Post-op advice: preparing for recovery after DI

[Amadeus]

While I wait for my pre-op appointment and surgery date to be announced, I want to prepare for my recovery.  I'm obviously going to have a DI with graft, so my movement is going to be restricted for a couple months.  This is my plan so far and I was hoping some other guys might chime in, tell me what worked for them and what didn't, and if I'm missing anything important.

• Preparing about a month's worth of food in the form of canned soups, frozen meals, and those weird nutrition shakes for when I can't handle solid food
• Acquiring a recliner [trade, borrow, buy cheap] for post-op sleeping until...what, two weeks?  Three?  Four?
• Videos, Netflix, hulu+, and Wii
• Meds easily accessible by me and/or my housemate
• List of neighbours who will be coming by to help me with my bandages, appointments, and other sundry post-op things
• Legal documents filled out such as power of attorney, last will and testament

Aaaaaaaaaand that's all I can think of.  What am I missing?

[Tysilio]

It's great that you're going to be able to get surgery soon -- I envy you. 

I've had a lot more experience than I'd like at seeing family and friends through various types of surgery, and a couple of things come to mind: if you have friends and neighbors who cook, see if they'd be willing to prepare some food for you, either beforehand, to freeze, or while you're convalescing -- "convenience food" can wear pretty thin, and a good diet can really help you recover from any kind of surgery. Canned food, etc., ain't it -- you want green vegetables, whole grains, and lots of protein. (Also, some treats you really like...)

Another legal document you should have in place is an an advance directive, a document which spells out what you do and don't want done if things go really wrong with your surgery, and you wind up in a coma, or some such. It's not a fun thing to think about, and the odds that it'll be needed are really, really small, but it's an important adjunct to a power of attorney. (It's also important to talk this stuff over with the person who'll have your POA, to make sure you're on the same page about this stuff.)

(You should be able to find a recliner fairly easily on the free listings on Craigslist. People move all the time, and almost no one wants to take them with them.)

Mostly, it sounds like you have it covered!

[Kreuzfidel]

Congratulations!  You've got a pretty good list there.  I'll just chime in from my own perspective and what I did and didn't need when I had mine.

In regards to being unable to cook - it was really only about the first week and a half before I was able to get in the kitchen and cook as per normal.  But things that are easy to prepare - you've hit the nail on the head. 

Reaching things - yes - have them down low where you don't have to stretch your arms up.  You might also consider one of those reach extenders that they make for the elderly - you can sometimes find them in pharmacies.

Sleeping - I hear a lot of guys talk about how they HAD TO sleep in a recliner - but I didn't.  Yes, it was uncomfortable but I slept in a bed from the first night onwards.  Just propping a couple of pillows around me helped me find a good position - I was also sleeping on my side (though very carefully) from the second week.  Just saying.

Chapstick!  I had very dry and chapped lips so this was an absolute necessity.

A sponge/loofah with a long handle for showering.

Laxative/stool softener - trust me.

That's pretty much all I can think of for now.  You're doing the right thing planning in advance.  Takes away a lot of the unpleasant surprises later down the track.  Good luck. 

[FTMax]

Same boat chiming in! So far I have/have a plan to:

- Food shopping/bulk food cooking: I like to eat basically 6 times a day, so we've got a list of lots of snacks and then meals that I'm going to prep and freeze. Not really a departure from my regular weekly cooking, just in a higher volume.

- Making a calendar for work to make sure all of my clients are covered by someone competent. Getting wifi information for all of them so I can remotely access their systems and get some light work done during weeks 2/3.

- Making a calendar so I know who friends/family-wise is available to take care of me on a given day if necessary (first two weeks - will address again at the end of 2 weeks if its necessary)

- Entertainment! I've bought some new games for my DS, and I'm going to buy a few XBox One games before surgery.

- Basic meds: A bottle/pack of ibuprofen, laxatives, and sleep medicine.

- Legal stuff: All the things you listed, plus this week working on finalizing my name change and gender change documents so I can have those submitted before surgery.

- Roommate prep: I live with two other guys who work different schedules, so one of them will always be around. I've made a basic list of what they should expect and what I might need help with, and I've set aside some money for gifts/food delivery for them.

[JayDawg]

I only slept in the recliner the first night, after that it was on my back on my futon mattress for a few nights, then I was able to very carefully sleep on my side.

