Top Surgery Recovery Tips

[Bimmer Guy]

Hi, guys.  I came across this article that I think is a very thorough list of tips for top surgery recovery.  I think it would be great to have a thread of tips that everyone can add to as there is a wealth of information here.  I didn't find a thread like this when I searched.  Please add to this thread.

The only thing I would want to add to the attached link is buying baby wipes for your stinking body when you can't shower.

Otherwise, this list covers all my tips:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmettp/things-you-may-not-know-you-need-for-your-ftm-ches-dcoa

[Alexthecat]

I've been preparing my list and this was quite helpful.

power lift chair
plastic sheet
regular sheet
lots of blankets
everything where it is reachable
CURAD® Scar Therapy™ Cosmetic Pads
backscratcher
button up shirts
zip up hoodie
loose pants/undies
compression socks
slip on shoes
pain meds
poop meds
bendy straw
poncho + clothespins
scrubby on a stick
travel pillow
baby wipes

[LordKAT]

Scrubby on a stick?

[Alexthecat]

Same as a sponge on a stick. Though I do find that they suck. I need a harder one that actually scrubs.

[LordKAT]

Oh, for some reason I thought of the dishes type scrubby which is why I was confuzzled.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I've been preparing my list and this was quite helpful.

power lift chair
plastic sheet
regular sheet
lots of blankets
everything where it is reachable
CURAD® Scar Therapy™ Cosmetic Pads
backscratcher
button up shirts
zip up hoodie
loose pants/undies
compression socks
slip on shoes
pain meds
poop meds
bendy straw
poncho + clothespins
scrubby on a stick
travel pillow
baby wipes

A power lift chair doesn't seem that reasonable of an item considering they range in prices of 500 to well over 1000 bucks, unless you are talking about something else. 

[Alexthecat]

A power lift chair doesn't seem that reasonable of an item considering they range in prices of 500 to well over 1000 bucks, unless you are talking about something else.

I mean a power lift chair. I will be renting it from Rent a Center. It is $58 for two weeks - $125 for a month.

[Bimmer Guy]

I mean a power lift chair. I will be renting it from Rent a Center. It is $58 for two weeks - $125 for a month.

Hey, that is actually QUITE a good idea.  One I have never heard of, either.  You won't need to worry about using your abs to get yourself up (that was one thing on my list to have changed...more abs workouts before surgery!)

[bballshorty]

what are the compression socks for?

[wheat thins are delicious]

what are the compression socks for?

It's to prevent you from getting a blood clot from being inactive so long. 

[Jack_M]

You don't need compression socks post surgery, bed rest is frowned upon after surgery these days.  You should be up and moving around the same day you have a surgery and every day after, talking walks but not getting heart or respiratory rate up.  For the first few days you may be a little sleepier than usual but look at it this way, when was the last time you got a virus and went out to get compression socks? The tired feeling doesn't last as long as a virus and you should be doing more walking post surgery than you would at home in bed, sick. Lol.

If you have abs, you don't need anything to help lift you upright either, it'll actually be a good workout for your abs every day when you can't exercise otherwise, lol. To determine if you need this is simple. Can you lie down in your bed and sit up without using your arms. If so, you'll be fine.  I haven't had surgery yet (next month WOO!!!) but I have had multiple broken ribs and was able to get up without assistance just using abs (using arms only spread my rib cage and aggrevated the area).

Gathering everything I need too.  This is a helpful list .

[aleon515]

I wore compression socks because Dr. G recommends them. I think it's day of surgery and a lot of his patients are flying in and out. So for flying, they aren't probably a horrible idea anyway. OTOH, I was up and around the day after surgery. I haven't been terribly active but I'm not sleeping all day by any stretch.

I haven't had that much trouble getting up and so on (power lift chair idea). I can even get myself out of bed. It's helpful working your core a bit before surgery, I'd guess.

A reacher tool is helpful.

--Jay

[Jack_M]

During surgery I can kinda get, but after, it's better to just stay active and get up and around. Even the flying thing is bogus unless you're a business man taking several flights a week.

