johnsontrio
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2000
- Messages
- 913
Don't worry about the C-collar and sleeping...you will be so tired that it will not bother you a bit. The soft collar is made of a dense hard foam, very thick while a regular C-collar is made of thin hard plastic. Neither would be comfortable to you now but I promise you will fall asleep right away just from being pooped and the whole ordeal.
One of the PP brought a few things to mind...MY DH stayed overnight with me in the hospital to help me walk and get up to the bathroom without calling the nurse. We are both medical so he knew what to do. I was walking by8pm that first night and determined to not stay the 2-3 days that they told me to expect. As I said in the earlier post, I stayed less than 24 hours from my OR out time. Get up and walk a couple times the first night, it will help.
DH had to stand right outside the shower for probably the first 3-4 days. The first couple of days you will not be able to wash your own hair, too weak in the arms. It will be about 10 days to 2 weeks before you can dry your own hair. I was not home alone for anytime at all the first week. You will need someone at home with you to prepare your meals and help you with things at least the first week.
I was up to short visits with friends by the 3rd day and on day 5 my SIL came over and we lounged around watching movies. I did not ride in the car for at least the first 10 days. You will probably be paranoid that someone will hit the car and mess up your neck, especially if you live in an area that gets snowy weather.
Follow the Drs. recommendation to the letter. If he limits you to lifting no more than 5 pounds, do that. I did not drain cooked pasta the entire 12 weeks or pick up a gallon of milk (weighs 8 pounds). It was a couple of weeks before I emptied the dishwasher and then it was one thing at a time. No pulling heavy wet laundry out of the machine. I am convinced from talking to lots of people, the secret to a successful outcome is following Drs. orders. It's hard to wait on other people to help you out, esp. when one is a teenager complaining about doing so, but your future wellbeing depends on it.
Good luck and I'll check back to see if you have more questions.
One of the PP brought a few things to mind...MY DH stayed overnight with me in the hospital to help me walk and get up to the bathroom without calling the nurse. We are both medical so he knew what to do. I was walking by8pm that first night and determined to not stay the 2-3 days that they told me to expect. As I said in the earlier post, I stayed less than 24 hours from my OR out time. Get up and walk a couple times the first night, it will help.
DH had to stand right outside the shower for probably the first 3-4 days. The first couple of days you will not be able to wash your own hair, too weak in the arms. It will be about 10 days to 2 weeks before you can dry your own hair. I was not home alone for anytime at all the first week. You will need someone at home with you to prepare your meals and help you with things at least the first week.
I was up to short visits with friends by the 3rd day and on day 5 my SIL came over and we lounged around watching movies. I did not ride in the car for at least the first 10 days. You will probably be paranoid that someone will hit the car and mess up your neck, especially if you live in an area that gets snowy weather.
Follow the Drs. recommendation to the letter. If he limits you to lifting no more than 5 pounds, do that. I did not drain cooked pasta the entire 12 weeks or pick up a gallon of milk (weighs 8 pounds). It was a couple of weeks before I emptied the dishwasher and then it was one thing at a time. No pulling heavy wet laundry out of the machine. I am convinced from talking to lots of people, the secret to a successful outcome is following Drs. orders. It's hard to wait on other people to help you out, esp. when one is a teenager complaining about doing so, but your future wellbeing depends on it.
Good luck and I'll check back to see if you have more questions.
Mine was at the other end though, I had a disc removed in my lower back with spacers screwed in. My recovery has been slow, please watch like a hawk for infection and tell sick people not to visit you (I should have been less polite).
I say get some bedazzlers and bling up that collar you'll be wearing. 
