in my bed.Also a shower chair which I still use.And as far as the bra I did not wear one for about 2 months.

[jrnyc]

Hey Meg
i think i remember back to when you were waiting for an appt...i believe you waited a long time...

i wish you a good outcome..successful surgery & a smooth & uneventful recovery! i know everything will go well..you waited a long time & gave this alot of thought..you will be in good hands!

jess

[mbeckoff]

What a great thread for me to come across!

This is a wonderful resource to keep for my hospital stay

You are a bunch of great people

Melissa

[sillycoffeegirl]

megz ill be prolly getting out of the hospital when u are having urs. Prayers headed your way for ya. be positive, thats what im trying to do.

[megz]

megz ill be prolly getting out of the hospital when u are having urs. Prayers headed your way for ya. be positive, thats what im trying to do.

Good luck hun,
By this time you are all done and are on the road to recovery. I wish you the best hun. I am trying to stay positive but very hard lol =)Can't wait to hear all about how well things went for you when I get back.. Take Care.

Megz