Best Of

Holy cow girl!  Lots of questions.  If you go to the thread about preparing for surgery, surgery and postop care, a lot of your questions will get answered there.  But some of the highlights are that everyone recovers differently.  I have seen most woman going back to work between 4-6 weeks and some out longer.  I am 3 weeks out from surgery and could not even think about returning to work yet but a week may mean a lot of difference.  As far as hair, you can wash right away say in a sink but no showering until drains come out usually but some docs say differently.  The drains are very easy to take care of, just a pain to lug around!  The nurses will show you how to do this.  You can buy camisoles, shirts, etc. that have pockets in them for the drains to fit into.  However, I just clipped a safety pin on them and hooked to my pants at the waist or inside of shirt.  My doc said no driving for 3-4 weeks.  I drove last week at the 3 week mark and was very uncomfortable.  The seatbelt is sore on the chest and it is hard to turn around to back up, etc.  I could shower after all drains were out but got some diaper wipes - yep - and used them for "sponge bathing" and stuck my head in the sink for a good washing.  You definitely do not want to be home alone for as long as possible.  I thought I would be perfectly able to take care of myself after a few days but was wrong, maybe more emotionally than physically.  I wanted someone there in case something happened - like "help I've fallen and I can't get up!  Take all the care you can and hopefully some people will deliver meals to you which really helps.  Lifting above counter level is hard, bending over, pulling on pants, things like that.  I slept in a recliner for a long time.  Much more comfortable than bed and easier to get up, etc., and it is on the first floor of house.  The biggest thing is to get your rest, accept all help offered and go day by day.  Also, a lot of people comment about feeling pretty good for the first two weeks and then whammy, week three things seem to catch up with you and you start to get different pain with the body healing.  There are lots of ways to get your protein without having to eat meat - do a google search on that.  Anyway, check out the threat on Surgery and preparing before and after and that has tons of info.  Good luck!  Grammie