Question:
I'll Be Alone In The Hospital Post Op..Need Input
Hi guys- I'm a young gal (20) with no friends that live close by. My mother is the only one I have here that has supported me through this and is really going to make an effort to come to the hospital. She works long hours, however, and I know that she will be dead tired so I don't want her to sacrifice her time to rest simply because I'm feeling lonely. Will the fact that no one will be around be particularly difficult to deal with after surgery when I'm alone in my room, or will I be too out of it to care? I know I'll be able to bear it, but I was just wondering what everyone else's experience was. I'd love to hear anything y'all have to say. :) — mars.renee (posted on July 27, 2003)
July 27, 2003
I was in the hospital four days and my husband only came once and the day
he came to get me. Business obligations. I did just fine. I was not
lonely, did not read, Watched a little tv when I felt like it , slept and
walked. I did not need to depend on anyone. The nurses helped. Oh, i
might add, he did spend the night with me the day of surgery because he was
afraid after I had a bad experience in the middle of the night with another
surgery last year. That was more serious than this one.
— Delores S.
July 27, 2003
I forgot to say you probably will not feel like having to talk to someone
in the room anyway.
— Delores S.
July 27, 2003
I didn't have anyone come the day of my surgery. I knew I would be out of
it. However, by afternoon, I was feeling pretty good. I got up and walked
a bit, watched a little TV and napped some. I had visits from my brother
and sister over the next few days, but they didn't stay long, so I was
alone most of the time. I really didn't mind. I did the same things,
walked, watched TV, napped. I never felt like I could concentrate enough
to read anything more than magazine articles, so I did a little bit of
that. I found that the nurses responded to my call light pretty quickly
and didn't feel like I needed anyone there.
— garw
July 27, 2003
I was only in the hospital a total of 25 hours. I got to the hospital at
10:00am My surgery was at 12:30pm. I was in my room by 6pm. Up walking the
halls at 8:30pm. I tried to watch TV but really wasn't interested. I was
too busy trying to keep my mouth moist! Anyway, my husband left for home
at 6:30pm that night and he came to pick up me at about 9:30pm. I left the
hospital at 11:30am. I really didn't mind being alone.
— babrewer
July 27, 2003
My stay at the hospital was 5 days the first week and the last thing i
wanted was visitors or phone calls. the few i did get more or less annoyed
me. i ended up back the 2nd week for 4 more days and still felt the same as
far as visitors go. good luck to you and a speedy recovery to you
— sandra L.
July 27, 2003
Hi there. My stay in the hospital was like that of a vacation type of
thing. 3 nights and 4 days. (Minor blood pressure and sugar problems) The
first day (day of surgery) I was out of it completely. I could have cared
less if anyone was there or not. Day 2 was a little better. Getting up
walking around. Figuring out drinking etc. The 3rd day was good. I was
happy that a few family members and friends came to see me then. It was
easier. I was able to carry on a normal conversation without feeling like
I would fall asleep and miss something. For me it was all about the focus
on getting up and walking and getting in my fluids. Don't worry. You'll
do fine.
— Kitty Kat
July 27, 2003
Personally, being alone at the hospital was no problem. Like you, I thought
I'd be bored and lonely, but was so doped up and exhausted all I did was
sleep! As soon as I got "bored"(day 3) I knew it was time to
leave, and I bugged the nurse endlessly to call my doc and get me
discharged. I really doubt you'll notice not having visitors! (If I lived
in your state, I'd visit you -but you'd be too tired to notice anyway)!
Best wishes!!!
— Postop_nurse
July 27, 2003
Don't worry about it, you'll be fine without visitors. The hospital I went
do was not easy to get to for my family and friends. I was there from
Tuesday to Thurssday, so smack in the middle of the work week. My sister
was there the day of surgery, and I sent her home late in the afternoon
because there was no need for her to be there. She came back for about 2
hours on Wednesday evening (while I appreciated her concern, I would rather
have slept), and then to pick me up Thursday evening. I discouraged all
others from making the trip (and no one came!), and I was just fine.
Between the nurses and aides coming in to check on you and poke you, and
getting up to walk, and being taken for your leak test, and trying to get
in a nap, you won't miss visitors. I was kind of glad that I was on my own
and didn't have to entertain anyone. You'll be fine!
— Vespa R.
