Anyone else basically alone/minimal help?

Don't forget those paper plates and bowls. Who wants to wash dishes anyway?

The little square alcohol pads are very helpful when stripping your drains. You secure with one hand up close to wear it exits your body and strip down with the other. It slides better than wetting your fingers. I think there is a tube video on how to do it. I guess no one offered to show me how....good thing I knew. I am a nurse....but I could have been a desk nurse!

Don't forget to get a pair or two of Jammie's that have button tops.

If your freezer compartment is high, maybe consider finding a small step stool...you will definitely be thirsty.

And just in case no one has told you...pain meds are very constipating. MIralax is your friend.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

I took two Senekot and two Colace on an empty stomach. I didn't start right away but i should have. I would advise starting the day you get home from the hospital and continued until you stop taking opioid meds. Norco and Vicodin and oxycodone all fall into that category

The Keflex might possibly send things in the other direction so monitor yourself. For me, the big C is much worse than the big D though.

I think it doesn't matter how many family and friends that you have. Cancer is a lonely place to be.

I have not read Jackbirdie's comment but I think she meant frozen peas. Like a cheapo sack of green peas that you use and refreeze. Not thawed to the mushy state, they would freeze like a brick then. They conform better than hard plastics. You would not want to cook these later, so make some notation of what their use is for.

Do you have a hand-held shower for "down there" use? If not you can get a plastic squeezy bottle empty like you would put ketchup in. Use for peri care. Would assume with your knee problems you have a shower bench already. I have heard of women using a cheap plastic garden chair in the shower, which if I have any kinda surgery done is what my plans are.

Also, btw, they will tell you not yo use heat for awhile. But when you can again, those ice packs can be used for warm moist heat as well. I had my freezer stuffed with them in all sizes, as using them constantly, I couldn't get them cold enough in time without the vast quantities hahaha. This all gets so expensive. At least some if the stuff can be used for "normal life" later

Ah , memories... When my late mother visited me, we bought a cheap plastic garden chair for her to use as you mentioned. I would store it up in the garage rafters when she wasn't visiting. After my bmx, we took it down for my use. It was very convenient and the best purchase I ever made at Wal-mart.
I dread constipation too. In hospital, the nurses kindly served me warm prune juice, in addition to colace. Not my favorite beverage, but very helpful. You may be pleasantly surprised and not have as much pain as you expected. I got off the opioids as soon as I could, but didn't hesitate to take them when needed. I also use Smooth Moves herbal tea when needed.
Lastly, I didn't own any button front shirts and didn't want to buy any. I do wear tank tops, both alone and as camisoles. Target had nice, stretchy cotton styles that I could step in to and pull up. I wore them around the house and threw one of those light buttonless knit sweater jackets. Oh, I also wore lots of pj bottoms in the house. Comfort, comfort, comfort...

I wasn't permitted to lift more than 8 oz for the first 3 weeks, and I couldn't open the fridge by myself! I agree that thinking and planning ahead is the best strategy.

Another tip: tell the pharmacy NO childproof pill bottles. I couldn't open them without help. Check your over-the-counter meds too.

Or just check the caps when you get them (or if someone picks them up) to make sure they are reversed to the non-childproof opening. I wonder if there is a pharmacy law (never checked) that they must have those 2-way caps on them. I get all my meds in one place and except for a factory sealed bottle they are all the 2-way. Ah Walgreens. They should have a profile on you that has a place for your med caps preferences.

Does anyone know the new law on Vicodin (hydrocodone)? Can it still be picked up by someone authorized on account with proper ID? Just asking for Artista. That's the only one you might have trouble getting not in person.

if you need narcotics picked up, it is good to call your pharmacy and let them know someone else will be coming. Then in my case, my pharmacy required that person to know my address on file and my birthdate. You can ask your pharmacy if they gave any special rules

There was no problem providing we did those things.

artista - I just posted some info for you on the stage II sisters thread. My BIL is a gastroenterologist and he recommends Miralax - or as goats suggested - the generic. I don't have the Big C as a problem, I have the opposite, I also tend not to take pain meds so I have not pre-medicated or used any softeners or laxatives. My pharmacy has made a permanent note on my file not to use childproof caps, which seem to also be adultproof sometimes!

Artista- I also just thought of another thing, maybe silly, and maybe someone else mentioned it. But I got those bendable straws for the water next to my bed, or whatever I was drinking. It made it a lot easier to drink when I was laying down and didn't want to struggle to get more upright just for a sip of water.