It's just a major inconvenience for anyone to bother with after surgery when walking is better for you. It's also something you can't put on yourself after surgery as you're more likely to injure yourself pulling on them. If someone wants them for whatever reason and have help for them, then knock yourself out. It's not going to do any harm. It's more for the guys that are on their own (like myself) or just don't want someone helping them with that, it's not necessary. Just keep up short, non energetic activity, even if it's just walking up and down a hallway, doesn't have to be outside. Walking will prevent issues better than any socks.

[Bimmer Guy]

The compression socks are recommended if you are going on a somewhat long flight.  You can get a cheap pair at the pharmacy.  The ones that are just a man's compression dress sock is good enough, you don't need the super powerful ones.

[Alexthecat]

I slept in a regular recliner for a week or so.  I couldn't pull the lever for the footrest, but once my brother pulled it for me I could keep it from clicking back in, and control the chair just fine without arms.

I also cut my hair extra short just beforehand.  This way it wouldn't be so bothersome when unwashed.  It also bought me extra time before I would need another haircut and have to scrub the cut ends off my head.  That turned out to be a great idea, because it was quite a while before I could put both hands on my head at the same time.  I'm guessing this would apply more readily to buzz cut guys like me, but worth mentioning.

I plan to cut it before surgery, though I figured I would just go to the hair cut place after surgery.

[Night Haven]

I would be careful with going soon after (if that's what you meant), since you aren't supposed to wash yourself and probably wouldn't be able to anyway. That's going to be a problem if you get fine hairs in your clothes, on your body, etc. I'd be driven mad by the sheer itchiness.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I used to say I was going to shave my head before top surgery, but I've grown my hair out now to a length that would take forever to grow back, been growing it for 2 years, so I think I'll just budget going to the salon to get my hair washed or get a friend to wash it for me. 

[aleon515]

I would be careful with going soon after (if that's what you meant), since you aren't supposed to wash yourself and probably wouldn't be able to anyway. That's going to be a problem if you get fine hairs in your clothes, on your body, etc. I'd be driven mad by the sheer itchiness.

I got my hair washed before surgery. Yikes during surgery, can't even think about this. WTAD, you can get your hair washed during recovery even with the bandages. I didn't. But a plastic rain parka might help as well as a large plastic cup.

I live by myself. It was very good that I thought of cooking up a whole bunch of food ahead of time, easy stuff like spaghetti, and so on, and freeze them in individual servings. I made stuff with really high vitamin content (spaghetti is veggie spaghetti with whole wheat spaghetti-- delicious stuff). I also got paper and plastic utensils and so on. I hate this kind of stuff, but seems like a good idea right now. So my meals are now super easy. I don't know why I don't see this more in recommendations. Maybe not as many guys are living on their own.

Also a travel pillow. I use this for seat belts.

--Jay

[Night Haven]

I was thinking of the hairs getting down your back, on the shoulders, etc. It wouldn't be hard to get at with a shower head, but I'd be concerned about getting bandages wet, depending on how well you can control where the water goes. Though, suppose a towel kept at the front of the body would be sufficient for absorbing stray droplets. *Shrug* Considering I haven't actually gone through surgery yet, it's better left said by those who have if that could be a problem.

[Jack_M]

I've stocked up on a ton of ensure too. I tend to get queasy after anaesthetic so it's a few days before I'm eating solid food willingly, so at least that's something if I'm struggling.  I'm actually heading out now to get paper plates and disposable cutlery. I also juice so I'll probably keep that up at least once a day and use the pulp to make some easy soup. Should help keep the fibre up without having to make anything too complex. Was planning on freezing a few meals too for dinners, but closer to the time (still one month and change away).

The only thing that I just thought about is that I have a stand up desk at work. Urgh! I didn't actually want anyone to know at work (that I work close with there) so now I dunno what to do. I don't normally stand the full 8-10 hours and I can't get on the chair without using my arms as the thing would just propel me half way across the room otherwise. Hmmm...first road block! I wouldn't be back to work until 2 weeks after but I'd imagine it'd still be an issue then.