July 27, 2003
Hi, I'm 25, single and had open RNY in April 2 hours from where I live. My
mother is an RN and took vacation time to be with me in hospital. She got
a hotel room nearby. While it was nice to have her there when I needed
help to sit up or walk the halls with, I have to admit most of the time she
was asleep in the chair while I was asleep in bed. The last day when I was
most awake, she was getting her car worked on (she bought it in that city)
and went outlet shopping. In the past year I've been in the hospital more
than I would like, and most of the time have had no visitors and didn't
mind at all. I had what I needed and knew if I wanted to talk I could call
someone. The last time I had a roommate I can remember she kept getting
phone calls and visitors and she finally yelled at one of them and said
"I'm sick, I don't feel like chatting, I'm sorry!" So you'll be
fine, but I'm sure your mom won't see it as a sacrifice to make sure your
o.k. mommies are nice that way:)
— Sarahlicious
July 27, 2003
hi Marcie, I was the same way my hospital was 2 hours away from family and
friends.My husband stayed the day of surgery and than went home. the next 2
days i was by my self. It was kinda nice It forced me to get up and move
and my recovery has been fairly easy.I had meet a girl that had surgery the
same day as me on this website and we met in the hospital after surgery .
We walked together and talked . The hospital stay goes quickly.enjoy.I had
to wait after being discharged at 10:00am till 7:00pm for my husband to get
off work and come get me. the nurses were fine with it plus I got my
supper--broth and jello yumyum. YOou will be fine and you can eat and rest
when you want concider it a mini vacation.best of luck and a godspeed
recovery.
— patty L.
July 27, 2003
Marcie,
You will sleep the first day, and sleep & watch Tv for a couple of days
after that. I can remember the first 2 days of just wishing my visitors
would go home...even my parents. You may not want to read or anything like
that, if you do get bored, you can make a phone call to talk to someone.
Good luck. MaryLyn
— Kriola
July 27, 2003
To be honest I was glad when my visitors left. I truly wanted peace and
quiet and not to talk. I just did not feel very well. I was extremely sore
and I had a gas buildup that cause a major problem so I was pretty darn
miserable(they said it happens to like one out of 30)
Heck I didn't even watch tv the entire time I was there. I was too
uncomfortable. I didn't even read. Between the anestethsia and morhpin and
other pain killers and then some benedryl I couldn't even keep my eyes
open!
— Beverly S.
July 27, 2003
Marcie,
I just got out of the hospital on Fri. and concur with what the others
said. I kinda preferred the times my family wasn't there because I could
just fall asleep watching TV and not feel like I had to stay awake and talk
to them. The nurses, techs, and other patients will be around-- especially
when they get you up to walk. (Don't be like me-- afraid of getting up to
walk-- because it was a blessed relief to get out of bed and stroll the
hallways). You will be fine-- just bring whatever small amusements you
enjoy that don't require a long attention span, like handheld poker games,
magazines, etc. YOU GO GIRL!
— Wendy T.
July 27, 2003
Although people often mean well, they usually don't know what it's like to
be in the bed, recovering. I, for one, hate to sleep when others are in my
room. I told my parents not to come,because they would have been there for
HOURS. My husband was perfectly fine sleeping in the chair and watching tv
while I was sleeping. I loved the opportunity to doze on and off all day.
As the others have said, there are a lot of people that will come through
your room to poke at you---you won't miss the guests!!
— Fixnmyself
July 28, 2003
I agree with Barb X.! By the time you get bored, it's time to go home!
Like the others said, you will probably want the peace and quiet when you
can get it Let your mom get all the rest she can - you may need some help
from her more when you get home! A hospital is not a hotel, and you have
certain things that are ordered by the doctor to be done a certain time,
whether you would prefer to sleep then or not! Also, the sooner you get up
and moving, and the more you move, the easier it gets! I am 47 and I was a
late case, plus there was a room crunch, so it was late when I got to my
room. I didn't get up until the next morning for my leak test, but I
stayed up - walking, or sitting up in a chair, until midnight that night!
I went home the next afternoon. In fact, one of my co-workers came to see
me, and I was already dressed and ready to go home! You will be fine
without someone there with you! All the best with your surgery!
— koogy
July 28, 2003
Maybe i'm just an odd one but I felt lonely with out anyone visiting! I had
Lap Rny an had to stay 5 days due to complications. My hospital was about
an hr from where I lived and no one wanted to make the trip, my husband was
working and taking care of our 2 yr old so I only saw him about an hr a
day. Thankfully the nurses on my floor were great, they would come in and
talk to me when they werent busy. So that made it a bit better! Then again
I wasnt like everyone whos posted, I wasnt drugged up the whole time and I
wasnt in any pain.
— Renee D.
July 28, 2003
Hi! I did not have any visitors either, because I was a long way from home.
That was just fine. I slept alot, watched tv alot, and walked some in the
hallways. You won't need any visitors, and I was in the hospital almost one
week. Enjoy the rest, peace and quiet, and tv watching. You'll get alot of
company when you do get home. Best of luck. You'll do fine. Take care,
Kathy, Open RYN, June 23, 2003
— Kathy R.
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