Care package for MIL having knee replacement surgery?

[katie01]

My 65 year old MIL will be having knee replacement surgery at the end of the month, and I'd like to send her a care package (she lives out of state). Anyone have ideas, especially if you've gone through this surgery, about what I could include in the package? She is normally very active so I know the sitting still will be hard for her. Trying to think of book ideas--she likes tennis, she doesn't read a whole lot but does enjoy non-fiction. I know she already has a "reacher" to help pick up things after the surgery. My FIL will be taking care of her afterwards so she doesn't necessarily need meals but it still might be nice to send snacks or a gift card for carry-out food. Any other suggestions?

 

[Julylady]

Does she have an Ipad or Kindle? Perhaps she would like to play Casino games online? Or, introduce her to Disboards or another message board on a topic she is interested in. After I had surgery, I listened to a ton of Disney podcasts online to pass the time. How about a new candle? Massage lotion? A new heating pad or ice packs? Magazines she normally wouldn't read? Cookbooks? Favorite candy or gum? Word search/crossword/Sudoko books? A new movie on DVD? New slippers or socks with non-stick bottoms? Yoga pants or other new pants with wide legs that she can easily get on over her swollen knee? Have a nice plant or flowers delivered?

 

[Happy Snowman]

Netflix subscription, maybe a basket of magazines? Some slippers that are easy to slip on but stay on well too. Gift cards for take-out food?

 

[Wis2InTink]

I had my knee surgery last year during that awfully cold winter. Body lotion for dry skin was nice. Someone sent me a fresh cut- up fruit arrangement; which I enjoyed each time I took a lap in the walker. ( a reward). Flowers in the dead of winter were appreciated. Best treats were hand made cards from the grandkids. I needed to be on a stretch machine (awful) 2 hours and 2 - 3 times a day and just watched a lot of tv because you have to increase the bending frequently (painful). A loud cowbell to ring for help, nice tray for supplies (meds, water, snacks, cell phone because we have 2 story house). Basic toiletries or make-up because I stayed downstairs for several days and kept stuff downstairs. Good luck to her and hope all goes well. Glad I did it.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Not an idea for care package, but a tip for her pain - tell her not to use an ice pack, but to get packs of frozen peas, they mould much better to the knee and don't dig on on the stitches/cut areas. My daughter used them for her knee surgery 2 yrs ago, she said they were so much better than the rigid ice packs or packs of ice.

Skirts were also wonderful, she lived in them for the first week or so....as when needing to go to the toilet, pulling down pants/shorts whilst on crutches and a sore as all get out knee - doesn't work well.

 

[rwdavis2]

I agree on bags of ice cubes. But with a knee replacement the initial bandage will be thick enough to prevent any digging by ice cubes. They used to send home soft-gel ice packs which work the same as the peas but work much longer. Peas will thaw too quickly.

Many places today send you home with an ice machine which is the absolute best way to keep down swelling. I was told to keep my ice machine on all day/night at a low level which really reduced the swelling.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

I agree on bags of ice cubes. But with a knee replacement the initial bandage will be thick enough to prevent any digging by ice cubes. They used to send home soft-gel ice packs which work the same as the peas but work much longer. Peas will thaw too quickly. .

We found the gel packs hurt as well, as they didn't wrap around the knee well..we had about 10 x 2kg home brand pkts of peas, cheap as chips and when they did thaw, just chucked them back in the freezer and grabbed out another pack...

 

[powellrj]

I loved a raised toilet seat and a walker tote bag when I had my knees replaced.

 

[3boymthr]

Shoes with a good solid non slip bottom that are very easy to put on.
Loose pants or skirts

There is a good chance she could end up in a rehab center for a week or two, in which case travel sizes of her favorite soap, lotion, etc would be good.

A gift card for a maid service to come in to help clean. It will be a gift for both of them. My mom was told a recovery of 12 weeks and it really was true. My dad was kept very busy both helping her and trying to do his and her regular chores.

 

[chrissy92972]

My mom had both knees done and a broken hip over the past few years. My suggestion would be a bag for the walker. It is too bad you are not closer because the things my mom needed help with the most were tying her sneakers and helping her to put her teds socks on. Gift cards for dinner/lunch are a great idea also.

 

[asta]

When I had my knee replacement I spent many hours working jigsaw puzzles on my iPad. It took my mind off of the pain and discomfort without requiring too much concentration. I think the pain killers kept me from being able to focus on reading or watching movies. I had planned I doing the latter but never seemed to want to.

My doctor sent me home with a machine that circulated ice water so there was no need to mess with ice packs. I was required to use this frequently and using this in the winter kept me very cold. A good short robe like this one will keep her comfortable
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/barefoo...pe-front-cardigan-nordstrom-exclusive/3112763

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you notes or just cheerful blank cards with a book of stamps if you think people might send her gifts that she'd like to thank them for. I was amazed when I had surgery all the kindnesses that I wished to thank people for!

Definitely restaurant gift cards, especially for places that deliver or have to go services.

When I had my surgery, I went back to very loose dresses, crocs (because I could slip them on) and, don't laugh, leg warmers because they were easier to put on than socks (yes, vintage, from the 80s...). Enough extra of the basics that she won't have to worry about trying to do wash.

Extra batteries and chargers for any electronic devices that she's apt to use (remotes, phones, electronic readers, tablets, etc).

A promise of a special event or trip once she gets better so she has something to look forward to!

Terri

 

[minnie mum]

The first couple of months are kind of foggy thanks to the great pain meds I had to take. I do know that I barely made a dent in the new books I had set aside. The meds made concentrating difficult. A Netflix subscription or a pile of movie DVDs would be great. My tablet got a LOT of use every day. Some of the things that were a huge help were the numerous pairs of socks with nonskid soles (I like them better than slippers in the house), the totebag that I could use to haul my stuff between the bedroom and the living room recliner, and the insulated carafe. The latter was more for DHs benefit - he only had to fill it once with my coffee in the morning and set it on the table by my chair, and I was good to go for several hours. I pretty much lived in baggy lounge pants and long t-shirts, with a sweater when necessary.

Good luck to your mom. The recovery period is long, but the end result is worth it. My reward is our trip to WDW in 10 days - 6 months post op.

 

[katie01]

Thanks so much everyone, lots of great ideas! I didn't think of non-skid socks, they have wood floors and it's cold where we (and they) live, so the socks would probably really come in handy. She loves coffee so the carafe would be useful too.

I will also definitely have the kids make some nice cards and pictures to send along and cheer her up.

 

[katie01]

Edited to add, she does not have an ipad or kindle unfortunately. That would have been a nice thing to get her for Christmas so she'd have it for after the surgery, but she had asked for something else for her big gift instead