As so many of us have had surgery I wonder if it might be an idea to post any practical ideas for coping when you get home after surgery? Not everyone has a partner which can make things very difficult and several people have come on site recently who are facing surgery. Anyway my two pennyworth is as follows:
1. If you can possibly afford it buy an adjustable bed.
Invaluable both short and long term as we cannot safely lie flat having lost the sphicter muscle and its such a help when recovering from the actual operation.
2. A foam mattress or a really good mattress topper. (nb. the foam mattress can get warm so it depends on your individual heating system!)
3. A shower.
4. One of those water heaters which look like a kettle but aren't. They dispense a cup at a time and you just need to fill occassionally.
Those are my top 4 and I still use all of them even 18 months on.
Best wishes,
Charlie.
Written by
Charlie36
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Hi Charlie - yes a very good idea - would have been useful for us before my partner had his surgery.
1)Regarding the adjustable bed - I was able to order a hospital bed and pressure mattress through our district nurses - we may well in time have to buy one but will not have to go to that expense until we are sure it is needed long term.
2) A good blender to puree food, makes soups and smoothies
3) Lots of little pots so you (or someone else !) can cook up batches and freeze them
4) Take a pillow in the car for the journey home from hospital and when you start going out - really helped my partner to hold it to his tummy area and cushion any shocks from the road.
I am sure there are more and will add as they come to mind.
Microwave heat pad worked wonders with my stomach cramps.
Pillow when in car also was a good idea that worked, used it for a good 3 or 4 weeks after surgery.
There are foam wedges which fit under the bed pillows, or a brick or 2 under the feet at the head of the bed, cheaper than buying an ajustable bed (I am down to 3 pillows only now at 5yrs out)
Rub E45 into scars.
Massage shoulder once a day, use heat pad if painfull or stiff.
Keeping a diary of foods which caused problems.
Watch out for dairy, sugar, spices, some fruits and bread.
Drink an hour before and after eating.
If eating out:
With partner, Go large, ask for two plates and share.
Ask for childs meal.
Starter and pud only.
There are so many tips about, some may work for you better than others.
Best regards,
Dave C
All great ideas! I would add:
1 Visit opa.org.uk and download a copy of 'Life After Surgery'
2 Use the OPA helpline 0121 704 9860, have a chat with Dawn about any problems, and ask her to send you a Recipe Book
Another "tip"! I couldn't cope with the taste of the perscribed nutritional drinks (some are whey based) but found that making up diet powder drinks with whole milk gave 300-350 cals, all the vitamins and proteins and tasted far superior. Particularly liked the asda brand of cafe coffee flavour. I used these as a supplement (not in place of meals) to gain weight.
If you do buy an adjustable bed (which I recommend) tell the supplier of your clinical need and you will get it VAT free,just self certify, also I find that a spare pillow under my knees helps when sleeping on my back, Avoid Bread (it swells) it will deprive you of valuable space!! Two years down the line and I am eating fairly normally, just avoid late meals and spice.......No more "Ruby Murrys" after a couple of beers, Keep positive add a new goal each day, and always "Look for the Good"
Heat pads and wheat bags really help with stomach cramps.
Adjustable bed was a god send unlike just raising the head of the bed you can raise your feet too which helps prevent you slipping down the bed, i brought mine of ebay very pleased with it, but expensive.
Be careful of those protein drinks they gave me dumping syndrome shame i wasnt warned before hand the fruit one which i had as i developed dairy intollerance was awful to drink then made me v ill.
I bought mine via one of the most common bed suppliers possibly in the UK. I am on my own so got a double with a double mattress. The remote is linked by a cable rather than infared. Superb deep sprung mattress with a 2" foam top. Total cost was £750 which I though was reasonable given the size. No infra red, no massage, heat etc. but I would not be without it and miss it terribly when I go away. Some of the "specialist" ones come in at thousands Pays to shop around.
1) Get on with your life. You have found out how short it could have been, don't waste time "in mourning" for the bits that have been removed or worry about the things that may or may not happen in the future.
2) this tip is for pre-op - exercise, get your self 'match' for your operation. I kept on exercising during my recovery in ICU even managed to lift myself (I've got no legs) out of bed while attached to everything. The keeping moving in ICU is painful However, from my own experiences it stops a lot of the long term post op aches and pain a lot of people suffer.
I have found a V shaped pillow very good. I sleep with my shoulder in the upside down V. My bed is an adjustable one. The pillow is useful when you go away. I can eat bread best as toast.
You can also get a foam bed wedge approx £20 saves buying bed if money a bit tight! It was beneficial to me but dont need it now but still need to prop up body so just use 3 firm pillows and triangle pillow and a neck pillow (what you can use on flights) and thats ample.
We did get an electric bed for my husband, VAT-free, though we mourned the loss of our old bed and the loss of our previous closeness. He really values it and sleeps fine in a semi-sitting position.
When we go away we take "wedgie" the reflux pillow and he sleeps with head and shoulders on a lot of pillows and "wedgie" reversed to stop his bottom slipping down. He says it works fine.
We got a Repose single inflatable mattress through our district nurse. It straps around the main mattress and under a fitted sheet, easy to take when staying away from home. Very comfortable.
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advice please for Creon 
Diabetes and oesophagectomy 
GERD and nightly heartburn 
nausea and sugar dips
Post op sleeping position 
