Post op support person

[Ms Grace]

I believe it is fairly common to ask someone to come help you for a week or so following discharge from the hospital. What specifically should you be telling that person to expect, what might they be needed to do exactly?

[FTMax]

Hey Ms. Grace,

I am planning my procedure for this summer. While it may differ a bit for you ladies, I have been told I will need someone around to help around the house (mostly cooking if it's not done in advance), for anything that requires driving while I'm still taking painkillers, for pet care if you have animals, and at least initially for some home healthcare needs.

From other guys who have had the procedure I'm planning on, I've been told to choose someone that would be comfortable seeing my junk/that I would be comfortable with showing my junk. I don't know if that is also the case for you ladies, but I imagine it would be similar.

[Mariah]

This is something I need to know too. I do know I will be staying with someone who has had SRS (even if years ago) for several days after discharge ,but still those days after I leave and head north and back home are when it will come in handy. Hugs
Mariah

[Jenna Marie]

For me, it was mostly light household tasks (as well as running errands) - cleaning up, cooking, bringing me things when I didn't want to get up, that sort of stuff. I *was* capable of doing almost everything myself, I just tired easily and didn't have the energy to do ALL of what had to get done in a day. Oh, and I was told not to lift over 10 lbs for 2 months, so that too (no carrying groceries or picking up cats, for example).

Of course, my helper was also my wife, so I admit I did also have her regularly check things out down there and see if it looked OK, and asked her questions like "how much blood do I worry about." But I don't think any of that was absolutely required for me; it put my mind at ease, but I would have coped fine without anyone overseeing my surgical site if I'd had to.

[Dena]

There isn't much pain in moving around but sitting for long periods of time can be an issue as well as exhaustion, Clean the house before you leave and stock up on canned and frozen food, You will be able to share in some task but kitchen duties and shopping might be places where help would come in handy. If you have the ability to do laundry in your home, you will be fine but I lived in an apartment and need to haul stuff from my apartment to the laundry room and wait for it to run through the machines.

Most important, if you can do something, do it. Get your own drink instead of running the legs off your help. Try to maintain a cheerful attitude and make the person helping you be happy to help you with the few things you can't do yourself.

I lived by my self when I had surgery and I was able to manage without help. Yes it wasn't smart and I was constantly exhausted and sometimes skipped meals because I didn't feel like fixing them. Not everybody will have the endurance (stupidity) I had and may need more help than I had so accept help when needed.

[Arch]

I've read that I'll have to stay in SF for three or four weeks after Dr. Crane does his thing...I have no idea how it's supposed to go, but I have literally nobody to help me afterward, so I'm wondering whether Crane's office can arrange for me to hire someone...a homecare nurse or something. I don't even know how long I'll be in the hospital or where I'm supposed to stay after being discharged.

I assume that once I'm back home three or four weeks later, I will be able to do for myself.

Can anyone fill me in on how things are supposed to go?

[FTMax]

I've read that I'll have to stay in SF for three or four weeks after Dr. Crane does his thing...I have no idea how it's supposed to go, but I have literally nobody to help me afterward, so I'm wondering whether Crane's office can arrange for me to hire someone...a homecare nurse or something. I don't even know how long I'll be in the hospital or where I'm supposed to stay after being discharged.

I assume that once I'm back home three or four weeks later, I will be able to do for myself.

Can anyone fill me in on how things are supposed to go?

Arch, it differs depending on which procedure you get. For meta, I believe it's around 2-3 days in the hospital and a total of 2 weeks locally. For phallo, a week in the hospital and 3-4 weeks locally. AFAIK anyway.

Look into your insurance options. I know at least one guy on the FB phalloplasty group who mentioned that his insurance was paying for a home health aide to stop by once a day. I'm sure Crane's office could help arrange one for you.

[stephaniec]

I'll definitely need someone for awhile  if I go ahead because I'm limited by arthritis. Cooking , cleaning ,shopping. My therapist suggested Pea Pod for the shopping and I could get someone to do the cleaning , but I know I'd be a basket case for awhile because of my arthritis. This is the biggest worry I have about whether or not to GCS because I really have no one and I don't know how long it will take to function on my own again.

[Arch]

Look into your insurance options. I know at least one guy on the FB phalloplasty group who mentioned that his insurance was paying for a home health aide to stop by once a day.

Oh, I'm not worried about cost. My insurance covers travel and accommodations, and I am sure that if an aide is needed, he or she will be covered as well. Mainly I was wondering about logistics and how long I'd need someone. Partly, I have privacy concerns. I don't want someone THERE all the time. Once a day sounds doable if it's for only a few weeks. But I would hope that when I come back home, I don't need any help.

Would you mind PMing me the FB information? I haven't run across that group before.