Surgery day through discharge thoughts and tips
Everyone's experience is different. Certainly isn't easy but being prepared makes a world of difference. It was my fault for not re-reading all the diaries and preparing better before the surgery. So I'd definitely do that! Take notes from everyone's Stryde diaries.
Surgery day:
Not much to say about surgery day. Once you're there it's go time. You arrive 2 hours before surgery time. They prep you, go over what will happen, move you to the operating room. You get the countdown, and then you wake up in your hospital room for Paley's patients. Nice room with restroom and seating area if you have caretaker/love ones.
During the hospital stay
You have 4 nights covered under the fee. It just depends how you feel if you get discharged early. I was discharged after 3 nights.
I don't know if they'd provide anything other than what was given to me, but what was given kept me comfortable enough. I was on Toradol every 6 hours and Oxycodone every 4 hours. Other things included baby aspirin, vitamin D, and valium (muscle relaxer). Some nurses will visit you every 4-6 hours. Some are less often and wait for you to push the button (esp at night). You will be constantly visited by either the nurse, someone who takes your vitals, or someone draws your blood. Rather than wait for the pain to return, I'd just let them know you'd like the meds delivered at the set times. This may involve you setting an alarm on your phone for the night nurses who may not come routinely.
Have them re-fill the bags of ice whenever they're not cold anymore for the swelling. You'll be peeing into an angled container - it's tricky at first but you'll get the hang of it hehe. Hopefully you won't need to poop.
I didn't eat right away when they delivered the first meal. I was accessing my level of nausea and decided to have them give me something for it first. I gave it most of the day until I felt pretty good before eating. I never dealt with nausea after that.
On your second day, Paley's PT will visit you to get you out of bed. She tells me I can move my legs whenever I want. I wish I had known on the first day, it gets pretty uncomfortable with your legs in one position the entire day. Your legs are wrapped with compression to keep the blood flowing. If you have help you can unwrap them and take a break here and there. The PT will show you a few exercises you can do while laying down. Definitely do them. I did them once my pain meds kicked in each time. The PT will get you out of bed, onto a walker, and then onto a wheelchair to sit around for a bit. Definitely exhausting. The 3rd day, you can see how you do with moving around the walker outside the room. I made one circle around the floor and then she decided I can try the crutches. I made 10 steps and was exhausted. I kept up with the exercises every 2-4 hours. By the 4th day I was on crutches moving around my room before the PT would arrive. I let them know I can be discharged that day. All of this is included: walker, crutches, cane, portable toilet (just for the hang rails that go over your own toilet). I didn't need the wheelchair and they may stop providing them to Stryde patients in the future anyway. Your caregiver or family must take you from the hospital back to your place. No taxis or rideshares.
Things you should have set up before the surgery
This will mean you'll be paying for several nights where you won't be staying at your lodging. I set up everything myself after discharge and was exhausted!
You can decide what is optional for yourself.
Gel ice packs - keep the swelling down for the first week after discharge
Heating pads X2 - Week 2 and onwards (after the swelling goes away; you must sleep with your legs elevated for 1-2 weeks for the swelling to go down) you will deal with a nagging soreness constantly. Heat will help with the soreness ALOT. Esp if you'd like to sit at a computer desk as I am now : )
Something to wrap heating pads around each leg
Blue Sharpie - They draw a mark on your legs where you will place the ERC device for lengthening. The tegaderm may start un-doing on you. You'll have to replace it and re-fill in the marking.
Nexcare Tegaderm waterproof transparent dressing - to replace the dressing over that mark when needed.
Gym ankle straps - if you don't have help with PT at home or like to push yourself.
Resistance bands or similar - to loop through the ankle straps and pull for PT sessions
Bidet - I needed this. It's hard wiping your ass when your legs hurt. I get it best I can, then stand up and do one last wipe : )
Water bottle - depends how you intend to get water
Water filter jug - I got a Brita one
Water bottle holder - Because I'm alone, I got this water bottle holder than has a pouch for my phone also. Comes with shoulder sling also. So that I can carry it all at once around the room.
Paper plates and plasticware - no energy to be doing dishes
Tub transfer bench - a necessary I think if your room has a tub. If it's a shower then some other option. You won't be able to safety stand and shower for a while. Or even bend your legs high enough to enter the tub in the first place.
Toilet safety rails - I ended up not using the one I got discharged with. I reversed the tub transfer bench to the side that has the railing so I just use that.
Meds:
Stool softener & Laxative: Have this ready because you may not be able to have a bowel movement for a while after discharge. I had to wait a few days for it to arrive and later the same day taking it I was good to go. I had to take it just once more after the first pass.
Tylenol - they'll bring you Acetaminophen regular strength 100 tabs (2 every 4 hours). $10 for generic! Buy your own. I bought extra strength instead (2 every 6 hours).
Baby Aspirin 81mg - 30 pills for $10! Again, by your own.
Oxycodone - I forgot the exact price but it's prescription only so no choice here. Probably was around $45 for a week's worth (1 every 4 hours).
Supplements I take. Don't know what potentially helps or not, but they were cleared by the docs and PAs.
Vitamin D3 - a must; part of their protocol
Collagen supplements
Mens multivitamin
BCAAs
Experience with sleeping
I can't sleep. haha.
So you'll need to sleep with legs elevated for several weeks. I found once I did that properly, the swelling went down fast. Elevating with pillows on the bed didnt' work out. I switched to using the end piece of the sofa as a sturdy surface and that helped a bit. Still, sleep is 1.5-2 hour sessions at most. It's been like that for me for over 2 weeks post op.
After 2 weeks my sutures/wounds felt sturdy enough so I tried laying on my side. Big difference! Haven't actually slept that way yet but watch videos online about side sleeping after leg surgery. 2 Pillows under head or 1 folded. 1 pillow between thighs. 1 pillow to cradle like your lover. Maybe 1 on your backside.
Taking benadryl will get your drowsy for sure. But I found I was drowsy but still couldn't sleep the first 2 weeks due to discomfort. So I was very groggy.
Things will probably be better now once I try sleeping on my side.
All I have for now everyone. The main point is, being prepared can save you a lot of discomfort. So jot down everyone's tips!
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Topic: Bi-Lateral Stryde With Paley Consult Summer '19 (Read 7812 times)