Connect
Colectomy: items to consider getting for hospital and home recovery
[My Laparoscopic Colectomy Low Anterior Resection is January 7th]
I have been picking up ideas of things to have at the hospital and at home during recovery. Add to the list in the comments if you have additional items not shown here:
+ ABDOMINAL BINDERS: I heard to consider shorter ones if you're smaller.
+ NIGHT GOWNS: Yes, even for guys. They make them. It avoids the issue of trying to get oversized PJs so the waste band doesn't hurt. And they recommend getting ones that completely buttons down the front for ease of putting on as well as letting Doc's/Nurses check the abdomen without lifting the whole thing up.
+ PJs: For times when you want actual pants on, but I've heard oversized ones help keeping them from being too tight with a swollen abdomen as well as wearing them high. High waisted underwear is an idea too, for the same reason.
+ SLIPPERS: Slip-On type because you can't bend down.
+ HERBAL TEAS: Take them to the hospital. Fennel helps with digestive gas. Peppermint helps restart bowel functions and with CO2 gas from a laparoscopic surgery that can make its way to your shoulders. And good old Diverticulitis Tea that has peppermint plus a bunch of others that do various things. (I always have Calming Blend brand on hand anyway).
+ SOFT/FLEXIBLE ICE PACKS: The hospital will have them. Get some for home.
+ ADULT WIPES
+ DIAPER RASH CREAM: A friend recommended - Boudreaux's Butt Paste Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Cream
+ MOUTH SPRAYS: CariFree Spray helps the pH level in your mouth for cavities and bad bacteria. Biotene Dry Mouth and Fresh Breath Moisturizing Spray helps moisten your mouth from the anesthesia and dry hospital air. TheraBreath Dry Mouth Oral Spray is a popular retail choice that uses enzymes to stimulate saliva which helps fight bacteria.
+ BRACING PILLOW: Small, firm pillow to hold against your abdomen when you have to cough or sneeze to give resistance and keep your insides from moving around.
+ GRABBER: To grab things that are too high up, too low down, or too far away to grab by hand.
+ DISPOSABLE BED PADS: Like the ones they put on the beds at the hospital. Just in case you don't always have control of BMs. That way you can save washing sheets frequently.
+ BIDET: I got one off of Amazon for under $40. I haven't received it yet but they're pretty easy to install.
+ 10 FT CHARGE CORDS: To keep your phone charged. The closest outlet to your hospital bed may be too far away for a 6 ft cord.
+ BED EXIT ASSIST IDEAS:
--- A BED RAIL was recommended.
--- POWERED ADJUSTABLE BED. Pricey but I've seen them for as low as $300 and they're nice to have anyway. I have one so a bed rail isn't as important and won't work. But I ordered a...
--- BED LADDER ASSIST: Picture nylon straps made into a ladder with 1 end tied to the foot of the bed and the other within reach so you can "climb" the ladder with your arms to help sit up.
--- FREE: Roll on your side to get out of bed - some say they did fine rolling on their side and didn't need any of this to get out of bed.
+ WEDGE PILLOW: On a non-adjustable bed they help lie/sleep upright a bit so you lessen the angle at your hips to lessen the abdomen stretch when laying flat.
+ RECLINER / POWERED RECLINER / POWERED LIFT-RECLINER: I considered a Lift Recliner but with the adjustable bed I'm not going to get one.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
@heather0725 Hi Heather. I was wanting to ask about your procedure and how it went. They waant to remove my colon but I am puttinmg it off until I have talked to some people that have had it done. I am curious about the after part. Anything you could tell me would ne helpful. I hope it was a successful sugery!
@amybond2241 Hey Amy! It was honestly life changing! I feel so much better, able to eat, play with my kids and have a good quality of life again!
@heather0725 How was the after surgery portion? What should I expect? Thanks 🙂 I am so glad that your surgery worked and that you have your life back. I can only imagine what that is like.
@amybond2241 recovery was rough. Definitely my most difficult one out my numerous surgeries, but worth it in the end in my opinion
@bc321 Thank you so much for your feedback!
When I took Mirilax early on it caused bleeding that lasted for about a week, maybe 2.
I took a Colace about 4 days ago and I had spasms with Phlegm every 15 to 30 minutes.
I'm not going normally but I am eating a good diet with plenty of protein and a smoothie with prunes every morning so I was hoping that would suffice.
Do you pay for your AI?
I usually ask Google and their AI does not save the info and too often tells me to go straight to the ER.
Just picked up Cronometer.
Do I understand correctly that you take 1/2 to 3/4 of a dose of Miralax when needed?
Thank you again so much for your feedback!
@bc321 You might be younger than I am. I am 76 and I have always recovered well. I think my age is affecting my situation and ability to heal more quickly.
@nancyclare Yes, I use 1/2 to 3/4 doses of mirilax. I use Gemini AI (which is Google. https://gemini.google.com/app ). I don't pay for it. There is a limit to how much historical data it will save (text, pictures, etc) so you may have to remind it about some of your past information in that saved chat. You can also set rules. 2 of mine are: 1) I have it tell me what resources it used for the response. (Note that I also often told it in my chat to use reputable medical sources for diverticulitis and sigmoidectomy surgery like Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins). 2) Tell me the latest date and time of the data memory window it currently can see in the saved chat. Then I knew how far back it had data saved for the current chat. Hope that makes sense. And note that when I say "saved chat" I mean that once you start any chat you can "Pin it", and it will pin it to the top of your chat history listed on the left side of the screen. good luck.
@nancyclare Yes, I'm 57. It's part of the reason I decided to do it now vs wait and this may serve as a warning to others that if you're eventually going to have to have a sigmoidectomy, it is better to do it sooner vs later - and age/better recovery is just one of the reasons to consider that. Best of luck in your recovery!