Hello Giovanna, I bet you are excited! It's been a long journey for you.
Exercise and healthy eating is a great idea. What I found surprisingly necessary after GCS/GRS is upper body strength. If you can lift your body's weight with your arms you'll have an easier time with recovery. That makes it easier to get up out of a chair, and less painful to sit down if you can lower yourself with your arms.
If you're having standard GCS (not zero-depth) you'll be dilating quite often when you first arrive home, based on a schedule your surgeon will provide. You'll probably receive materials at the hospital to get started but will also need some supplies at home:
- Medical grade lubricant.
McKesson 119-8919 Lubricating Jelly is often provided by hospitals in the US. I'm not sure what is common in Europe but you'll want something equivalent. I bought a case of 12 on Amazon and went through that in the first 4 months. I like the quality but the annoying thing is it's sold in 4 ounce (113g) tubes that are slightly too large for airline carry-on regulations.
- Feminine pads. First few days you'll have routine discharge and some bleeding. The hospital will probably provide a few thicker pads you'll need at first, after a few days you can switch to something thinner and more comfortable. Over time I found these were still helpful after dilating.
- Extra underwear. Hospital might provide disposable cotton panties for first few days.
- An extra towel for dilating in bed at home. Hospital provides disposable bed pads ("chux" pad) for this.
- Small makeup mirror (no magnification) is helpful to check depth markings on the dilator.
- The clinic might include a stool softener (laxative) but I found it easier to sip a bit of prune juice for the first few days. You might want an extra bottle or two of prune juice at home, at first. Some of the initial pain meds can cause constipation. You don't want constipation the first week or two after GCS, that can cause serious complications.
- Bottle of over-the-counter ibuprofen for after you arrive home.
If possible install a hand-shower at home. Instead of a fixed showerhead in the shower or bathtub, you'll need a handheld shower head. I bought
this one.
And best wishes! September 17 will come up fast.
Kendra
