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Preparing for Open Heart Surgery recovery - gamer edition
So i am preparing for an open heart surgery next month and trying to setup my home as best as i can to accommodate myself during recovery. I've got alot of great ideas and things to try from this forum but there is one aspect I'm kind of stuck on.... my computer. I know, i know, its not essential or something i should be concerned with during my recovery but I'm gonna be alone with myself for several months and its rather important to me.
I have a recliner I'm prepared to use for resting and sleeping for the initial recovery time, until I'm strong enough to go to my own bed. I can use the recliner at my computer desk but it involves either:
1. Scooting the Recliner forward once seated to be in range of the desk.
2. Pulling the desk towards me to be in range of keyboard and and screen.
Both of those I am presuming will be not options once home from hospital.
Its not so much the desk/keyboard/mouse being pulled to me that is the issue, but i prefer to have the monitor screen within an arms length of me. Even with an adjustable monitor arm it would involve pushing or pulling it into place as it will be in the way for me to sit/stand.
So TLDR i need a way to move a monitor within arms reach of directly in front of me on a recliner that will still follow the push/pull/scooting restrictions
Any recommendations would be helpful.
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Hi @caketron ,
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am glad to hear you were able to find this site before your open heart surgery and that some of the information you found was helpful.
Yep. You're right...no pushing or pulling heavy objects for you for awhile.
Suggestion: Can you do a trial run before surgery?
Pretend you cannot really use your arms much at all. And you can't lift anything heavier than about 10 pounds. Can you set up your station in a way that would work for you without too much issue?
Set your recliner in position.
Put the monitor in position arms length from you and see if that works?
Have all your computer stuff within arms reach so you can just plop down in the chair, reach over and pick up the things you use, and just leave your chair where it is to get in and out.
Don't think for a second about what others think is or is not essential...this is important to you, so no judgement here!
Can you relocate your station to a better place for you to use temporarily? It's only for a short while, like a couple weeks or a month.
That's about all I can think of, but I bet others have some great ideas too!
When/where is your surgery next month?
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2 ReactionsHi @karukgirl. Thanks for the response.
I actually did a trial run which is how I discovered this particular conflict.
Unfortunately I am unable to sit in my recliner without the desk being farther away than I'd prefer without moving it. I know about the 10 lb limit (actually I was told 5), but unsure how that transfers to pushing/pulling and quantifying the amount of force required to slide my desk in front of me.
I've been seeking ideas to better move a desk forward and backwards but have been unsuccessful.
My surgery is sometime in May in Danville, PA. Finishing some tests before final scheduling, but im trying to prepare for what i can while I'm waiting.
Thank you again for your kind words and encouragement.
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1 ReactionAs a fellow computer lover, (Im more into podcast stuff) Im thinking put your monitrs on a swivil arm. The better ones are pretty light to move. I remember seeing a couple that wanted an easy way to mount there monitors in a travel trailer. So that they could swing them out from storage when they stopped for the day. The keyboard and mouse can be blue tooth and you could have a small desk maybe on the recliner. Ive seen similar ones on wheelchairs. Here are some links to what I am talking about.
go to 3.3 min point and he shows his setup https://youtu.be/UojojSCU0IY?si=mbPUo0U0HnH-SLg6
i would think thats way below 5 lbs of pull. as for the recliner desk maybe something like this similar to what they have at hospitals bedside. This one only weights 13 LBS and your only rolloing it around.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNGMZ19V/
Great plan tho to get ready before your surgery date.
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1 ReactionHi Cake, you will be fine. I had open heart surgery, came home to an empty house and took care of myself. Just don't lift anything. Get a gripper. Maybe arrange for food to be delivered like Meals on Wheels. Make some meals now and freeze them. No real pain, just hurt and sore. Good luck and let us know how you are.
Congratulations on thinking things through ahead of time! Dana and Debra made some excellent suggestions. If your surgeon or hospital is affiliated with an Occupational Therapy organization (most are) maybe request a home visit - they often have really great ideas for temporary modifications that don't necessarily cost a lot.
Good luck - and I understand completely about being "no lifting" - my surgeon 1 pound after shoulder surgery, and when I asked if it was really the limit, he laughed - said if he tells people 1 pound, they'll do 2 pounds, but if he says 2 pounds they'll try five. Now at 5 months I have a 5 pound limit and this time the PA said "this is the real limit until we check you out next month!"
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1 ReactionHello! I was having a little fun thought and thinking it was maybe a good time for a new purchase. This was the FIRST thing I thought of when I read your post. This is one of the cheaper options. Good Luck with everything, I wish you the best.
Since I am new it would not let me post a link- search this in Amazon:
IW 320 imperatorworks Brand Racing Gaming Chair, Computer Chair for Office and Home; Regular for 3 Screens or Upto 5 Monitors with Vibration massasge
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