Getting Sleeved Friday & I have silly questions.

I know we are all different, but I bought some comfy pajamas and wore those in the hospital, then I just brought sweats and a t-shirt (with my bra) home. I didn't have any problems with clothes at all. My incisions were in my upper abdomen area, so nothing bothered it like I thought!!

I brought everything and probably too much. I mostly watched TV and texted people, but I really didn't want to play on my phone like I thought. Music would have been nice to fall asleep to?

I was not woozy at ALL! They gave me meds right after I woke up cause I was dry heaving from the anasthesia, but I figured that would happen. That knocked me out until about 3pm. After about 4 I wanted OUT OF BED! I didn't want to lay there anymore but they made me   But that's ok - they didn't get it. But once I was up (about 10pm) I was completely fine, not woozy at all. And that continued on throughout the week. I never had a problem, but I also didn't take hardly any meds. So I don't know if I will help you or not. 

I didn't spend ANY time in bed at home. I would wake up, go drink something, sit on the couch for an hour or so, then I wanted OUT! So we would get ready and go somewhere to walk, like the grocery store. Then we would come home and I would relax on the couch most of the day, getting up to hang in the kitchen with my mom, or go potty. But again, I was not on pain meds that much.

I was told I didn't have to be in bed if I didn't want to, so I wasn't. And I NEVER needed help getting up, getting out of a car, anything. I just took my time rolling, turning, etc. to get myself up.

I think you are asking all the right questions. Don't worry. It wasn't as unexpected as I thought it would be. Just listen to your body (sounds corny) but true. Go for short bits and lay down. If you want to go longer, do it by 15 minute intervals. Your body will tell you when it wants to walk or stand and when it wants to sit and relax. I did fine relaxing in the am and pm and going for about 2-3 hours inbetween. Especially since most of it was riding in a car. Does that makes sense?!?

Hope that helps! Sorry for the long post!  

Very excited for you! It will be so much easier then you think!! 

This makes LOTS of sense.  It's very helpful. Thank you!

What did you wear home from the hospital?  I'm assuming anything like jeans that has a button waist is a problem, since my tummy will be sore? Sweat pants and a baggy sweatshirt, no bra (the one time in my life I've been thankful for my tiny boobs).

What did you wish you had taken with you that you didn't even think of until you wanted it? Neck pillow, colorful throw to put over the blankets (hospital rooms are so bland)

How woozy were you at the hospital afterward?  Able to read, listen to iPod, or just totally in a haze? I had early morning surgery. Was mildly dazy that day, but fine the nex.

Once you were home, how much time did you spend in bed? How much time were you supposed to spend in bed? I didn't (and wasn't supposed to) spend much time in bed. My surgeon wanted us up and moving around, if slowly and gingerly, because lack of moving around can cause clots post-op. We weren't supposed to sit or lay in one position more than 20 minutes except overnight.

Did you need help getting in and out of bed? No. At the hospital they taught us how to get out of bed (I got a stuffed BariBear to hold to my stomach for support) about 4 hours after surgery and after that we got ourselves up and down.

What questions am I forgetting to ask?

Colorful throw--good idea. I like that.

This is all really helpful. 

In the hospital I wore yoga pants and a robe under my hospital gown since I was walking so much. I wore a sweat suit and loose t-shirt home from the hospital.  I also wore a sports bra instead of an underwire since it was more comfortable.  

I had my iphone so I could check online and read.  Didn't use it a whole lot but was glad to have it.  I didn't use my computer at all. I was glad for chapstick, lotion, and my own protein powder (I added it to the Glucerna they gave me).

I was pretty for the rest of my day from the surgery but was up for vistitors and company the second day.  I never felt woozy or loopy.  My pain was nicely managed and I couldn't even tell I was doped up. 

I took one nap a day but was able to move around without much trouble.  I was walking the dog around the block the day I got home, up and down stairs, making my own meals etc...  I did get tired really quickly but no pain.

Good luck!

Nicely managed pain--now that's something to hope for!

Thanks for the feedback and help.

I wore to the hospital what I wore home on discharge (sweats and a tshirt/same outfit).  You honestly need very little.  One thing I found extremely helpful was Biotene moisturizing mouth spray.  Purchased at Walmart.  My mouth was terribly dry from surgery and I wasn't able to do more than sip (obviously).  This item was a MUST for me.  Good luck!

