Will I need help when I come home from the hospital? - ThinnerTimes

sherry7 · 03-12-2008, 09:25 PM

I thought I'd pose this question to those of you who have "been there and done that" already.

I am being told that I will probably be in the hospital for 2 days for my lap RNY. Will I need someone to be with me at home for the first few days after I get out?

Janelle · 03-12-2008, 09:51 PM

I could pretty much take care of myself. I did have my sister come over to empty my J-P drain because it grossed me out. She also bandaged the site because it was a bit difficult for me to reach. Beyond that, I was good to go it alone.

Oh, make sure you have done some shopping before hand though. I couldn't drive for several days, and obviously ordering pizza for dinner is out!

sherry7 · 03-12-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janelle

I could pretty much take care of myself. I did have my sister come over to empty my J-P drain because it grossed me out. She also bandaged the site because it was a bit difficult for me to reach. Beyond that, I was good to go it alone.

Oh, make sure you have done some shopping before hand though. I couldn't drive for several days, and obviously ordering pizza for dinner is out!

J-P Drain? What in the heck is that? Does everyone have a drain? How do you sleep with something like that sticking out of your body? OMG, this is freaking me out.

Will definitely do the shopping thing...I just got my Nutrition Guideline book today from the NUT, and I've been reading over it. That hardest part will probably be keeping my teenage son (aka the human garbage disposal) from eating it as fast as I can buy it, lol. Gosh, I wish I had his metabolism.

Jeanie · 03-12-2008, 10:13 PM

I needed help because I was in A LOT of pain and it hurt to do anything. I also had LAP of course I had never had anything major like this before, so that could have been part of the problem.

janine · 03-13-2008, 12:19 AM

I had the lap rny...
When I came home I was more scared than needed help. I wanted my dh or someone to be here just in case I fell or slipped or something. I didn't want to walk alone or shower without knowing someone was there in case something should happen. Now looking back I could and would have been fine alone. I slept most of the time. I did need someone to pick up my meds and get me stuff from the store, though I could have prepaired ahead of time if I had known I was going to be alone. It was just nice knowing someone else was here with me though. oh... no j.p. drain here, I'm so glad I didn't need one of those, not everyone gets them... ask your doc.

Princess · 03-13-2008, 07:54 AM

I had open RNY, and although I had my mother visiting from the UK for a month I could have managed just fine on my own. The only thing she helped with was getting the laundry in and out of the machines as mine are quite low and I couldn't do it comfortably for the first week. She also vaccumed as I like it done every couple of days and that was not a good thing to try right out of surgery. Everyone is different and has a different pain threshold I think that needs to be taken into consideration too!

rappaport · 03-13-2008, 07:59 AM

Other than needing to wiped after a bowel movement, I could have gotten along by myself, but, I was pampered and don't have any problem admitting that I enjoyed every minute of it.

spacegos · 03-13-2008, 08:04 AM

My wife took 4 days off of work to be with me but it basically was just her and I watching tv together and going to the mall to go shopping. She would get me a drink if she was going into the kitchen or help me off of our incredible sinking couch that seems to pull you into a new galaxy everytime you sit down on it. Other than that I've done everything myself. a J-P drain's full name is Jackson-Pratt drain. It's just a pump that is connected to the stomach because as my surgeon explained, some people have a slower draining stomach and need this to help out. I didn't need one. I was worried that I would wake up and find one in my side. They said they have to stay in for 6 weeks post op and then they can come out. Hope that helps on the J-P drain.

sherry7 · 03-13-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacegos

...They said they have to stay in for 6 weeks post op and then they can come out. Hope that helps on the J-P drain.

6 weeks? Yikes!

How in the world do you go back to work with a drain sticking out of you? Does everyone need to have it in that long, or does it depend on your starting weight? More info please!

Amandazon247 · 03-13-2008, 10:41 AM

I had to have a drain when they took my galbladder out ... but they took it out before I went home... Its wasnt too bad.