Tips for Left Handed Bandsters
Well, first of all, it never occurred to me to ask my Dr to place my port on the right side. She always does the left side so I figured go with what is normal for her. That could have been a mistake.
In the hospital:
Right hand/arm:
- IV catheter- if you're left handed they place your IV catheter on your right hand. Mine was on the back of my hand, not up towards the wrist.
- the oxygen (pulse oximeter?) thing was taped to my 2nd finger on the right hand.
Left hand/arm:
- blood pressure cuff on upper arm (all night!!)
Port/incisions:
Left side: most painful side, port site, excrutiating pain on the left side when raising up, lying down, trying to use left arm to prop or move myself
Rigt side: fine, almost no pain, wouldn't even know I had surgery on that side of my body, can barely feel where incision is; easy to use right arm to prop or move or pull myself up
So here's the lefty dilemma: one of the worst pains I had was trying to wipe after going to the bathroom. Of course I use my left hand normally but bending over that way was terrible pain! I had no choice but to use my right hand (not an easy task on a normal day!!). It was hard to lean back on teh seat since they have that cup right there to measure all your output....so I learned how to stand/crouch and wipe with my right hand.
Remember that IV cath & thing taped to my finger all on that right hand? Uh huh, that added to the difficulty level. And I was peeing like every 2 hrs at least.
And during that time & ever since the left side & shoulder are still the most painful. If the port was placed on the right side would all of these issues be resolved? Woudl I still have left shoulder pain? Should I have asked for the IV cath & oxygen thing to be put on my left hand?
Just somethign to think about if you happen to be reading all this before your surgery :thumbup:
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