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Surgery with Dr. Brassard -- what did you wish you had taken with you?

Started by Sabine, July 16, 2014, 12:54:50 PM

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Sabine

I'm in the middle of gathering up what I'll need in Montreal and after in my home recovery.  Do any Brassard graduates who may be here have suggestions about what to take that is not on the list?  Clothes, comfort, sanity-keeping, etc? I'm not taking anyone with me, so I won't be able to get anything I forgot.

Thanks,

Sabine
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Jenna Marie

Fewer sanitary pads - turns out they supply everything, so I only needed enough for the trip home - and more pairs of sweatpants or shorts, plus an extra bathrobe. They do offer laundry, but I liked to have spares handy. :) Ditto extra slippers. No matter what the paperwork says, you don't need lube, underpants (except to go home), towels, or other medical kit.

Lots and LOTS of entertainment you can do one-handed. Books, tablet, e-reader, games, whatever. You end up spending a lot of time in bed (we *can* get up, it's just so uncomfortable that we mostly didn't at first), plus dilation takes up a surprisingly long time at first.
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Sabine

Thanks!  I am guessing it's the entertainment and comfort items we overlook.  So it's secure enough to take a reader/video player?
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Jenna Marie

If by "secure" you mean unlikely to be stolen, I guess it partly depends on the patient population at the time, but I had a tablet, netbook, e-reader, and phone and no problems at all. :)

Oh, and good luck!!
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mrs izzy

Quote from: Sabine on July 16, 2014, 12:54:50 PM
I'm in the middle of gathering up what I'll need in Montreal and after in my home recovery.  Do any Brassard graduates who may be here have suggestions about what to take that is not on the list?  Clothes, comfort, sanity-keeping, etc? I'm not taking anyone with me, so I won't be able to get anything I forgot.

Thanks,

Sabine

Not sure on your date and if i will be around but keep me updated on the day. If i am around i can stop around and visit. Also i have grabbed forgotten items for girls when they need.

Jenna my Sister has all the good points.

Even though you will be around others it does get boring there. Mainly after you start you dilations. That will take a lot of your time but its boring time if you do not have something to help pass it.

At the hospital you do not have a TV so you are on your own for entertainment.

Hugs
Isabell
Mrs. Izzy
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"Those who matter will never judge, this is my given path to walk in life and you have no right to judge"

I used to be grounded but now I can fly.
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dkl

I was just there 8 weeks ago today. I brought my kindle, I Pad and I Pod and I was able to keep myself entertained. They also have a decent radio that I listened to quite a bit. I did not watch any television while I was there, but I think I had a TV in my room. I don't speak French so, the stations on both radio and television would have been limited. Netflix didn't stream very well on my I Pad Air while I was there; but it did sort of work.

As Jenna and Izzy said; they provided everything I required for my aftercare (pads, lube, underwear, gauze pads, etc). I was glad I brought comfortable cotton slacks along with skirts / dresses because I was so swollen that I had trouble sitting in a very lady like way. Before I flew home I tried a pair of jeans, and a dress. I ended up deciding on the slacks for the flight home.

You didn't ask, but if want to assure you that they will take really good care of you. I can not praise the doctors, nurses, and support staff enough. The nurses at the recovery house were awesome and I hated to say goodbye to 3 or 4 of them.

Izzy was kind enough to take me out for lunch the day after I arrived, and also dropped by to see me a couple times while I was there, thanks again Izzy!!!
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Sabine

Thanks everyone!

I'll bring a stack of e-things, and load up the kindle and iPad.  I understand enough French that I may try TV (hey! Instant language immersion for a week!), but I'm more a reader and film watcher than TV so time to load up a ton of films.

I'm figuring out clothes still. I don't wear a lot of pants, and what I have are jeans which I doubt will be of much help!

Thanks for the offer Isabell, I'll keep that in mind.

Sab

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