I recommend a laxative the night after surgery, or the morning after. Stool softeners didn't cut it for me.

Stock up on non-stick gauze squares for your nipple dressings. 2x2 if you can find them, or 4x4 can be cut up. And paper tape - it's the least irritating tape to keep those squares on.

Get some kind of wet wipes since you won't be able to shower until the drains are out.

Figure out hair washing. My mom did mine in the kitchen sink with the sprayer attachment every other day. It helped that my hair was super short.

I was on Keflex for 10 days after surgery, and had a yogurt every day to balance out the bacteria needed in the stomach.

TAKE THE PAIN MEDS. On time, every time. My mom logged every dose so there was  no doubt of when I took one, and when it was time for the next one.

If you have pets, figure out a way to keep them away from you. They WILL touch your chest and it WILL hurt. One of my 5 dogs never paws at, head butts, or jumps on me, so she was allowed to sleep with me about the 3rd or 4th night, I think.

Button down shirts or zip hoodies. You're not pulling anything over your head for weeks. And pants that pull on/off.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery

-Jay

[aleon515]

I made up about two weeks of food and froze it. It was great. I also had paper plates, plastic utensils, etc. Nice for living alone. I also ate yogurt everyday, Keflex is strong stuff.

I really liked Miralax, took about 2-3 days before surgery, this will not hurt you as it isn't really a laxative.Very much helped, though I didn't take pain meds. OTOH, surgery itself will constipate you.

I slept on a recliner, but you can sleep semi-reclined on a bed with various pillows. I don't believe sleeping on your side would be best, but if it's okay with your surgeon... They vary on this stuff.

Flip flops, slippers, or sandals you can wear without leaning over; largish button down shirts, zipper sweatshirts, lounge pants or pj bottoms (kind of the same thing) or sweat pants.

Get a box and put stuff that you need at waist level or so. Also a "grabber" is handy. Organize what you need ahead of time.

--Jay

[mooncab]

button-down shirts
zip up sweatshirts
gym shorts/pajama pants
slippers
benadryl for itchiness
stool softeners for constipation
milk of magnesia for constipation (the stool softener wasn't enough during the time I was taking percocet, as pain meds cause constipation)
zofran for nausea
tylenol, for headaches arising from pain meds
melatonin for falling asleep
bendy straws
neosporin or bacitracin for nipple after-care
nipple-sized bandaids or gauze and tape, for after-care
and I got a party-sized pizza and froze it for the times that neither I nor anyone else could prepare something to eat. it lasted me forever and now I never want to look at another pizza slice again.

[Amadeus]

These are great!  Thank you all for your input.  I agree on the clothes.  I should get a few more pairs of stretchy trousers.  Definitely have the button-down shirts ready to go.  I didn't have any constipation after my gallbladder surgery, but I'll definitely nom up the yoghurt before and after.  I think we have some laxatives on standby here anyway.  We have ginger and peppermint for nausea.  I can't take most muscle relaxers, and my doctor knows this, so we're looking at other options.

As for bandaging material, the doctor has already suggested this new sort of wound tape that minimises scarring.  I have a pamphlet on it somewhere.  I'll post a link if it contains a website.

Food: I bought some compartment food trays to make 'homemade TV dinners' and so far they are the best investment EVER!  They hold sixteen ounces of food and so far have been perfect for making my housemate eat better.  As for canned soups, I was thinking of making the soups myself and canning them proper, or freezing them.  Because I like to cook.  Scratch that, I love to cook.  LOVE IT!

What I didn't expect anyone to respond with is that they were sleeping on their sides so soon.  I usually sleep on my right side.  Were you able to sleep on your sides after the drains came out?  And did you have any further drainage after they came out?

[aleon515]

I don't have any experience canning. But freezing soup is very easy and I do it all the time. You may want to add a little less liquid and then when you serve them you can pour in some broth from a carton. This is good stuff. Soup also tends to freeze fairly flat.

BTW,another thing is getting your hair cut very short. It helps if you can't wash your hair for awhile.

--Jay

These are great!  Thank you all for your input.  I agree on the clothes.  I should get a few more pairs of stretchy trousers.  Definitely have the button-down shirts ready to go.  I didn't have any constipation after my gallbladder surgery, but I'll definitely nom up the yoghurt before and after.  I think we have some laxatives on standby here anyway.  We have ginger and peppermint for nausea.  I can't take most muscle relaxers, and my doctor knows this, so we're looking at other options.

