Roadmap to recovery?

17 years 2 months ago #3260 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Roadmap to recovery?
More power to you if you have an external pouch. I have an internal Indiana Pouch but whilst healing i had to wear an external pouch.....half of them leaked...i was allergic to the adhesive...it was vertually impossible for one person to change the damn thing..you need 3 hands. I don't know how you do it...i was so glad to get rid of it in 3 weeks. I love my Indiana Pouch....i've trained it well...took a while but it now behaves and lets me sleep thru the night and being a woman i think its kind of neat standing up to pee!!..And 20 minutes to empty...who came up with that?...Mine empties just like a normal bladder would. Anyway your father is going to need a lot of support ...he's going to be tired and grumpy and won't have much energy for at least 3 weeks. Make sure your doctor has a nurse come in as often as your insurance will allow...at least she can make sure the bag is functioning and no infection. Bowel function for me anyway was extremely painful for a long time. Get as much help for him as you can.........Pat

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

17 years 2 months ago #3034 by clur
Replied by clur on topic Roadmap to recovery?
Hi
I would be tempted to use his nap time whilst your there to make home made soups casseroles etc that you can freeze in small portions for him to use when you go home.When I was recovering I couldnt face full meals but something light and tasty was great little and often was the key.
Happy New Year and your Dad is lucky to have you.
Love Claire

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

17 years 2 months ago #3033 by Jmema
Replied by Jmema on topic Roadmap to recovery?
Blcson,
I hope you reconsider the meals on wheels as opposed to frozen dinners. Maybe your area is different but my 89 year old sister-in-law who lives next door to me has had them for 3 years. They provide lunch and dinner and the meals are very good and not full of salt and preservatives like frozen dinners. They are easily heated in the microwave in 2 minutes and a lot less expensive.
I am 72 and when I got home soups, fruit and special K cereal were my favorites.
Your Dad is fortunate to have you for his advocate. I wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Blessings....Jean

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

17 years 2 months ago #3032 by wendy
Replied by wendy on topic Roadmap to recovery?
Two weeks will make a good dent, and be invaluable for your father during his immediate recovery. You say your sister lives nearby, so if she could check in on him in the evenings, maybe? Take the offers of help that you've received (whether or not she can cook!) because it might well be needed. See if there's any possibility of a visiting nurse who can come in daily for a while...

Many people have fussy appetites after surgery, it can last a while. Fatigue is a serious problem the first month or two as well.

Yes, there will be foods that contribute to healing or distress, I'm pretty sure everyone receives information before leaving the hospital on what to avoid (dairy is one thing, I think). Getting the bowels back to work is the main issue and it can take a good month before things start getting back to 'normal'.

The uro and his assistants should be able to answer your questions about how much help will be needed as well as how to go about pursuing the best diet possible post-op. You'll need to take it all one day at a time.

Your father is lucky to have you.
Wendy

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

17 years 3 months ago #3005 by BlcSon
Replied by BlcSon on topic Roadmap to recovery?
We had a meeting with the Doctor earlier this week and I specifically asked to see the social worker (it didn't seem to be routine).  According to the social worker people's recoveries are so different that they can not predict what services he will need until he is recovering post-op.  He mentioned meals on wheels but suggested that we'd be just as well off (quality-wise) with some frozen Swansen dinners in the freezer.  We may take him up on some of the services offered once we see how he is doing.

I am also concerned that 2 weeks will not be enough.  My sister is living nearby but has indicated that she can't take a lot of time off of work.  Perhaps she can take over for a few days after my 2 weeks.  Then there is a friend of my father's who has offered to help.  This is comforting but she doesn't cook and my thinking is that good, nutritious food as well as "comfort food" will be important for recovery.  Or are people generally in too much distress to really enjoy food or care about it that much? Are there certain foods to be avoided or to be encouraged?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

17 years 3 months ago #2945 by Jmema
Replied by Jmema on topic Roadmap to recovery?
Blcson,
Does your Father have friends that can come in a check on him after you leave. As an example, if he is in the hospital only 7 days like some of us and is home 1 week, that means you will leave 13 days post op. In my opinion that is not long enough for him to be able to stay by himself. We have agencies where I live who send people in to care for you several times a day or all day if you need them. Do they have anything like that where your Dad lives. In my hospital there was a social worker who arranged all of my care once I left the hospital and would even have arranged something we have locally called "Meals on Wheels" where they deliver a days worth of food every morning. You need to get some of this stuff set up for your Dad before his surgery so he will be well cared for, for many weeks.
Jean

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: Cynthiaeddieksara.anne