Two Weeks Until Surgery!

johnb · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009, 07:19 PM

Don't settle for one grabber. Here's why. It's not like one of your arms is going to grow long enough to touch the ground while the other is using the grabber. You have two arms, get two grabbers!!! I dual wield my dual grabbers like a ninja using two knives!!! I've gotten so good with them, I can pick up a full coffee cup without spilling a drop. The best of luck with your procedure!!! (disclaimer: I do not own stock in a grabber or manufacturer or sell them directly to the public)

Eastex · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009, 08:29 PM

Kathy,
I just went through with a ALIF and I was scared also. I had many questions running through my head too. I almost got up and left the hospital, but I thought about all the pain that I had been in the last few years. I also wanted my life back. A few things that I thought I could recommend are:
1. Allergy/Cold Medicine that you can take with your other meds. (We are in Texas, and my allergies drove me nuts after surgery)
2. I slept in my recliner (still do sometimes) with pillows all around me and under my legs. My wife had to help me up. I couldn't barrel roll out of our beds that easy.
3. Stool Softener
4. Carmex
5. House shoes with rubber soles
6. Remove obstacles that might trip you, or get in the way of the toilet.
7. Shower seat
8. Ice bags (I am sure these are taken of already)
9. Another Grabber to pick up all the other ones that you have dropped!
10. Big cup to keep ice in with some water to sip on.

Kathy · #3 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 04:43 AM

Wow! I am now overwhelmed at how much I have to do! Tons of great information, raised seats, butt pad (think a boppy would work?), silk pj's, multiple grabbers (not just for grabbing; but possibly a future spiney grabber war in the future? as JohnB has so kindly shared) and so much more. The medical supply store will be happy to see me coming. I am already ike a kid in the candy store with all the neat gadgets they have (I know, horribly boring and sad).
Eastex- My allergies have been kicking my a** for over a month now. I initially thought I had the flu, because both of my kids had it (even though we all had flu shots; same thing happened last year). I hate Texas allergies, I take Zyrtec and Benadryll daily, as well as the Nasonex nose spray; all to no avail. So, I probably will have to get some good stuff from the my family dr. before surgery.

I had my pre-op bloodwork, EKG and chest x-ray today. My last hurdle to jump before I am cleared for takeoff! I am terrified that my bloodwork will have something not good in it. Hopefully, it will be fine and if not, maybe I can have a 'do over'. I know the other two were fine, no issues there. Although, I got more action during the EKG from the man giving it than I have had in awhile! I am not even sure why the heck they even gave me one of those nice little gowns to cover up, when they were just going to take it off (oh yeah, I got the guy in training, lots of fondling- I mean, searching for the right spots

)

Thank you all for the great ideas, most of it was stuff I hadn't even considered. I'd be a train wreck without all of you! Thank you so much, Kathy

sahuaro · #4 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 05:09 AM

Kathy:
Wishing you all the best in your surgery!
Love the idea of the four-leaf clover thong--but your surgeon will never see it because you go into the OR in your birthday suit...maybe a tatoo???

Before each of my surgeries--wrist, both shoulders and neck--I felt "fine" and questioned whether they were necessary...and each time, once the surgeon opened up the area, there was no question about injury. I was excited about getting my ADR but when I woke up in recovery and realized that the surgery had been done, I really went into a panic--short-lived, thankfully!

I hope your surgeon has already given you the list of meds and herbal supplements to stop before surgery, such as aspirin.

Only a couple of things to add: the morning of the surgery, I showered with Betadine solution (don't know if that's really necessary but I had been told to do that for previous surgeries). Also, get laxatives in addition to stool softener, just in case, and vaseline or something to moisten your nasal passages which will be dry. The nexcare bandages Justin mentioned are a life saver enabling you to shower.

Good luck!

trkdoc714 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 10:05 AM

Kathy,

As he was "lubing up" his glove he joked "I always feel cheap when I do this". My response was "If you think you feel cheap now, I'm making my co-pay with two rolls of quarters". I didn't realize he was one of those hysterical laughers. Just another one of the lessons you learn in life.........

Bob

Eastex · #6 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 10:22 PM

Kathy,
We were talking about this on another post, but have you tried Neilmed sinus rinse or a netipot for your allergies. It flushes out all that crap that is in the air. Can they hide some of the equipment you need with your insurance? Maybe the walker? They may catch on to what you are doing though. Just a little illegal thought!

Gil Denis · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 12:15 AM

Hi Kathy
I am busy at this time.

Go and get ready.
I will chime in soon
Be Strong and keep moving forward

talk soon
Gil

Kathy · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastex

Kathy,
We were talking about this on another post, but have you tried Neilmed sinus rinse or a netipot for your allergies. It flushes out all that crap that is in the air. Can they hide some of the equipment you need with your insurance? Maybe the walker? They may catch on to what you are doing though. Just a little illegal thought!

I actually have a walker that I am going to borrow from family, my step-dad had hip replacement surgery a couple of years ago and still has his. I need to borrow a long handle paddle for the kids, on second thought, maybe two lab size shock collars with a remote control! (Disclaimer: I am not serious, kids will be with family so I can get some REST... which is impossible with them in a 5 mile radius). I think I need to take out a second mortgage to buy all the stuff I need after surgery!

Ok, so get this, I weaned off the morphine twice a day; only took a week. Well, I call my pain dr. (here in TX) and ask them to call in my new Rx for Vicodin 6 times a day. I tell the nurse that the dr told me to go up to 6 a day from 4 a day as I weaned off the morphine, then to work on getting that down. Well, those jerks tell me that I am having surgery on the 17th (Holy Sh*t, Are they joking? I had no idea that I was having surgery!) and that I should be on no more than 4 a day. Pieces of crap, they are not even the one doing the surgery. That dr said I should cut down as much as possible, which is pretty subjective. I can not wait to be better and be done with jerks of pain dr's. Oh, and I hope they have really bad back pain someday and their pain dr treats them just like they treat others. (yeah, I know hateful, or as I like to call it karma)

Cindylou · #9 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 03:08 AM

Kathy, I totally get where you are coming from. "Until someone walks in our shoes............" I have been cut back to 1 percocet a day before surgery, which is just a joke. I am on the oxycontin, but honestly, I have never noticed any improvement in my pain when I went on it. I'm on a very low dose, but still. I am hanging on by a thread till surgery Monday. Today was incredible with our grandbaby being born, but after being out of the house all day, without any pain meds, no ice, I dragged my sorry ass home, threw the ice pack on my back and collapsed. Now I'm going to flop into bed. Hang in there. Soon you will be on the other side! We will have post op stories to tell, for sure!

Cindylou