RE:what to expect after surgery

[Guest guest]

If you can get help the first week, take it. You will be tired, and need to recover. It is not that it is impossible, but your procedure could last over 4 hours, and looking after an active baby could be very hard on you. You may also be on sedation, so do take the help that is offered. YOu may only need it for a few days.

Lynn

-- RE:what to expect after surgery

Hello,I've been a lurker for awhile and have found all your comments very helpful.I am scheduled for surgery to remove the cholesteatoma from my right earnext week (Jan 7th) and I'm wondering if I am going to be able to care formy 15 month old daughter after surgery. My husband works from home so I canalways get his help but he is also very busy with a project due the end ofthe month. Friends have offered to help but I'm not sure I need to takethem up on it or not. I would love suggestions. The surgeon says I'll befine but what does a surgeon really know about handling a 15 month old allday. What do you think? Do I need someone to help me out the first week?

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I've been a lurker for awhile and have found all your comments very helpful.

I am scheduled for surgery to remove the cholesteatoma from my right ear

next week (Jan 7th) and I'm wondering if I am going to be able to care for

my 15 month old daughter after surgery. My husband works from home so I can

always get his help but he is also very busy with a project due the end of

the month. Friends have offered to help but I'm not sure I need to take

them up on it or not. I would love suggestions. The surgeon says I'll be

fine but what does a surgeon really know about handling a 15 month old all

day. What do you think? Do I need someone to help me out the first week?

[Guest guest]

I second that- Ttake all the help you can get- I've never had the surgury, (not yet anyway- We'll have to wait and see what "The Crooner" says...) but it sounds like there is a lot of resting and sleeping involved afterwards, and you can't lift much either.. I know that people usually love to help out with a baby in situations like this.. I think it would be quite a bit for you to take full responsiblility after surgury you will be groggy and on pain killers from what I have heard.

Again, I have not had the surgury but I would take any help you can get, you will be healing from surgury and I doubt you will feel your "normal" self right afterwards- That is my 2 (thousand) cents.

-

Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:

If you can get help the first week, take it. You will be tired, and need to recover. It is not that it is impossible, but your procedure could last over 4 hours, and looking after an active baby could be very hard on you. You may also be on sedation, so do take the help that is offered. YOu may only need it for a few days.

Lynn

-- RE:what to expect after surgery

Hello,I've been a lurker for awhile and have found all your comments very helpful.I am scheduled for surgery to remove the cholesteatoma from my right earnext week (Jan 7th) and I'm wondering if I am going to be able to care formy 15 month old daughter after surgery. My husband works from home so I canalways get his help but he is also very busy with a project due the end ofthe month. Friends have offered to help but I'm not sure I need to takethem up on it or not. I would love suggestions. The surgeon says I'll befine but what does a surgeon really know about handling a 15 month old allday. What do you think? Do I need someone to help me out the first week?

[Guest guest]

,

I think I would ask for help the first week. I had surgery and don't

have a 15 months old, mine are a little older but I think it might be

a little difficult lifting her. I was told " no bending or lifting. I

wasn't really tired during the day and didn't take painkillers, but i

felt my upper body movement, neck and head were somewhat limited. I

had a radial mastoidectomy.Take the help if you can!!

LuLu

[Guest guest]

Lurker here also... I have my first surgery on the 7th also.. not

sure what time yet, I have to call on Monday to find out when I need

to show up on Tuesday. I just got back from a pre-op visit and asked

about what I could expect afterwards. I think it depends on how

extensive the surgery is, and in my case he will not know how much he

has to do until he actually gets into the surgery. I was given three

prescriptions an anti-nausea drug, an anti-biotic, and lortab for

pain. The day after surgery I will need to go back to get the

bandages, packing removed. The doc says I would be able to go back

to work two days after surgery. I guess I will just have to wait and

see. I've scheduled to be off two days after the operation (3 days

total), even though the doc says I could go back to work 1 day sooner.

I would think that if I took the lortab I wouldn't be able to go to

work, and I don't know how your doc works w/ pain medication, but

you'd probably want some help if you're sitting around in a drugged

stupor.

[Guest guest]

I agree, if you have help available take it.

Since everyone's experience is different you won't really know how

you'll feel until the surgery. But lining up friends to help out is a

good idea, you can always call them and cancel if you're feeling fine.

My first surgery, I was dizzy then had pain (consequently,

painkillers) for a few days.

Now, I have a 21 month old, and when I have surgery this time my in-

laws are coming to town to take care of him. I'm sure I won't be able

to keep up with him. My husband works a lot, and will have his hands

full when he is off taking care of me.

Good luck! Christa