Tag Archives: surgery recovery

Caregiver Tip #12 – Arrange a Hand-Off Between Caregivers

Have a good hand-off if caregivers change over the first couple weeks. That will ensure whoever is care giving has all the information needed. Details on medication schedule, eating, resting, and any limitations should be discussed.

In the hospital, my family took turns being with me in the hospital room.  Then, for the first few weeks, my parents alternated with Kayla as my caregivers.  As they switched back and forth they would fill each other in on the current status and any changes to medication, activities, or doctor’s orders.  It was helpful to have them share so that we had consistency in care.

 

Lessons Learned From Brain Surgery #1

Be optimistic, but don’t discount possible outcomes just because they don’t sound fun.

I did extensive research prior to my brain surgery.  What I learned was helpful, fascinating, and terrifying.  It was very helpful to have information tucked away in my mind to retrieve as I experienced things when waking up.  However, I did discount all scary outcomes just because I didn’t want to experience them, didn’t have time, and couldn’t conceive of those things happening to me.

Topics that were helpful were facial “weakness”, which I learned was actually paralysis; dry eye and gold weight implants in eyelids; single sided deafness; spinal fluid leak; taste changes after surgery that angers facial nerves.

Caregiver Tip # 11 – Stay in Hospital

Stay in the hospital overnight if possible to care for the patient. I found something almost always came up AFTER the nurse left.

I was confused, even though I didn’t think I was.  Having Kayla there overnight helped immensely.  Hospitals are very accommodating to make caregivers as comfortable as possible.  Kayla had a cot set up for her.  It help them too so that they can focus on medical care.

Years before, Kayla was in the hospital as a pre-teen.  She had her appendix out.  In the middle of the night she was itchy from a drug interaction.  She became agitated and needed red jello.  The only jello that they had on the floor was green.  In hindsight it is a funny story that we laugh about, but I was able to help her get what she needed.