decompression surgery

[skuzma]

Hello all!

My surgery is in 23 days. I am beginning to get very nervous! I am trying to get everything ready for the hospital and preparing for my arrival back home. If anyone has any ideas of something that helped you when you had your surgery i would love to hear it! I am trying to be as prepared as possible. Also trying to pack early as i have planned something the weekend before my actual surgery. I am so thankful to have this site to be able to ask questions to people who actually know what im talking about, and better yet, know what i am experiencing. It is a relief to know I am not alone as I am sure many of you feel the same way.

Thanks for reading!
Shannon

[RheaAnn]

I had a friend of mine let me borrow her ice therapy machine. She had knee surgery and bought one. They are expensive! But I used it for 3 months for my first surgery. It cycles in ice water from an ice chest. It had to be filled up once in the am and once at night. If you can swing it, it is well worth it!

http://www.amazon.com/AliMed-Iceman%25ae-Cold-Therapy-System/dp/B003T0UNXW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347767440&sr=8-2&keywords=cold+therapy+system

[czpdx]

My surgery was last month and I'm using "Walgreens Reusable Cold Compress" with "exclusive soft touch fabric." I believe they are clay packs (they might be gel though) and the cover is blue. What I like about them is that, while they're very cold, they don't get solid/hard/crunchy so they're comfortable to lay on and you can kind of mold them to your scalp. I put the compress in a pillow case still, but I these are the best I've used for any of my surgeries.

[czpdx]

Here are a few of my post-op suggestions that I posted the other day:

- help with meals from friends or family
- shower seat (you can get one for $15-20 at a big box store -- totally worth it)
- hand-held shower sprayer, with suction attachment to hang shower head at proper height for sitting on your shower stool
- chair in the bathroom to sit on while you're brushing teeth, etc.
- gel or clay ice packs
- get streaming netflix or up your number of DVDs at a time (I love reading but can't do much of it for the first few weeks post-op)
- compile an email update list for friends and family, and have someone in charge of sending out updates (keeps your phone from ringing off the hook!)

As far as the hospital goes, I like to have:
- my toiletries kit
- pajama bottoms (they wanted me in a gown but were fine with pj bottoms or sweats)
- cell phone
- lip balm

[auntij2746]

I am having my surgery on 9/24 and this has been very helpful for me as well thank you all!  Someone on an earlier post mentioned a certain type of ice pack from Walmart I think it was gel. Does anyone remember?  June

[skuzma]

thank you everyone for your input and support! I am so greatful to have people to answer the questions that i have! especially  people that have already gone through this experience.

[RheaAnn]

I asked for my family to bring in a heating pad for me after the first day. I asked the doctor and he said it was fine, as long as it wasn't anywhere near my head. The bed was not the most comfortable, so my lower back was hurting. I used ice for my head.
I also forgot a phone charger. In ICU, I was wide awake from the meds, so I was able to text my family and let them know how I was doing when it wasn't visiting hours. They were more nervous than me!
I also found an herbal tea with natural laxatives, as the pain meds can affect your system. I was given meds there, but the tea was more effective for me. If you try it, ask before you do!

Best of luck!!
Rhea

[karenlast]

Thank you for your input.  I am having surgery in November and am stressing about it!

[creation1315]

