Got Shower Chair/Lightweight Wheel Chair NOW WHAT?

Ok, report got to the surgeon. If Ihadn't called..shessh. You really have to be your own strong , very strong, advocate and stay on top of everything

Hear through the grapevine results are not to good but what I expected. If anyone is interested I'll post after the visit 

Bummers!  wishing you a speedy & complete recovery

gonna moveethis to Blogs  waiting at surgeon  will know more soon

I am following your thread, hope the visit goes well, good luck.

sending positive vibes, keep us posted!

Hi all. Just finished with surgeon

Need to have surgery next week and then no weight bearing for 4-6 weeks. All those who have loanEd me medical equipment I say thank you again and you might see it by the end of March. Hahaha

Still have to figure out how to manage in a three story house but as my husband and children always said..." Don't worry Mama. Papa will carry you down to the stove"

Oy. Watch this space...,

Can we help in any way?

Sbenois was worried you wouldn't be back on your feet for Matzoh Charlotte season.

After your surgery, you should have a visiting nurse come to your home to teach you some workable body mechanics to make your recovery a little easier.

See if you can sleep on the first floor for now.  Using the stairs will be next to impossible for awhile after surgery if you can't put weight on your foot.  Do you have a bathroom on the first floor?  Is it wide enough to accommodate a wheel chair or at least a walker?  If not, setting up a potty on the first floor, in the room you are using as your home base, could be useful. If there is a bathroom on the first floor and it is accessible but more of a half bath, make sure you have basin and towels for washing in easy reach.  Is the entrance to your house easily accessible for you if you can't use both feet?  If not, give some thought to having some temporary form of ramp so you will have more independence in entering/leaving the house.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.  Don't hesitate to ask for help as needed.

When I strained--not tore--my hamstring, a few years ago, we decided to put in a stair lift, connecting the first and second floors.  Now that my arthritis has ramped way up,making stairs very difficult, lift has become a lifesaver.  Plus, we can get heavy loads, like suitcases and laundry baskets, upstairs without breaking Mr. Lizziecat's back.  We have also installed a ramp, which is something you might consider, at least on a temporary basis, to get you and your wheelchair in and out of the house.

FWIW, you should get a second, possibly third opinion.  Covered by insurance (usually); don't go "under the knife" with only one opinion.

snowmom said:

FWIW, you should get a second, possibly third opinion.  Covered by insurance (usually); don't go "under the knife" with only one opinion.

Got two and they agree  I am gonna get through this with  MOLers help and support.  A cousin in Cape Cod with a similar problem is amazed at the generosity and helpfulness of the South Orange/ Maplewood  community    Even with all this ***** I feel blessed to live here  Nothing finer!

Joan and Lizzie both give very good advice. Sleep downstairs if you can. I had to go up and downstairs on crutches for weeks after a really bad sprain three years ago, and it is no joke. IIRC, for the first week I was doing it backwards on my butt. We did not have a bathroom on the ground floor, so there was no good option for me.

Hey LL, I work at home now so here any time if you need anything! Sending healing vibes....

lizziecat said:

When I strained--not tore--my hamstring, a few years ago, we decided to put in a stair lift, connecting the first and second floors.  Now that my arthritis has ramped way up,making stairs very difficult, lift has become a lifesaver.  Plus, we can get heavy loads, like suitcases and laundry baskets, upstairs without breaking Mr. Lizziecat's back.  We have also installed a ramp, which is something you might consider, at least on a temporary basis, to get you and your wheelchair in and out of the house.

Stair Lift was a life saver the last few months of my Uncle's time here.   Super highly recommend the

Acorn Company............best prices,  quickest and very professional install

so sorry to hear this.  Good luck on your surgery.  and I agree, use the next few days to set yourself up downstairs.  Figure out what you need to live comfortably down there for a few weeks and send kids and hubby to the store for it or get them moving it now so you'll be ready to go when you get home.

and definitely the right call on the cruise.  not much of a vacation if you cant get up and walk around and do all the things you had planned.  re-plan for later down the road when you are closer to 100%

thanks all  Connie, kids promised to come back home this weekend for the "heavy lifting" LilMissLl promised to lead me in a massive pity party as we are so very bummed about our cruise 

Going to have to figure out logistics but as long as I have a steady supply of books and a decent tv to binge watch and some painkillers  I'll be good

Thanks to everyone who has reached out to lend a hand  I plan to take you up on your offers    Be ready!!! What a community we have in SoMa!

This will be the time where Facebook games might lure you in.  Beware!  I became hooked when I broke my elbow.  I was in considerable pain, so reading or movies didn't distract me enough. I was so over daytime TV. 

I have only two games on my phone but way too many on Facebook. I'm almost at the end of Solitaire Blitz and recently got roped into Cookie Jam. I finally broke off with the free msn games.    

being immobilized was when I learned to knit, if you are looking for a good alternative to books or TV or online games.   

Having visitors was my best diversion during my recovery.  Don't be afraid to ask for friends to come over once you feel up to seeing anyone.  I did crochet a baby blanket for a friend, who actually still uses it, and did a fair amount of origami for a family member's wedding.  Handicrafts and art work are a great creative way to spend the "down" time.

Update!! Update!! Update!!
FINALLY, got a appointment for the
surgery . It will be on Wednesday 7:30 am at the Surgery Center behind
Trader Joes. Got to get cardio and blood work done before. Then 4-6 week
recovery. Totally off my feets.

Gonna reread allof Harry Potter..certainly won't take a lot of concentration (of which I have NONE)

Well it's an okay way to spend the usually crappy February and March, right? It's not July at least!!

Sounds like a plan.  I have the complete set.  You are welcome to borrow any volumes you can't find elsewhere.

When I had a broken leg last year- up and down stairs on my butt and someone to meet me at the ends. Worst part was showering. Only a tub at my house so needed assistance into and out onto the shower chair. I had my hair dresser wash my hair a couple of times a week. What a doll he was. (He also did that when I had a port for a time.) Get a little backpack to carry stuff around the house.. water bottle, phone, pencil, paper, current book- wallet with important stuff like ins card, credit card. Nothing worse than getting where you are going, settled in only to need one more thing. Best of luck. Spring will be here before you know it.

Hope surgery goes well and recovery is speedy!!! Yes, some good reading time is in order!

Oh, good suggestion. I remember putting essential items in a small fabric tote bag I could sling over my shoulder. Of course, when you are on crutches, every thing you want is somewhere ELSE. 

If you only have a bath, use a wooden bath table instead of a shower chair: it's firm as it balances across the bath and you can place the things you need(soap, washcloth etc) next to you. Your affected leg can be lifted along the board to stay dry. 

LL, if you like word games, I'll invite you to play Word Chums with me and D!   It'll be fun! There's a free version. (I play on the iPad so it's the gmail address) what's great is that you can take 10 days between moves, if you really need to... :0 

It's also a good time to write family history, or that novel...!

idea: maybe a special book club meeting that comes to you and brings treats?

A knitting lesson?

You can buy a thing called a cast cover from Amazon.  It will keep your bandaged leg dry while you shower.