Jennifer

What did you wear home from the hospital?  I'm assuming anything like jeans that has a button waist is a problem, since my tummy will be sore?

I wore home fuzzy pajama pants and one of my husband's big t-shirts and my hair in a ponytail. No glamour for me!  It was all about being comfy.  


What did you wish you had taken with you that you didn't even think of until you wanted it?

Nothing really.  I honestly slept most of the time -- or walked.  I took my Android tablet and never used it.  I did use my cell phone and I found that having my charger AND a long extension cord was a lifesaver. I also was glad I brought a ponytail holder to keep my hair out of my face. I took a lot of things I didn't need though, like slippers (just wore the hospital footies), chapstick - never got around to digging it out, Gas-X strips (wasn't allowed to use them), extra clothes (stayed in the hospital gown), makeup (never put it on).  


How woozy were you at the hospital afterward?  Able to read, listen to iPod, or just totally in a haze?

I was just tired, not really woozy.  I was woken up every few hours (even at night) for vital signs and so I never really felt rested.  I did read the newspaper, was on Facebook on my phone, and texted my kids a lot.


Once you were home, how much time did you spend in bed? How much time were you supposed to spend in bed?

I came home on a Thursday night.  I took two naps on Friday, one after I got the kids off to school and one in the afternoon.  But I was also able to walk around, make my own "meals", shower, and watch a little TV.


Did you need help getting in and out of bed?

No.  I was sore, but it wasn't terrible.  It was actually easier to get up and down by myself than with help.  It did hurt some to get in and out of bed for the first few days, but it was nothing terrible.  In fact, I quit taking my pain medicine once I got home since it didn't seem to make much difference.  I did have a little pillow the hospital volunteers gave me that helped. But it was probably 4-5 days before I could sleep comfortably on my side.  At two weeks out, though, it as if the surgery never happened.  


What questions am I forgetting to ask?

I can't think of anything.  


EDIT:  I was very glad I brought several pairs of panties.  I was allowed to wear them after I was out of surgery and I felt much better having them on.

I'm 8 days out - here's my advice:

Don't bring cute pjs or gowns, my drain leaked several times and I had to change johnnies all the time.

Bring your own pillow definitely!

Bring more than 1 Chapstick (as someone told me, they roll off the table and get taken away on food trays. Chapstick is a lifesaver! All that Gas X and cough drops I brought with me weren't allowed anyway.

I played on my iPhone and was glad to have a charger long enough for me to get it.

It's tender to get up in the hospital plus all the tubes and wires, and at home just roll super slow.

I wore big sweats and a big tshirt with one of those "ahh bras". It's thin and no real support but it kept my boobs off that one high incision. I even wear it around the house during my recovery sometimes just because its comfortable. I also wore my regular panties but kind of rolled the front down a little so it wouldn't rest on my incisions .

I was in bed but up and down the first couple days trying to get the rest I missed in the hospital -no rest there with those hardcore nurses waking you up every 2 hours. That was torture!

Good luck don't bring too much you have to drag it all home and you totally won't feel like it.

I was only in the hospital for 24 hours, and it's only a half hour from my house, so if I'd forgotten anything, it could have been brought to me.

Wear - a denim empire waist dress.  I wore it to the hospital and back again.  I used the hospital gown for the brief time I was in the hospital.

I brought minimal stuff with me.  The hospital provided basic toiletries.  The only thing a really needed - which they also provided - was a throat spray.  My sore throat bothered me more than any of the surgery sites!

I was hazy.  I believe in pain meds and I pushed the button every chance I got, so most of the time I was drifting in and out of sleep.  I wasn't interested in TV, ipod, reading or anything else - just my nice drug-induced fog.

I had surgery at 11am on Thursday and was out of bed by that evening, but only for bathroom runs.  The next morning, I was up and walking.  Once home, I spent a good deal of time for the first few days drowsing in bed, just getting up regularly to walk, take care of hygiene, get my protein drinks and the like.  By the fifth day after surgery, I drove myself and my sister to my post-op appointment, then got my sister to the airport and went and did some shopping - then went back to bed!

Nope, I didn't need help in and out of bed.  I was sleeping comfortably on my side in the recovery room, and would just take my time to get myself into position to stand, making sure I had something to steady myself on.