Live alone - post-op care

[SippNSotaGirl 1]

I don't have a surgery date scheduled yet, but I'm already worried about post-op. I live alone in a townhouse with tons of stairs. Will I be able to manage by myself? I don't have anyone that I can get to come and stay with me. Will I be okay?

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

You'll be fine, achy and tired but fine. I'd probably make a bed on the couch to rest on for the first 48 hours where you're close to the kitchen (to get in all those liquids you'll be sipping) and hopefully you have a bathroom downstairs....just keep in mind that pain meds can make you dizzy so be careful on the stairs. And you can't drive yourself home so you'll need to hitch a ride with someone. Good luck!

[SippNSotaGirl 1]

Thanks for the reply, Christie!! I have someone to drive me home, so I should be okay there.

Is it a realistic expectation to do this "quietly" and "privately"? I almost feel like I'm sneaking to have this done, but I can't tell my co-workers or my family. (I work at a VERY small, gossipy, company!) I don't want to hear the unsolicited suggestions of what I need to do, etc, and I don't want to be judged.

Is it possible to get through this without having to tell everyone? I'm trying to determine how I can do the schedule. There seem to be a lot of people who had the surgery on Friday and were back at work on Tuesday. I hope I can do that.

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

You know, there are people on here who have had the entire procedure and never told a soul. I don't know how they made it. I had surgery on Wed. and was back at work on Monday, the first 2 days were tough, by the third day I was pretty much good to go. I guess if your job doesn't involve a lot of physical activity (and absolutely NO lifting) you can probably make it. I will say my weight loss has been much quicker than you would expect on your average diet and by 10 days post op I had patients noticing and asking how I was doing it so have a good answer ready! I told the people closest to me before surgery then decided after that I'd just tell anyone who asks and so far I've had nothing but support from everyone, a LOT of questions from a few but still support. Do whatever is right for you, but it's nice to have someone you can confide in and who can support you with this. Good luck! You'll do great

[SippNSotaGirl 1]

Thanks, Christie!! I've told my one friend here (in MN), and two cousins back home (MS). My friend is the one who will take me home from the hospital and write the letter of support for the psych. My cousins back home also struggle with wieght issues, so they've been supportive.

I'm working on getting my exercise up to par and changing my eating habits, so if anyone here at works ask, I'll just say that. I'm the biggest person here at my company of 25 employees. It's SO embarassing! It's a multi-level building, and I can't go anywhere without the floors squealing. Hopefully, that will start to get better, too.:blushing:

[jalomum 1]

I read on here that a key-hole hernia op has the same scars and recovery time/issues etc. I have still only told 1 friend (plus her banded sister), my hubby and my 2 children.

My work place had to know something because I was going in to hospital for the op but after seeing on here about the similarities of the 2 ops I told them I was having a hernia op at short notice and that covered it.

I just had to try and sound relieved rather than jubilant when they enquired about my post op recovery progress!!

I am such a crap liar and I hate to lie, but I didn't want to explain myself to them or live with their judgements and assumptions.

I was banded in early August 2009.

[SippNSotaGirl 1]

Thanks for the hernia op suggestion -- I LOVE it!! :blushing:

[Melinco 1]

For me, I did need help the first few days, as there were times I could NOT get off the couch. I just hurt too much in my abdomen area. I'd have my hubby gently help me scoot to the edge of the couch, then I'd hold both of his hands as I'd use my legs to lift me up. Even the first day or so getting off the toilet I needed his assistance. He also sat right outside the shower as I took my first couple of showers, which I did sitting down on a step stool covered with a towel (I have a hand held shower wand).

Plus, you just never know how you're goign to respond to the anesthesia, so it doesn't hurt to have someone there. Hopefully your friend can perhaps help you.

Good luck!

[AlienBandit 10]

I live by myself and only told a co worker at each of my schools in case anything medically went wrong and I needed a Korean translater. It was interesting the first few days trying to do everything by myself. My stomach was sore ( felt like I did a million sit ups) and it hurt if I moved my stomach too much( ie bumps on the road in a car hurt when I took a taxi). Stairs arent too bad. It is hard to reach down though. I had to train my dogs to run up some stairs and then jump to me so I wouldnt have to bend down so much ( their just little 4 lb each dogs). I slept in my own bed and luckily it is right next to my bedroom door because I needed to use the door to pull on to get up out of bed.

I didnt tell anyone else. I have no family here so it wasnt hard keeping it from them, I didnt even tell any of my friends ( just avoided them the first week post op). It really isnt that hard living alone post op you just need to take it slow.