What should we pack with us in our hospital suitcase? Also, he is a fairly heavy smoker. He wants to quit, and we have ordered an herbal remedy to help him quit that is supposed to arrive the same day as the surgery. He is going to wake up from surgery feinding for a ciggarette, but I don't think it will be wise for him to get up, go outside and smoke, especially since he is trying to quit b/c his back won't heal well if he is still smoking (as the physical therapist has told us). He hates the patch (has used it before and we have some left), but should I bring it with us to the hospital and (with Dr.'s approval, of course), slap it on him before he wakes up? Or maybe when he wakes up?
2007-07-11 11:13:49 · 4 answers · asked by Jennie t 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
from my expieriance, i had lower lumbar surgery, but i had a fusion. i brought some comfortable clothes, puzzles to keep me busy, books, things of that nature to keep me busy. i also am a heavy smoker, and i quit a day or two before i went into my surgery.
kinda a different surgery, but i was in so much pain i didn't care about smoking, changing clothes, reading a book or anything. lol i was in 5 days and actually was asleep most of the time.
his surgery will be different im sure, but i would just bring something that he likes to do to pass the time, and bring comfortable clothes. as far as the smoking goes, i dont think he will want to smoke after the surgery, and if he does, isn't the majority of hospitals smoke free campus style nowadays? its a good time for him to try to quit, and yes, he needs to or his back will not heal properly(same thing i was told). anyways, i would say if the doc is ok with a prescrip drug or the patch, whatever i would go with that.
good luck
2007-07-11 11:27:43 · answer #1 · answered by kaptain_jack_sparr0w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, he is not going to be getting up for a day or so .. I would bring him something that will help him take his mind off of the discomfort that follows ANY surgery.
Forget the patch, and smoking issues... that is too much for his plate now.
try these...
1) Bring a CD player and some books on tape (actually cd's). You can pick up a selection at your local library and he can listen to them without a lot of motion or issue. He can even close his eyes and 'see' the story. You can also upload them to an ipod if he has one of those.
2) DVD's and a DVD player if he is going to be there for a while. Unless he is absolutely crazy for daytime TV he will appreciate a selection of movies.
deal with the smoking when he gets home.
.
2007-07-11 11:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by ca_surveyor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring comfortable, well-supportive shoes...he will need them for therapy and for practicing with OT.
Good for him for aspiring to quit smoking! You are absolutely right...smoking is absolutely the worst thing you can do when healing from a back surgery. It slows the healing process down by at least 2X.
I would find out if your hospital has a smoking cessation program. Ours offers a counseling session that serves as an educational session about different products that are available. His pain medication and muscle relaxers may actually help calm the cravings as well. Anti-anxiety medations and ativan are also often helpful. Yet, this needs to be discussed with the doctor. Maybe this is the best time for him to quit...I wouldn't be surprised if your hospital has gone completely smokeless (meaning, no going outside for a smoke)...our patients are no longer able to go out to smoke due to a village ordinace (it makes for a much nicer entrance into the building, I'll tell you that!)...even if they have a doctors permission.
My dad also quit when he was in the hospital...being "forced" to go without one helped him realize that he can handle it....and he smoked 3 ppd for 40 years.
Best of luck!
2007-07-11 12:50:42 · answer #3 · answered by mistify 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would bring comfortable clothes to come home in that are easy to get on that require no reaching or bending movements to put on. Sweat pants usually work well with a button up shirt. Besides that I haven't brought anything else...if he has retainers or something else that he will need bring that, but otherwise you shouldn't need to bring too much. I would talk to the doctor about the smoking.
2007-07-11 11:21:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