GRS Recovery Questions

[Yuuki]

Hello,

 

So, I am 33 years old and recently had a consultation for GRS, obtained my first letter of support, and will be receiving the second within a few weeks. I unfortunately do not have any friends/family in the USA that is able to go with me for surgery. I have no friends here, my mother is in assisted living halfway across the country, and my sister is having her first child around the same time.

 

My surgeon, Dr. Kathy Rumer, does require someone to go with me to take care of me after, so I am considering hiring a nurse for home care from the hospital as I will be in a hotel room from, I believe day 4 to day 9.

 

What my main question is really: I will be flying home after the initial week of post op recovery, for those who have undergone GRS, how was the pain and changes to mobility in the first two weeks? Will I have trouble on my own getting through an airport and then back home from the airport? (I plan on uber/lyft to go to/from airports)

 

Thank you all!

[Jani]

Hello @Yuuki and welcome.  I flew home 10 days after my surgery and it wasn't bad.  I just moved slowly. The pain level will depend upon your personal tolerance level but you should be all right.  As to hiring a nurse, that is an option that many have done.  Best of luck.

 

Jani

[Jackie C.]

2 hours ago, Yuuki said:

Hello,

 

So, I am 33 years old and recently had a consultation for GRS, obtained my first letter of support, and will be receiving the second within a few weeks. I unfortunately do not have any friends/family in the USA that is able to go with me for surgery. I have no friends here, my mother is in assisted living halfway across the country, and my sister is having her first child around the same time.

 

My surgeon, Dr. Kathy Rumer, does require someone to go with me to take care of me after, so I am considering hiring a nurse for home care from the hospital as I will be in a hotel room from, I believe day 4 to day 9.

 

What my main question is really: I will be flying home after the initial week of post op recovery, for those who have undergone GRS, how was the pain and changes to mobility in the first two weeks? Will I have trouble on my own getting through an airport and then back home from the airport? (I plan on uber/lyft to go to/from airports)

 

Thank you all!

 

Oh hey, say hi to Doctor Rumer for me!

 

So, the entire saga is here: Jackie Goes For Bottom Surgery, but I ABSOLUTELY recommend having someone to take care of you. You're also going to need a friend to come with you to the hospital for the day of your surgery. I was pretty useless for the first couple of weeks. I could walk, slowly, and do stairs before they cut me loose but I sure wasn't moving very quickly.

 

You should be able to manage the airport. It doesn't hurt as much as you'd think, but that doesn't mean that there's no pain. Ubering is fine. Just don't do what I did and take the train home. I mean I survived it, but...

 

Congratulations! I hope your surgery brings you all the joy you are hoping for and more besides!

 

Hugs!

[Yuuki]

Thank you @jackie

 

When you say I ”need" a friend to come with me to the hospital for the day of the surgery, is that a mandatory need, or a nice to have need? I ask because I absolutely do not have any friends in the USA, let alone any to come with me. I think the last time I had a "friend" was probably when I was 24 years old?

[Jackie C.]

2 hours ago, Yuuki said:

Thank you @jackie

 

When you say I ”need" a friend to come with me to the hospital for the day of the surgery, is that a mandatory need, or a nice to have need? I ask because I absolutely do not have any friends in the USA, let alone any to come with me. I think the last time I had a "friend" was probably when I was 24 years old?

 

Mandatory I'm afraid. You have to have a friend or family member present during your surgery. I tapped my sister-in-law for my revision surgery, but they want you to have someone you've known for at least a year on site just in case things go sideways.

 

You absolutely need to talk to Doctor Rumer's office about that and see what the hospital requires. Your advocate should be able to help you with your options. On the plus side, they're not going to CHECK to see if you've known your escort for a year so a nurse might meet their requirements. Good luck sweetie!

 

Hugs!