I just ordered this cushy anti-gravity recliner

to rest/sleep in during my recovery period following surgery on June 9th.

It has great reviews and  I need a new one, anyway…

 

It will arrive tomorrow. I’ll set it up in my bedroom right away (and try it out to be sure it’s the right size and fit) so I don’t have to lift it after surgery.

 

I have a so-called hospital bed, but the part of the motor that lifts the head doesn’t work; only the foot end lifts. That worked fine for me after chest masculinization surgery (I just slept with my head where my feet usually are!), and will probably work for this surgery, but I didn’t want to risk being wrong about that, so I splurged and got this.

 

It’ll be easier to get out of this chair than the bed, for sure, and it locks into place in every position, so it should work fine for this purpose.

 

But I may always keep it indoors.  The two anti-gravity recliners outside are showing their ages and wear because they’re exposed to the elements nearly all year long.  I want to keep this one looking brand new.

 

I got an oversized anti-gravity recliner so I can tuck sheets and blankets around me.  It also has a side table to hold a beverage and maybe a small plate. I also like that the arm rests are slightly curved…

 

Marching orders before and after surgery

 

Before surgery, I have to get more cat litter (because I won’t be lifting heavy boxes for four to six weeks).

 

I have to make sure my bedding is newly washed and pristine for when I get back from the hospital.

 

I have to clean the 55-gallon aquarium real well.

 

I have to scrub (with salt) the goats’ water tubs so they’ll remain as clean and algae-free as  possible during my recovery period…

 

Lisa will help me with critters during my recovery period (scoop litter, refresh the water, do partial water changes in the aquarium) until I’m able to move freely and lift more than a liter of weight again.

 

I’ll be wearing Jackson-Pratt drainage tubes for at least a week. After a few days, I should be able to shower. As soon as I can, I need to do it every day to keep my skin germ-free so the tubes (where they enter my skin) don’t introduce bacteria…

 

I will need to wear pajama bottoms and keep the J-P bulbs and tubes tucked inside them to remove the possibility of snagging them on knobs when I amble around…

 

I have several compression vests and abdominal binders on hand to help shape me after surgery and keep me as comfortable as possible when I move around.

 

I will be “bridging” with small doses of  Lovenox before and after surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots.  I’m encouraged, too, to walk every two to three hours (minimum) during the day and to wiggle my legs and feet as often as I think about it to lower the risk of blood clots.

 

There’s a lot to think about, prepare for, and remember — before and after surgery! 

 

Most of the list is above, but not all of it.

 

I will be showering with a special scrub the night before and morning of surgery.

 

I need to stop taking all vitamins, minerals and supplements on June 2nd.

 

I need to stop taking Warfarin five full days before surgery.

 

I need to take Lovenox by injection in the morning three days prior to surgery, but not on the morning of surgery…

 

Two days before surgery I need to drive to Seattle for a COVID test and then isolate myself between then and my surgery date to be sure I’m not exposed to the virus before I go in…

 

That’s pretty much the complete list.

 

WHEW!

 

So, that’s why I’m up at o dark thirty in the morning. I slept from 8 pm or so to 3 a.m. and then my brain started going over this list and the need to get an anti-gravity recliner asap.  So, I got up and did that.

 

Now that I’ve hashed it over and run it all through my fingers and keyboard, I can probably go back to sleep again.

 

That would be nice!