We tried to think of everything we could do before leaving for Minnesota to make life easier after surgery. Below are a few tips from before and after surgery that really helped.
Before:
- Cut hair short
- Cut all nails short
- Borrow / find a shower chair from an Occupational Therapist friend
- Stretch and build your muscles as much as you can
- Do as much cardio as you can
- Order and build an adjustable bed side table
- Order two pillow wedges
- Extra gauze, Mederma scar cream, Vitamin E or Frankincense Essential Oil (These are great gifts if people ask what you need)
- Take one last long bath with bath bombs, candles and wine!
Pack for your hospital stay:
- Extra long phone charger
- Cozy / sturdy slippers
- Cozy socks
- Cozy button-up shirt and loose sweatpants for departure
- Sleep eye mask
- Cozy blanket
- Chapstick
- Face wipes / Body wet wipes
I definitely over packed for the hospital expecting to change clothes and be able to shower or use my computer, etc. I might have been able to do more if I had a family / friend in the hospital with me, but being alone I did not need any of that. I also came home with more than I brought, so I would leave room in your bag for those items when you leave.
After:
- Line medicine up in shot glasses for easy administration
- Keep gum, cough drops and chest pillow close in case of a cough or heaven forbid a sneeze…. which is absolutely awful
- Use a short, light cup with a straw and lid for drinks
- Ice Packs for chest
- Heating pad for back
- Melatonin or Sleep Gummies
- NIVEA Cocoa Butter In-Shower Lotion – Life savor because applying lotion is painful and exhausting for months
- Items to keep you sane during healing: Coloring books with gel pens, books to read or listen to on audible (I went through the Harry Potter series on Audible, so good), games on your phone, puzzles (These were actually a good workout to make myself sit up and slowly stretch to reach pieces), growing plants (I thoroughly enjoyed planting and growing baby bonsai trees), projects on your computer (I organized and labeled pictures from my phone and started creating videos, check out “Cooking in Quarantine – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSm-HqAFR5Y” and “Black Lives Matter – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGZWomF_fnk“)
