Top Surgery Recovery Tips

[Bimmer Guy]

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.

Hi, Jack.  I was back at work at a desk after 2 weeks.  You won't have a problem using your arms at that point.  No one knows at my job, either (except for 2 close friends).

[Bimmer Guy]

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.

I showered with a removable shower head for the bottom half of my body.  For my hair, I just leaned over the tub and my girlfriend washed it.

Speaking of showering, today was the first day I actually had my shower on full blast.  I also had to wait a month to turn towards the shower head, too, due to the nipple grafts.  I still didn't face the water with my chest, but I was less worried about it.

[Night Haven]

Suppose that's what I would end up doing.  I talk before thinking, far too often.


Any idea how long it would be before you could shower fully if you didn't get the nipple grafts? Or would that be the same amount of time?

[aleon515]

Suppose that's what I would end up doing.  I talk before thinking, far too often.


Any idea how long it would be before you could shower fully if you didn't get the nipple grafts? Or would that be the same amount of time?

The care is due to the nipple grafts not to other stuff. Though I have been a little tender, maybe would still want to be careful anyway (i'm two weeks out and it's gotten better).

During my shower-less week I used baby wipes. If I had had someone to help me I might have tried bathing the lower half, but I was not really sure I was 100% steady for all that. I was very happy to take the shower!!!!


--Jay

[Jack_M]

I must shower wrong. I only really thought about it today and I never face the shower. So I guess I'll be fine with that aspect lol.

Good to know I should be able to use my arms more fully after 2 weeks. It can be challenging enough getting on a wheeled chair for a stand up desk WITH full mobility! Lol

[aleon515]

I must shower wrong. I only really thought about it today and I never face the shower. So I guess I'll be fine with that aspect lol.

Well shame on you Jack. LOL. Never thought there was a right/wrong way to shower. Really it is NOT so entirely differently. Once you can shower, you can shower. It's a few things like not facing the shower, and putting the water on before you go in.

I didn't get nauseous and I think if I had Ensure would have made it worse. EW! Sorry Jack.( But I think preparing for this is a good idea. There are also meds to take the edge off this problem.) You can tell your doctor that you have a tendency towards this and they will prescribe something.

I could have started back to work this week, if I had a sedentary job with absolutely no lifting. (It's two weeks.) 

Two weeks, I have fairly good range of motion. I can't raise my arms over my head or reach too far. I got a reacher and a step stool. But otherwise I live by myself and do everything. (Glad to have the frozen food and paper and plastic plates and utensils). I have someone coming over the house to do stuff requiring lifting and driving (cat box, laundry, taking me to the store). You aren't supposed to drive for something like 2 1/2-3 weeks, depends on your car and a power steering car would obviously be easiest. I thought I'd need someone every day, but really a few times a week is fine. But pretty much I can do everything else.

Freezing things can be done quite a few weeks ahead of time (even a month or two), might be something you can start doing now.


Oh yeah, get Netflix. I got very stir crazy, esp in Florida. I don't see anyone mentioning the stir crazy aspects. I felt well enough two days afterwards and just got bored to tears.


--Jay

[LordKAT]

 

Oh yeah, get Netflix. I got very stir crazy, esp in Florida. I don't see anyone mentioning the stir crazy aspects. I felt well enough two days afterwards and just got bored to tears.

That is what books and puters are for.

[aleon515]

 
That is what books and puters are for.

That's right. I took a Kindle and my iPad.

--Jay

[Jack_M]

I have Netflix already.  Got it for a trial month and couldn't let go.  Just too many awesome shows on there.  I get the surgery on Dec 17th so I'll be laid up over Xmas but that was a benefit for me because I already get a week off work then so I just have 4 days off work total (17th was latest I could get the surgery and still fall around that week off).  I've also loaded up my Kindle already.

I was practicing with my chair today actually and figured out a way.  If I lower it when I get off and then get on it, I fixed the foot rest in place more securely and I can just stand on that with one hand on desk and other pulling the lever and get up to level I need.  So all should be good!  Phew!

Yeah, I have a sedentary job.  Just computer work all day, and hopefully not too long days when I start back (my job can be anything from 40 to 100 hour weeks!!!)

I'm not sure if I have a tendency to get sick or not with surgery tbh.  Anything under an hour was always fine for me.  The only one over an hour ended up being an all day surgery (Radical mastoid surgery) and I was really sick after but it's common to be pretty sick after something that long.  I'm going to mention it regardless but I wanted to be prepared.

But you reminded me about the store.  Going to have to see if I can find someone who'll help me with that.  Didn't even think of that one!  See, you THINK you have everything covered and then something simple bites you in the ass!

[Bimmer Guy]

Suppose that's what I would end up doing.  I talk before thinking, far too often.


