Wayne's World Wife Questions

Hello Patty,

I had a private room and my wife was planning to stay with me. That *was* the plan. After the first night of trying to sleep in this funky little pull-out chair she opted out and ended up staying in a hotel. And I was glad. The hospital was noisy, even at night, and (at least USC/Norris) isn't really set up for company.

Don't get me wrong, I was delighted to be with her in the daytime, but at night I didn't really miss her too much. I was glad she was in a comfortable room and could get some sleep, even if I couldn't.

When Wayne walks down the hall he's also going to be pulling a "christmas tree" of IV tubes and monitors. I never thought twice about wearing the hospital-issue gown. If he is more comfortable with a shawl, Rosemary is right, Penny's would be a good place.

Don't forget personal items--toothbrush, shampoo, razor, shaving cream. They won't necessarily have them there.

Here's something I wrote a while back about surviving hospital boredom:
blcforum.com/smf/index.php/topic,1211.0.html

There is information about Advance Directives on that link too.

I'm thinking of you guys...

Zach

Afterthought--I'm not too sure about Wayne's lounging pants. He's not going to feel like moving around a whole lot, and the nurses are going to need to check him often. Pulling down those pants is not going to be comfortable. Those gowns are designed the way they are--open--for a reason. Plus, he is going to have tubes and a catheter attached to him--I'm not sure he can even wear the pants.

An afterthought...

A small crocheted or heavy flannel afghan might do just as well....JC Penney's or Walmart will probably have something that could work. I guess you don't want it to be too bulky....

Rosemary

Patty,

Dang, where is a shawl when you need one? Seriously, a lot of churches have these ministries going on where the women knit shawls for cancer patients. My own church has this ministry and it is wonderful. Maybe you could ask a nurse if one of the local churches has such a ministry.... of course she might look at you like ???

According to the UNC Urological Surgery Unit, they have this same surgery down to 3 1/2 hours. The technicalities have been very fine tuned. I think this is a good sign, or at least I choose to see it that way.

I do hope you can get that private room.

Good luck,
Rosemary

They told us yesterday that if Wayne is put in a semi-private room, that I CAN NOT stay with him!!! Ok, Wayne and I started dating when I was 15 and he was 17. We have been together forever! I do not want to be away from him. Does anyone know any tricks to getting a private room?

They also said that surgery is going to take only about 3 and half hours? Is that true? That seems like an awful short time to do all that they need to do to my husband!

I bought Wayne a robe to wear for those hospital walks and some comfy lounge pants. I just read somewhere that you should bring a shaw? Where do I get a shaw for a man? What did you guys wear for your hospital walkabouts?

Thanks for your help!
Patty