I had no one to tell me anything all chat rooms never gave me what i really needed to know . I will tell you how my experience was. You need nothing, I took movies,cloths,books... waste of time.
Here is how went for me ..arrived at hospital early waited ( tried not to think whats ahead got thru these months of waiting by doin the scarlet Ohara ..worry about that tomorrow kinda thing) They called my name and no lie this is the hardest part of whole thing. My husband went back with me I changed into gown an a angziety came over me at that time I told the Lord that I was in his hands an let his will be done..but I am human and a little ashamed to say but told nurse she better put me out fast or I felt I was about to freak out . She must of saw it in my face for next thing I knew was out. Surgery  lasted six hours an went great .Went to intensive care for recovery. NOTE: If family members there to visit warn them that you will not look like yourself .. scared my sons 26 an 25 years old to death.. Dr told me I wold look like got hit by truck an dragged I thought he was kidding...he wasn't. I was lucky had my R.N. daughter who stayed the entire time with me. During this time she said I talked an seemed like I was there but , I wasn't. I don't remember a thing. Was there for two days to which no memory of. Moved to room an starting to be really awake an to my surprise there was no pain. Just a feeling like a cloud of heaviness so, you sleep alot. My dry mouth problem hits now really thats the first thing I noticed how dry my throat an mouth where. My senses where on high alert ..smells made me throw up  an yes you can throw up sitting up. For you dont want to lean over. Neck muscles where sore but not unbearable just made u tired. Later that day came to walk me down hall ...Well really freaked about raising up but shocked not painful .I was just paranoid waiting for it to. At this point cath removed but IV still there. Don,t get freaked if can,t pee for anesthesia is the culprett .Took about two days before I could. Dr said will take a month to get over total effects from it an he was right.  I went home two days later. In bed for two months. I slept alot healing I guess. The no food thing didnt help. But I was back to work with help by mid April an solo in May. ( I load own truck an deliver product to grocery stores I'm a vendor) I still take naps when I get home tho.   I hope this helps you and gives some comfort


r

[creation1315]

My name is Trish. I had  surgery in Jan of this year . Very  Very important!!!
Go to drug store buy Biotene moisturizing mouth spray. I was under for over six hours for surgery with tube down throat when I awoke an knew myself two days later my throat an mouth where so dry . Felt like could drink a gallon of water but but couldn't fill the moisture just made me vomit. My entire mouth peeled inside an taste buds where shot . Everything tasted like dirt. I was home for two months not eating except to take medicine for, didnt want an ulcer. A friend of my husband told him about Biotene for her husband was goin thru cancer treatments an lost taste buds an it worked for him . He bought me some that day an withend two days food was tasting better . I lost twenty lbs an all muscle tone. I dont want that to happen to you. If I would have had from beginning recovery would have been so much faster.  FYI hospital will give you mouth sponges they are worthless.

[skuzma]

thank you for the advice! i assumed that texting would probably be less straining so i had prepared for that!

[skuzma]

thanks for the advice. i honestly cant wait to feel the improvement!

[skuzma]

thank you for the advice! ive already picked a pillow and blanket and labeled them on the tags!

[skuzma]

thanks for the advice! my surgery is on october 2nd and it is going to be at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

[selmaS]

  Hi...each hospital is diff as to what u can have with u at each point of the process....until I got to a room in ICU, I had all hospital issued garb, including my socks with grippers.....but my DH was able to bring my fav pillow into ICU for me but we did have to ask.

May I ask what date ur surgery is and where u r having it done?

As I said each hospital is diff as r the NS's so they should let u know, but it was good to have a V neck oversided T to wear once in a reg room.....

and we do have a list and tips for the hospital stay in the Health Pages-

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186

[linnielou232]

My high suggestion would be personal products.  I had 4 surgeries all together and each time I had a menstrual so I always prepared myself with personal products, pillow, extra pillow cases and extra undies, toothbrush etc.  I didn't use any other products, oh and a personal item to remind me of things getting better :)  I also had a list of phone #'s for my family to contact people to let them know how surgery went.  Hope this helps.  Being nervous is normal, but just think of better day's ahead.  After surgery you are going to feel so much better.  God Bless.
Linda :)

[actressmouse]

I had my surgery on 6/20/12.  My suggestion....pre pay bills so you're not worried by that trivial nonsense.  Also, make a list of people to contact after surgery....I did this and my husband made the calls for me.  Bring your cell phone so you can text when you're up to it.  Texting was so much easier than talking on the phone...as I could end the conversation when I needed to.   I brought a pair of PJs because they're so much better to wear than the hospital gown.  I was able to wear my own stuff after some of the IVs were out and the cath was out.  

Good luck to you and I'll be thinking of you. :)

[tink_0427]

My suggestion...pack light!! I has the full on bag packed and it sat in the trunk in the car...
I ha my surgery on 7/10/12 and besides the clothes I went home in the only other thing I used that I brought was my socks with the grippies in the bottom when they let me get up and walk.
I did bring my own pillow and blanket but be careful with this because it depends on how ur incision is closed as to whether there will be any thing that may get in ur pillow after surgery.
Good luck to u and I'll keep u in my prayers!!