Unrealistic Recovery Expectations?

mermaidpuppy · July 28, 2007

:confused:A question for those of us that have made it past "the day"! I will have my surgery on a Thursday, and my boss is leaving Friday for a week long vacation and I'm housesitting for him. He doesn't know im having any surgery. His animals are old and won't jump on me or anything.... It's an easy job, Ive done it a zillion times and it pays well! My question is.......am I going to need someone with me? How soon can I drive after surgery? I was counting on my younger sibling to stay with me and help me, but his job is sending him out of town last minute durning that time! My mom was my other back up, but she has had some recent health problems and isn't driving. I don't know if she will be able to drive by that point or not. Am I being unrealistic? Can I stay by myself durning recovery? Can I drive? How soon after? The house I will be in has a decent flight of stairs up to the bedroom, but in my dr. info it said stairs were fine.... What do you think? I don't want to set myself up for failure and be miserable, but on the other hand, It might not be an issue at all. I'm kinda stuck at this point.

cazulay · July 28, 2007

I got banded yesterday (Friday) and my dr. told me not to drive until Tuesday. Also, I am sore on the tummy and am finding it impossible to bend down, I have my DH doing all the bending for me. Stairs are fine. Good luck!

Alexandra · July 28, 2007

Well, no one knows for sure how they will recover until they get there. I drove the next day, with no painkillers, and was OK. Just take things slowly and don't count on running and jumping for a few days. Stairs are no problem, driving is no problem (as long as you're not on drugs), and within a few days you should be fine for most activities.

I'm having surgery on a Monday and am planning to be back at work on Thursday. Maybe I'll regret it, but hanging around the house while work piles up at the office is MUCH less appealing.

Ariel · July 28, 2007

I think you may be pushing it. After surgery i was a wreck. Everybody is different but it sounds like a lot. Let us know how it goes and what you decide.

ms925 · July 28, 2007

I just had surgery yesterday and am more sore than I thought I'd be. Actually I was better yesterday than today! You may be pushing it to soon. I have trouble getting into and out of the car... let alone driving, also like cazulay I can not bend over. My DH is doing that for me too! :lol: Good luck

mermaidpuppy · July 29, 2007

Thanks for all your advice. I'm usually very independent, so it's hard for me to ask for help. I'm the typical "fat girl" people pleaser that can't say no to anyone who wants me to do something. But I'm going to have to ask for some help with this one! But I think im going to take my post-surgery week off as a pampering week. Luckily I will have Friday-the next Monday off because of the Labor day holiday. Near the end of the week, im thinking, manicure, pedicure, maybe a facial. Part of the new me!

BlueEyedBaby · July 29, 2007

My Dr wont let me drive for 2 weeks. Drugs or no drugs. I have yet to take the first dose of drugs but he want it that way. But every dr is different. As far as house sitting is concerned, well, I am sitting at my house this very minute with a brand new puppy that is still going through the "potty trianing" stages and who likes to jump and I also have 2 flights of stairs to climb. So far so good. I never bend anyhow as it is bad for your back so I just continue to kneel down on my knees if I need to do something on ground level. I am just Post op day 2 and I was more sore yesterday than right after the surgery but today seems to be much better. If you are an independent, determined type person, I don't see why you can't do it. My hubby is here sometimes but he works and I am alone then and seem to do well without him. I really think it is all in your mind and how determined you are that you will be able to do well. Baring any real surgical complications, that is....

skyeblu79 · July 30, 2007

Everyone seems to be so different. I didn't have a lot of pain after surgery. I was just really tired. I had surgery on Tuesday and I was supposed to be back to work on Monday, but I didn't go back until the following Wednesday for 1/2 a day. I felt fine other than being really tired. Granted I went to a casino 2 days after surgery and all that walking was a little much for me. I don't know if I could do stairs and stuff.

Also, I don't know what I would have done w/out someone else. The only real thing I needed was someone to help me sit up or slide up on the bed. It also was helpful to have someone get some things for you. If you had someone to help you at least w/bending over and doing something for the animals, that would help.

Good luck w/your decision.