Recovery for Singles

[Uterno 41]

Hi all.

Im just starting on the road to WLS for the 2nd time (I chickened out 5 years ago, and now I'm 20 pounds heavier...gahhh).

I'm single and live alone. My nearest family is close, just 10 miles away. And I have a few close friends. But I'm independent to a fault. I'm wondering how well other single people have managed post-surgery? Assuming no major complications, should I mostly be ok on my own?

i do have an elderly cat who may require more care than I can give initially, so I am a little worried about him.

Any advice and/or lessons-learned would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[travelergirl 142]

I live alone with my dog. I flew my sister in to help me for the first few days. It was nice to be able to turn everything over to her...picking up prescriptions, setting the reminders for pills, walking the dog (walking me [emoji6]), and she did some laundry.
I could have done it alone. The laundry would have been the hardest part.
There wasn't a lot of pain. I described it like a really intense ab workout...i was sore getting up and getting back down into seated position. But otherwise good. I went off the pain drugs after a couple of days.
I was more tired than anything.

From my experience, bending down to ground would be the tough part if you need to do something with your cat...food, litter etc...

If you have someone close who could come by for an hour once or twice a day that would have gotten me through the first few days.

Oh and my place is two stories. Stairs were no problem from the beginning.


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[Uterno 41]

Thank you Travelergirl. That helps. I like the idea of having help come in once or twice a day, especially for the kitty cat.

[northstar9148 82]

They sell this thing at Walmart, that helps you pick things up,so you don't have to pick up things

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[CoCo0273 39]

I'm so glad I found this thread. So many other threads have people who have girl or boyfriends and spouses to support them. I live alone too. I'm afraid to go out with my friends. All of them are overweight. They love to eat. I just can't be around that. I wish all of us on this thread lived near each other. I'm dying for some one on one support. I'm having a tough time right now. Can't find any Proteins that I can stomach. Going to the pureed stage and I have no idea what to do. I'm not the best cook. Please help of you can. Thanks.

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[Over and Out 29]

I know this is an older thread, but it seems to perfectly address my concern. I live alone, and am very independent. I stayed with my parents after a hip surgery and was so stressed out by the constant noise and activity that it really wore me down.

I'd really like to just get home after my bypass, and be there alone. I have a nice, quiet apartment. My parents and brother (an EMT) are a mile away. I have emergency pulls in my apartment that will bring nurses to my door from the nursing home my building is connected to. So, help is not far away. The trouble will be in convincing everyone (especially my mother) that it will be okay, so I'd love to know how you all managed if you did it alone.

Also, I have a rambunctious 70-pound dog. I'm worried about handling her after bypass surgery. Any opinions on how long it would take before I'm healed enough to not worry about being yanked around a bit?

Thanks to anyone who sees this and has ideas for me I'm worrying far ahead of time, but that's how it goes with me.

[SIPS in Seattle 345]

I know this is an older thread, but it seems to perfectly address my concern. I live alone, and am very independent. I stayed with my parents after a hip surgery and was so stressed out by the constant noise and activity that it really wore me down.
I'd really like to just get home after my bypass, and be there alone. I have a nice, quiet apartment. My parents and brother (an EMT) are a mile away. I have emergency pulls in my apartment that will bring nurses to my door from the nursing home my building is connected to. So, help is not far away. The trouble will be in convincing everyone (especially my mother) that it will be okay, so I'd love to know how you all managed if you did it alone.
Also, I have a rambunctious 70-pound dog. I'm worried about handling her after bypass surgery. Any opinions on how long it would take before I'm healed enough to not worry about being yanked around a bit?
Thanks to anyone who sees this and has ideas for me [emoji4] I'm worrying far ahead of time, but that's how it goes with me.

I don’t have any advice about the family...my personal experience with dogs is what I want to offer. 10+ years ago I had spinal fusion surgery and I was really worried about my two 80+ lb young golden retrievers hurting me. From the moment I got home, they were the most gentle amazing comfort to me. They shared our bed and not once did they hurt me. Our fur babies just seem to know when they need to take it easy with us.

I would just be extra careful for the first few weeks with walkies, get a no pull harness or something. The pulling might harm your stitches.

Good luck!

[Over and Out 29]

8 hours ago, SIPS in Seattle said:

I don’t have any advice about the family...my personal experience with dogs is what I want to offer. 10+ years ago I had spinal fusion surgery and I was really worried about my two 80+ lb young golden retrievers hurting me. From the moment I got home, they were the most gentle amazing comfort to me. They shared our bed and not once did they hurt me. Our fur babies just seem to know when they need to take it easy with us.

I would just be extra careful for the first few weeks with walkies, get a no pull harness or something. The pulling might harm your stitches.

Good luck!

Thanks! Mine is fairly good at that when we're inside but if we're outside and she sees a squirrel, or a bird, it's over. I do use a gentle leader. But I don't actually walk her because I can't walk (hip arthritis). I shuffle along hanging on to the railing to get her outside to do her business. Usually, 4-5 days a week she will go and spend 6-8 hours being a backup sheepdog on my parent's farm. Then she comes back exhausted and snuggles with me. So it's just those little in and out trips I'm worried about--and picking up after her.

[SIPS in Seattle 345]

Thanks! Mine is fairly good at that when we're inside but if we're outside and she sees a squirrel, or a bird, it's over. I do use a gentle leader. But I don't actually walk her because I can't walk (hip arthritis). I shuffle along hanging on to the railing to get her outside to do her business. Usually, 4-5 days a week she will go and spend 6-8 hours being a backup sheepdog on my parent's farm. Then she comes back exhausted and snuggles with me. So it's just those little in and out trips I'm worried about--and picking up after her.

Maybe she can stay with them for the first week or two? Those are the hardest weeks not only with like incisions but when you also feel the weakest cuz of lack of nutrients.

[melwar 0]

I didn’t take any pain meds after I left the hospital. I just kept a glass of ice Water by my bed (that’s the only thing i wanted or needed the first night) The first day home I had my dog stay at my parents but she came home the next day. I was able to bend to fill her food and water bowls. I was also able to take her on a leash outside. Occasionally she pulled me but the pain was little and manageable. Don’t be too worried.You can definitely do it on your own.

[Over and Out 29]

11 hours ago, melwar said:

I didn’t take any pain meds after I left the hospital. I just kept a glass of ice Water by my bed (that’s the only thing i wanted or needed the first night) The first day home I had my dog stay at my parents but she came home the next day. I was able to bend to fill her food and Water bowls. I was also able to take her on a leash outside. Occasionally she pulled me but the pain was little and manageable. Don’t be too worried.You can definitely do it on your own.

Thanks!