September Surgery Buddies

[slewsmissy]

Hi I have been a member of this forum for awhile but usually just read and never posted besides my introduction. I became frustrated with how slowly things were progressing so I haven't been on here at all for a couple months and now I have a surgery date of September 1st. I'm getting really nervous and feel so unprepared for it!! I was hoping to find some surgery buddies for the month of September since I didn't see a thread about it yet and I could really use some moral support from people going through the same thing.

I don't even know for sure what type of supplies I will need and what's a waste of money. I have bullet to blend things and thats about it. Since I'm going to be out of work I don't really want to buy things that I really wont need or things I can get by without. I have heard that the yellow and red condiment bottles work good for drinking so I plan on getting a set of those, I have sippy cups for when my nieces are over and kids sized spoons and forks, and I have ice packs.

[kelse]

Hi slewsmissy

June/July buddies have a great thread and are really helpful. A few of us are gearing up for August surgery (myself included - 9 sleeps eek!) so you'll be able to see our experiences on the August buddies thread.

Good luck with your preparations x

[slewsmissy]

I have been working on reading the June/July thread and it's helped calm my nerves a little bit. I'm thinking I will order a set of the zip-n-squeeze bags and jaw bra. I have a couch that reclines so I plan on sleeping there because if I'm in my bed I know I will roll over. I will also pick up some breath right strips before the surgery and some more of the instant breakfast mixes. My grandma always said Ensure tasted bad so I will stick with the instant breakfast drinks because I know I like them. I also want to get some of the frozen smoothie mixes so I have them on hand and some chicken broth. I'm so worried about forgetting something.

I also found out that my Mom wont be able to help take care of me during recovery and wont be able to bring me to the hospital. She had a bowel resection in April and had a lot of complications and is still in transitional care. We live together and we had hoped she would be home and better by the time I had my surgery but it doesn't sound like she will be home and even if by some miracle she is home she wont be able to help me at all. My best friend will take off of work to bring me and stay durning surgery and my sister will probably be able to pick me up 2 days later. After that I will have to rely on my 15 year old son to take care of me and that's not a great thing. He forgets to feed his many pets so odds aren't good that he will remember to feed me! Me and the poor cats, bunnies, fish and dog will all starve to death.

[snapdresser]

Welcome, slewsmissy! Well, actually from the look of it, you've been on archwired longer than I have Regardless, congrats on FINALLY getting your surgery date! I think you're stressing out too much about having a helper. While my mom and wife were very useful, that was mostly just to remember my medication timing and fill the syringes/pour the drinks for the first 5 days or so. At that point, I was up walking around the apartment and getting my medication on my own just fine. I think having your friend there right at the beginning should be sufficient Congrats again!

Also, you and kelse may want to consider combining the August and September threads into one. That's what we did for June/July and it meant we had a large group of people, which is really nice.

[slewsmissy]

I think I'm just stressing out so much because I've never had surgery and the longest I've ever been in the hospital was when I had my son and that was only 24 hours. My friend will be there with me on my surgical date and stay until I get to my room. My son plans on coming too so he can keep her entertained while they wait and I think he is nervous about my surgery so he wants to be there to make sure everything is ok. My neighbor's husband works down in the area of the hospital I will be in so she said he can pick me up and bring me home on the 3rd. I will have to rely on my son to help me the first couple days as far as getting me my ice packs, medications, and my instant breakfast drinks. My sister lives with us too but she wont be any help at all so I'm not counting on her to do anything. Is there a way to combine the 2 threads or should I just start posting on that one.

[snapdresser]

I looked at an old thread that I made and I don't see anywhere to change the title, so the easiest way may be to PM kelse and ask them to create a new thread with both of the months in the title and then delete the old threads. That way new September people will go to the joint thread. I think kelse would probably be willing since it means more people/support.

[slewsmissy]

I'm posting in that thread for now since I'm only missing August by one day

[kelse]

Great idea about merging the threads - I have messaged the moderator to see if they can change the title but if not we'll just start another thread x

[slewsmissy]

Thank you! Then I wont be the only one on the September thread! I can't believe I'm the only one getting it done in September.

[kelse]

Hey, no reply from the moderator - I'll try another message x

[slewsmissy]

I see that they are combined into one. It's nice to have a bigger group than just me!!

[Nozzelnut]

Looking for the rest of the September Surgery Buddies thread?

Right here: New August and September buddies thread http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 15&t=48724

[slewsmissy]

Looking for the rest of the September Surgery Buddies thread?

Right here: New August and September buddies thread http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 15&t=48724

Thank you for posting the link.