Re: Re: What do I need at home after surgery?

[Guest guest]

May I ask everyone how long does one need the gadgets after surgery? One more, can everyone still turn their heads from side to side? Or is that limited? Pamela

From: linda.racine@...Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:55:10 +0000Subject: [ ] Re: What do I need at home after surgery?

I think a second grabber comes in very handy. The bathroom tissue gadget that they give out at UC is pretty amazing. Way better than the ones I'd seen previously. It's compact enough to carry around, even in a small handbag. My insurance company would not pay for the commode or even a toilet seat extender, so I had to buy one on my own.> > > From: damgalnuna <melissacurran530@...>> Subject: [ ] What do I need at home after surgery?> > Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 7:40 PM> > > Â > > > > First, a bit of news. Dr. Glazer's office called this afternoon. Due to a cancellation, he was able to reschedule my surgery for a much sooner date -- March 1st. I'm both glad that I don't have to wait for so long, and freaked out because I have quite bit that I was planning to do before the surgery.> > Now, on to my real question: What items are essential/helpful to have at home upon returning from surgery? I've hear of people refer to grabbers, but what else? Is there a comprehensive list somewhere?> > Thanks much,> > >

[Guest guest]

Pamela,

 

I'll just go through the items.

 

Toilet seat extender: About 3 months or longer. The type I had meant taking off the regular toilet seat, so we set up one of the three bathrooms as mine, and just left it there for me.

 

Shower chair: I used that for about a month, some use it longer. This all depends on how strong you are and your endurance, always better safe than sorry.

 

Grabbers: For most at least a year, I still use them but limited, mostly for things on the floor below where I can get to easily( I can get most things to three inches above the floor, below that I use a grabber), and for getting things  out of the back of a regular clothes dryer. If you can or have front load machines on pedistals, YEAH, a big help.

 

Long shoe horn: I wore slip on shoes, and learned to slip on my tennis shoes by putting the tongue through the laces, so I never used it. I'd say, probably the first year if needed.

 

Dressing stick: This was handy at first, I didn't use it after the first month, helped with getting panties on from the floor.

 

Sock aid: Probably the first year. I still use mine, and I'm 8 years out, just easier and more comfortable for me.Wiping aides: This all depends on the length of your arm versus your torso length. Look up Bottom Buddy, or toileting aides, can give you the extra reach to get your backside clean while healing and in a brace. Probably might be needed while in a brace or longer. If you have long arms and a short torso, you maybe good. Also get those wet Flushable toilet wipes by the toilet paper, or by the diapers, make sure they say flushable, they give you a bit more cleaning ability, and if you double them up, a bit more length in reach. I swear by them.

 

Aides are used to help you while you have surgical protocols in place, no bending or twisting. Beyond that, some use them for comfort and ease. One thing I'd love to do is to get an extra high toilet for one of our bathrooms( the ones like in Handicapped stalls in public bathrooms), I love those away from home, the extra height is lovely.

 

I can turn my head from side to side just fine. Only those with fusions continued into their neck would have probems with that. Twisting of the torso doesn't happen for me, I'm fused t1 to the sacrum, so I have to move my entire body to say look behind me when driving. It's doable.

 

Colorado Springs

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 6:22 AM, Pamela Hanley <campbetty@...> wrote:

 

May I ask everyone how long does one need the gadgets after surgery? One more, can everyone still turn their heads from side to side?  Or is that limited? Pamela 

From: linda.racine@...

Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:55:10 +0000Subject: [ ] Re: What do I need at home after surgery?  

I think a second grabber comes in very handy. The bathroom tissue gadget that they give out at UC is pretty amazing. Way better than the ones I'd seen previously. It's compact enough to carry around, even in a small handbag. My insurance company would not pay for the commode or even a toilet seat extender, so I had to buy one on my own.

> > > From: damgalnuna <melissacurran530@...>> Subject: [ ] What do I need at home after surgery?

> > Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 7:40 PM> > >   > > >

> First, a bit of news. Dr. Glazer's office called this afternoon. Due to a cancellation, he was able to reschedule my surgery for a much sooner date -- March 1st. I'm both glad that I don't have to wait for so long, and freaked out because I have quite bit that I was planning to do before the surgery.

> > Now, on to my real question: What items are essential/helpful to have at home upon returning from surgery? I've hear of people refer to grabbers, but what else? Is there a comprehensive list somewhere?

> > Thanks much,> > >