Any idea how long it would be before you could shower fully if you didn't get the nipple grafts? Or would that be the same amount of time?

It would be the same amount of time.  For Garramone patients (both myself and aleon515 in this thread), you have an ace bandage around your chest for 6 days.  You can shower the 7th day.  The grafts are the reason why you can't face the shower, but I suspect you will want to be careful with your incisions as well.

Jack, sounds like you made a good plan with the chair.  Really until this week (week 5), I operated as a modified T-Rex even as things got easier.  I purposely did not take Tylenol after I went back to work, even though some soreness kicked in due to the additional movement.  I wanted any soreness I might have to remind me to keep my arms down.  I haven't been nutso about it, but the fact that my incisions continue to be very thin almost 5 weeks later, I believe is a function of staying conscious of this.

Although I am aware in the end we can't effect how much our scars widen (per Garramone, anyway), I figure the longer I can keep the incisions from widening (without given myself frozen shoulder!), the better off I will be.

Take the extra effort in the short term, you will appreciate it in the long term.  That's what I am doing, anyway.

Good luck, guys.

[aleon515]

I think the shower would smart hitting the incision for the first three weeks or so. Mine is tender. The surgical tape has come off of it (with not too much help from me). I'm just past the second week.

Other things to think about laundry. I could do it, but it's heavy (I suppose if no one did it I'd be able to manage but the dials are high and hard to reach); garbage; etc. I don't need someone every day. I suppose if I didn't have cats I could do 2-3 times a week. But I'm really managing really well.

I suppose sometimes I'm stretching too far. But I try to do the t-rex arms modified. Its surprising how much you can do that way.

I was way way out of it after the surgery, pretty much all day. I didn't have nausea but I was a basket case pretty much. But the second day I was up and around a bit. If you even have a big chance of getting it, I'd bring it up. There are meds they can give you that would help quite a bit.

Every surgeon does thing that are a little different, most of them seem to get to same point.


--Jay

[Night Haven]

Alright, I've got another question. How long would one have to wait to start carrying a moderately heavy messenger bag, or anything over the shoulder like that?

[Squirrel698]

Night Haven, I think the universal answer to that question is 6 weeks.  The instructions I received says to not lift anything heavier then a gallon of milk for 6 weeks.  That can get complicated when you are dealing with grocery shopping and are use to always having a backpack on you.  I just keep telling myself it's not forever.

I have a question, How do you deal with itchy incisions.  Right now I'm so itchy and I can't scratch at all.  It makes sleeping a real challenge.

My surgeon gave me a patch to put behind my ear to help with the nausea.  It worked amazingly well.  I usually get nauseous easily but i never was this time.  Which was a true blessing.   

I have a type of vest, binder, that my surgeon gave me which hooks and then zips in the front.  It's a lot easier to put on then the ace bandages.

[aleon515]

Night Haven, I think the universal answer to that question is 6 weeks.  The instructions I received says to not lift anything heavier then a gallon of milk for 6 weeks.  That can get complicated when you are dealing with grocery shopping and are use to always having a backpack on you.  I just keep telling myself it's not forever.

I have a question, How do you deal with itchy incisions.  Right now I'm so itchy and I can't scratch at all.  It makes sleeping a real challenge.

My surgeon gave me a patch to put behind my ear to help with the nausea.  It worked amazingly well.  I usually get nauseous easily but i never was this time.  Which was a true blessing.   

I have a type of vest, binder, that my surgeon gave me which hooks and then zips in the front.  It's a lot easier to put on then the ace bandages.

Talking to your doctor about the nausea is an excellent idea. There are very good meds for this, if it's an issue for you.

Different surgeons have different instructions, but the 6 weeks is kind of the "magic number" or something. I am not sure I am going to just start doing push ups at 6 weeks. I was told not to drive for 10 days to 2 weeks. I have help for going to the store and so on. But I'm a LOT more functional than I thought I'd be.

Obviously different surgeons have a little different instructions. I don't find the tensor bandage too hard after I cut it in half.


--Jay

[geek]

i plan on renting a wheel chair so i can go geocaching while im there =p hope they have cupholders!

[Darrin Scott]

i plan on renting a wheel chair so i can go geocaching while im there =p hope they have cupholders!

Are you getting surgery soon? Don't know if you've answered this already.

[geek]

Are you getting surgery soon? Don't know if you've answered this already.

well i was going to be getting it in july here, but ive come into some money so i decided to go to Garramone next december instead i figure whats another 5 months for a better job

[xsmittyx]

I'd say have button-down shirts at the ready. Totally keep your arms down as much as possible!

[aleon515]

I thought I'd post my video here. I posted a lot of helpful hints and some resources below the video. Info starts at about 3:40 or so, and I do an update before then (5 weeks post-op).




--Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

Good idea, Jay.