preparing for recovery

[rudme]

I am scheduled for surgery in the beginning of May to remove a large cyst.  Although I haven't had my appointment with the surgeon yet, I am sure the surgery will be a laparotomy.  I would like to be prepared as possible for my recovery and would love to hear any ideas from those of you who have been through it.  What should I have ready?  From reading past posts I'm planning to be prepared with lots of pillows, a heating pad, and some gas-x.  Anything else?  Any tips that make for a smooth recovery?  Thanks!

[rudme]

Thanks for the ideas.  My bedroom is upstairs, so after hearing your advice, I think I will plan to stay at my parents' house for a little while after surgery.  I'm a single parent who has a hard time asking for help, so it would probably be bad news to stay at home with stairs.  

[bex1979]

I also recommend lots of pillows or something to prop you up in bed, I found it very difficult to lye down flat in bed after I had my laporotomy & had to get my partner to lift me in and out of bed for about a week after I got out of hospital.  

On the bowel front, I drank prune juice to help get things moving again, it worked quite well for me :)


Best of luck for your sugery!

[fungirl1011]

You may want to consider getting some stretchy pants/shorts to wear for a few weeks until the swelling goes down.  The first few days I come home, I find it much easier to sleep in a recliner rather than try to lie flat in the bed.  If at all possible, try to make meals ahead of time and freeze them so all you have to do is pull it out of the freezer and put it in the oven.  Will you be having help when you get home?  If your bedroom is upstairs, you may want to make sure that anything you need will be on the first floor.  You will not want to be going up and down stairs for a few weeks.  Also, you will not want to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.  If you like to read or watch movies, go to the library or video store and get some books/movies to look at while your recover.  It will help you relax and get the rest you need. To me the most important thing you will need to do is make sure that you stay on top of your pain pills and get plenty of rest.  If you let the pain get out of control, it is really hard to get it back under control.  Don't try to be a hero and just take the pain.  It is a BIG mistake, trust me, I know :-)  LOL   When you are feeling up to it, start walking around your house a few times a day.  This will help get rid of the gas.  Also, make sure you drink plenty of liquids and take a stool softner.  This will help you when you have your first bowel movement after surgery.  Good luck and please let us know how it goes with the surgeon.