1.  Keep a notebook with all of your questions,
and the answers as you receive them.  There is
no question that is too trivial.

2.  If you’re going to Columbia for surgery with
Dr. Gross, THIS SHOULD PROBABLY BE NUMBER ONE ON
YOUR LIST.  Contact Pat Dukes, parolon@bellsouth.net.
She’s a resident as well as a godsend, and
provides invaluable information for those
traveling to Columbia.

3.  You don’t buy every contraption you hear
about on the surfacehippy site.  Many are
helpful, but not necessary.  You know yourself,
and your house.  My biggest obstacle is living
in a small town home with 15 narrow stairs
separating the kitchen and the bedrooms/shower.
Nothing short of a remodel can change that.  The
physical therapist in the hospital worked with
me extensively on how to get by at home.

4.  I do recommend:
a. Get at least one raised toilet seat.  There
are several different kinds.  There are just the
seats which are raised, and may or may not have
arm rests.
ü   First, you will need the armrests after
surgery.  They will need to be high enough for
you to reach back to in order to support your
ascent and descent.
ü   Second, If you get one of these wider seats,
make sure the seat is split.  To put it bluntly,
wiping yourself on these special seats is tough
when you’re feeling fine.  After the surgery,
forget it.
ü   For other bathrooms in the house I bought 2
stands that just provide arm support.  I even
used them daily before I left to make sure I
could raise and lower my body without ANY
muscles from the waist down.  If nothing else,
it makes for interesting workout equipment.  I
ordered them from Skymall.com for about $60
each.  (They even come with a magazine rack!)
The link is:
b. Buy compression stockings before you go.
Talk to an orthopedic specialist, podiatrist or
your primary care physician as to the strength
of the compression you should get.  Some
physicians use them, some don’t.  They’re not
cheap – around $40 – however, I really wish I
had known about them.  They would have prevented
an ER trip when I returned home.
c.  Many surface hippies have needed some kind
of recliner for sleeping, some of whom have
spent nearly $200 for the LaFuma.  I tried that,
and found it to be like cheap patio furniture
that sagged.  While it’s usually nice to come
home to your own bed –a recliner (La-Z-Boy, or
even chaise lounge) allows you to sleep with
minimal pressure on the incision, and prevents
you from turning over, with your operated leg
going over and above the other (which is not a
pleasant situation, to under-state the case).
The advantage to the recliner is that it won’t
let you turn over.  The disadvantage is that you
have to sleep sitting up.
d. An elevated Aerobed has been a godsend for me
(better than recliner).  It minimizes the
pressure on painful parts, and allows my husband
a modicum of sleep!
e. A heating pad.  With all the ice you’ll have,
it allows you to break even body temperature
wise!
f.   If you’re going to Dr. Gross, take an extra
duffel bag to hold all the supplies he gives
you.
g. While we are all very different, I’ve heard
many say they can’t read much after story.  I
recommend downloading novels from your local
public library onto your MP3.  They’re great for
when you’re awake, can’t take another minute of
TV, have watched all your Netflix, you’re
sitting in the airport, etc.
h. If you live in a multi-level home, I suggest
getting 2 of the tools that are so helpful –
grabber, shoe horn, sock tool, etc.  Most
medical supply places sell them for about $25,
and I’ve found the general rule to be that
whatever I need is not on the same floor as I
am.

5.  I highly recommend taking care of a will and
a durable medical power of attorney before you
leave, and bringing several copies with you.
Your surgeon, the pre-op people at the hospital
and the nursing staff will need copies of this.
I’d bring more just in case.

6.  If at all possible, particularly for the
return trip, upgrade your airline seats to first
class.  The leg room is worth it.  As an aside,
confirm orally & GET  AL L  E-MAIL CONFIRMATIONS
that you are on first class.  The United
Airlines call centers in Mumbai, or wherever, do
not have a vested interest in getting it right
for you.

7.  Before leaving home for your surgery,
arrange in both your kitchen and bathroom the
things you are most likely to need/use when you
return.  It is best to have them at waist level
or above.  The “grabber” won’t lift jars, etc.
If you’re a neat freak, put them in plastic
storage drawers.  For a while, it takes a LOT of
energy to do the most basic things.

8.  If you take several medications or have
specific allergies, prepare a list of these and
bring 10 copies with you.  Include the brand
name, the generic name, the dosage, the
prescribing physician, and how often you take
it.  Provide the doctor’s office, the hospital,
the nursing station, etc., with copies.  Get the
doctor to write on the orders that you’ll take
your own meds.  It will save you money and
aggravation. As long as the doctor has the list,
knows what you’re taking, there’s no reason you
shouldn’t be able to take your own medications.

9.  Remember the usual stuff, like holding mail,
canceling papers, etc.
Make a checklist of everything you take with
you.  Keep one copy in your luggage, and one
with the papers you’ll be carrying with you.
This comes in handy because you move from hotel
to hospital to hotel, and because airlines don’t
often get everything to where it’s supposed to
be.