As for bandaging material, the doctor has already suggested this new sort of wound tape that minimises scarring.  I have a pamphlet on it somewhere.  I'll post a link if it contains a website.

Food: I bought some compartment food trays to make 'homemade TV dinners' and so far they are the best investment EVER!  They hold sixteen ounces of food and so far have been perfect for making my housemate eat better.  As for canned soups, I was thinking of making the soups myself and canning them proper, or freezing them.  Because I like to cook.  Scratch that, I love to cook.  LOVE IT!

What I didn't expect anyone to respond with is that they were sleeping on their sides so soon.  I usually sleep on my right side.  Were you able to sleep on your sides after the drains came out?  And did you have any further drainage after they came out?

[Kreuzfidel]

What I didn't expect anyone to respond with is that they were sleeping on their sides so soon.  I usually sleep on my right side.  Were you able to sleep on your sides after the drains came out?  And did you have any further drainage after they came out?

I was sleeping halfway on my side with the drains in (mine were only in for 3 days) - that meaning that I had a pillow under my back so that I wasn't putting direct pressure on the drain site, but tilted enough to relieve the pain of laying on my back.

Once the drains came out - similar story.  Pillows under the back to keep me on my side just short of laying directly on the drain holes.  I'd say after week one, I was able to lay on my side and put pressure on the holes without causing damage or pain.

Once mine came out, I didn't have any further drainage.

[Alexthecat]

I think I was on my back for a few weeks. I always had the compression vest for 6 weeks on but I'm a back sleeper usually with occasional side sleeping. I had a power lift recliner and it caused chronic pain in my lower back for a few weeks. I was taking pain meds for my back more so than the surgery. The recliner was great for the first week but I could have got by on a bed. I stopped using the recliner after a week due to the pain. I did prepare a plastic bed covering and plastic pillow covering (these are cheap at walmart by the pillows) just incase of bleeding. Didn't want to ruin my mattress.

The first week with the drains make plans for a wipe down with some baby wipes, avoid the drain holes or they will turn pink. It just makes you feel better until you can shower. Shouldn't have any problem doing the lower half by yourself but your back needs help getting clean.

Keep a notepad for when you take meds so you do not overdose. The first few days I slept on and off a lot and the time went by without my knowledge. Keeping track keeps you out of pain.

BACK SCRATCHER. must get.

You shouldn't need shakes when you have soup. Day of surgery when I got home I was having a basic noodle soup and I ate a lot of it.

[Amadeus]

I don't have any experience canning. But freezing soup is very easy and I do it all the time. You may want to add a little less liquid and then when you serve them you can pour in some broth from a carton. This is good stuff. Soup also tends to freeze fairly flat.

BTW,another thing is getting your hair cut very short. It helps if you can't wash your hair for awhile.

--Jay

Already took the clippers to my head, buzzed down to half an inch.  Friend of mine offered to help wash my hair.  I politely declined.  I don't even like having my hair washed when I get it cut.

I think I was on my back for a few weeks. I always had the compression vest for 6 weeks on but I'm a back sleeper usually with occasional side sleeping. I had a power lift recliner and it caused chronic pain in my lower back for a few weeks. I was taking pain meds for my back more so than the surgery. The recliner was great for the first week but I could have got by on a bed. I stopped using the recliner after a week due to the pain. I did prepare a plastic bed covering and plastic pillow covering (these are cheap at walmart by the pillows) just incase of bleeding. Didn't want to ruin my mattress.

The first week with the drains make plans for a wipe down with some baby wipes, avoid the drain holes or they will turn pink. It just makes you feel better until you can shower. Shouldn't have any problem doing the lower half by yourself but your back needs help getting clean.

Keep a notepad for when you take meds so you do not overdose. The first few days I slept on and off a lot and the time went by without my knowledge. Keeping track keeps you out of pain.

BACK SCRATCHER. must get.

You shouldn't need shakes when you have soup. Day of surgery when I got home I was having a basic noodle soup and I ate a lot of it.

Notepad is a great idea.  We have some dry erase boards here, but I'll repurpose a notebook just for that.  Already have a bamboo back scratcher.  And the baby wipes are a really good suggestion.

Again, thank you all for your suggestions!