Advance Planning Before Mom Has Surgery: Home and Family Be Prepared Families.com

This Monday, I will be having surgery, and my estimated recovery time is the standard 6-weeks. While I’ll be able to do many things after the surgery I know I won’t be doing everything I usually do. The idea of catching up after recovery is more frightening to me then the surgery itself. After all this is going to be my 8th time to have an operation so, I have a good idea what I am in for.

I’m not in the mood to fall too far behind this time. So, rather then have my whole world of responsibilities stand still–and pile up I am hoping that some of my preplanning will pay off in the end. I want to be prepared this time around. This is my pre-surgery game plan:

Prepare the Home:

1) Super Clean, and put up all the unfinished project, clutter and little things that will only bother me when I get home and have to look at for a few weeks. I know I will NOT feel like finishing the sewing of the new curtains for our bedroom. The project need to be put away so that it isn’t messed up while I am out–or bothering me when I return.
2) Do the Routine Monthly chores, like dumping the septic-tank “stuff” in my toilets and down the drains even if it is a bit early. Buy some automatic toilet cleaner tables, (those bleach things you put in the tank) because I just hate a dirty toilet and know I won’t be cleaning them for awhile.
3) Clean my “recovery-zone” clean and organized. I’m not going to want to lay there noticing the cob-webs in the corner of the bedroom, or a ½ inch of dust on the dresser.

Food–Cooking and other household needs :

Everyone in the family “thinks” they once saw dad stir a pan on the stove, but mostly we remember when the fire department had to come out because he turned on the Microwave instead of the oven timer and caused that fire to start in the microwave because he left a paper towel in it and cooked it of 30 minutes on high!

1) Food Shop and stock-up. It’s going to be at least two weeks before I can drive or run to buy milk. I have taken the food budget for the month after my surgery and purchased as much as I can fit into the house.
2) Milk can be frozen, if you remove the cap and take a bit out. Once it freezes the cap can be put back on.
3) We usually have a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables in our home. Since I won’t be able to shop as often or have the energy to clean, peel and prepare fresh a large stock of canned and frozen need to be on hand.
4) For the two weeks before my surgery I have made double and triple dinners and frozen the extra meals that can be heated in the microwave.
5) Laundry supplies, hygiene supplies like razors, toothpaste and toilet paper.
6) Little things I might want after I get home, like a case of diet Pepsi and some magazines to read.
7) Pet supplies, food and cat litter. I really wont be happy if we run out of this junk while I am trying to recover.

Children:

It’s all fine and great that my family thinks they can take care of me and the children during and after surgery but, thinking is much different then doing. So, I have made advanced plans.

1) Child care for the first two-weeks, full time husband will drop off and pick up. Yes, it is expensive but it’s important that mom recovers. So, the childcare is arranged and pre-paid so no one can argue about it–or compromise later.
2) Grandma will be staying with us the first weekend after surgery and the little one will stay with grandma the second weekend. Planned in advance and not as needed because it’s too easy to back off and change plans.
3) The teenage girl will be coming over after school to help with housework and child care for the last four-weeks of my recovery. I have also set the money aside in our budget so this doesn’t fall through the cracks either.

Post Surgery Supplies:

1) Heating and Ice packs.
2) Non-prescription pain killers. (Because I want off the narcotics as soon as possible)
3) While I am at it I will make sure I have all the kid-related medical stuff just in case someone gets diarrhea or a terrible cold.

The last and maybe most important thing to do before my surgery is to be sure my bills are paid, and I review my personal will. Even though I have had 8 operations there is always that horrible chance something could go wrong. Before I go into surgery I need to be sure my actual Will and my Living Will (or advanced directive) are up to date and accurate.

I think that my planning is as complete as I can possibly make it, hopefully by the time I go in on Monday morning I don’t go under the knife worried about much of anything other then the surgery and recovery.

Photo credit for this blog entry: (standard SXC restrictions for this photo apply)

Related Blogs:

Anna Glendenning is a Families.com Insurance and Guest Blogger. Read her Blogs at: http://members.families.com/happymomanna/blog