Spinal Trap "To Do" Pre-Op Tips

So That You May Have

An Easier Post-Op Experience:

1.  Get a case of bottled waters and keep them next to your bed because pain pills dry your mouth substantially and it is important to stay hydrated.

2.  If you like to read, stock up on your favorite magazines, books, crossword puzzles, etc...and keep several pens/pencils next to you because you will drop them but not necessarily be able to retrieve. 

3.  If you keep a TV in your bedroom, make sure you change the remote batteries in advance so that you don't have to worry about that not working when you need it most!

4.  Make sure that you use a surge protector power strip for all of the plugs in whatever room you are going to sleep/recuperate.

You don't want to lose out on the ability to have power and TV over something you could've prevented with this item!

5.  Flashlight, back up batteries, candles, matches/lighters - keep  next to your bed.  If you have a power loss that a surge protector couldn't stop, you need to be prepared because if you are on multiple Rx's, you can't take them in the dark and you don't want to fall!

6.  If you're like me in that most pain pills make you nauseated and vomit, keep a barf bowl/bucket near your bed, as well as cans of Canada Dry Ginger Ale and a box of saltine crackers. 

Canada Dry is the only brand of Ginger Ale I will drink because it is by far, the best! 

Also, mint chocolate chip ice cream always helps to soothe my upset stomach.  As does drinking chilled Apple Cider Vinegar in cold water.  I also take Ginger Capsules too.  

7.  If you get nauseated easily, ask your dr. to write you a script for an anti-nausea pill.  The one I've been given is Promethazine 25mg.  The upside of this type of Rx, aside from stopping the vomitting, is it also helps you to sleep. 

8. Mashed Potatoes, Soups, Fresh Fruit - When I awoke in my hospital room, I immediately turned into a version of the possessed girl in the movie "The Exorcist".  I projectile vomitted. 

My sheets were changed.  I did it again almost immediately. 

Sheet change #2.  A few minutes later?  Yep, projectile #3, followed by another sheet change. 

By the time I had my 4th projectile vomiting bout, the nurse made absolutely no effort to hide her hatred of me. 

That was the last time, until the first time I ate...my stomach felt so awful that the entire rest of my stay, I only ordered the fresh fruit plate and would put the watermelon and grapes in my mouth, suck all of the juice/water content from them and then remove whatever was left. 

When you have a 3"-4" incision in your neck, you don't want to be projectile vomitting because, it hurts. 

 Anesthesia, anti-inflammatories, and pain pills are not very kind to your stomach even if you don't have my terrible experience. 

Thus, have fresh fruits like bananas, grapes, and watermelon on hand as well as homemade soups, quickhe, mashed potatoes, eggs, bread for toast, yogurt, and chicken pot pie on hand. 

I cooked a week's worth of mashed potatoes and baked chicken and made a pot of homemade soup in advance of my surgery. 

If you don't cook, find a diner that makes from scratch soups and potatoes because no one should eat lousy food when they feel good, let alone when recuperating from spinal surgery! 

(Texas Roadhouse chain is in many places, they actually have very tasty mashed potatoes!)

9.  If like me, you take multiple herbs, vitamins and supplements, keep those near your bed as well.  I took less after my surgery, simply because I didn't have the energy to keep up but I still took my core wake up ones of turmeric and bromelain, holy basil extract, vitamin D, etc.

Figure out what your essential ones are and take just those for the first week or two after surgery.  ALWAYS double check with your doctor about what you may and may not be allowed to take both pre and post-operatively!  I am not a doctor.

10.  Ask your dr. BEFORE your surgery if he/she will be prescribing any meds for your post-op period that you aren't currently on, then check with him/her and/or your pharmacist to  make sure that there are no contraindications for your herbs and supplements and the new Rx(s).

11.  Make sure that if you can, you pay any bills in advance that will come due the within the first 3-4 weeks of your surgery.  I promise you, you won't feel like handling such matters. 

If you don't have the money to pay in advance, then at least write your checks out and have them ready to mail so someone can help you with no additional effort from you. 

It's times like this that auto-pay comes in real handy!

12.  Mail/Newspapers - Many criminals look for things like mail building up in a mailbox or newspapers piling up in front of a home to break into.  The last thing you need is that! 

Thus, if you can't collect both daily, and have no one else who can do it for you, please put both on hold or see if your delivery people will work with you to drop in a place that you designate that is out of sight to anyone walking by.

13.  Rx's - make sure that you get all of your Rx's filled BEFORE you go to the hospital! 

As proactive as I was in trying to avoid unnecessary stress after my surgery, there was a screw up with my Rx's and the day I got released, turned into a nightmare.  It's the last thing you need! 

14.  If you have a CD player, keep it and a stack of peaceful relaxing CD's next to your bed. 

Click this link to see what you should buy to help avoid bending over after surgery!

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