Advice and tips for Loners preparing for surgery

[backtoblue]

Surgery can be a difficult challenge even with a team of nurses and a huge, caring family to take care of you.

If you are going through a procedure alone, planning ahead of time is essential to your safety and well being.


So, get a pen and paper and let's make a plan!

*Follow all instructions from your doctor and nurses
*Get your recovery space clean and the floor free of clutter
*Make arrangements for pets
*Arrange for transportation to and from hospital
*Have medicines, water, and essential products within arm's reach


Here is a link to a wealth of information from fellow DUers. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181323946

Please share and add any advice or tips you have.

[LiberalArkie]

1. For me it is finding someone to drive me and pick me up. I live out in the country.

[backtoblue]

5. Non emergency transport for Medicaid recipients in Arkansas

https://medicaid.mmis.arkansas.gov/Beneficiary/Net.aspx

Gonna look for more options.

[LiberalArkie]

6. Yep for medicaid, Medicare not so much.

It is always a hassle finding someone that is off a day I need to be sedated and come up with the money to pay them..

[central scrutinizer]

3. And have someone else take notes

I had ankle surgery and I guess the surgeon talked me after the surgery. I was still groggy from the anesthesia and don’t remember a word. My sister in law was my driver and she took notes of the “conversation”.

[backtoblue]

10. Good idea

And if you dont have someone with you, ask the dr/nurse beforehand to write the important stuff down for ya

[mitch96]

4. I need cataract surgery and was thinking of using Uber...

They use propofol as a anesthesia which is short acting and a hypnotic so I don't see any problems using them...
m

[catchnrelease]

7. It might depend on the facility

A few weeks ago I had a colonoscopy in which they used a light sedation. In their pre-procedure forms/instructions it said that the driver could NOT be a taxi or Uber type driver. They wanted the driver to be with you when you checked in and specifically asked if he (my husband) was my driver and what was his contact number. Maybe not all places do this, but I did wonder what people do if they don't have family or friends to drive them.

[mitch96]

8. ? Pay the uber driver to say he is your neighbor??

Most of my day time friends that could do it are a bit of a distance away and still work...
m

[catchnrelease]

9. Kind of what I was thinking

As long as you have someone that can be verified as your driver and they are willing to wait or come back when you're done, just pay them to do it. My husband went home and came back when they called him. We gave them his cell number and that was it. I don't recall any 'proof of relationship' needed. An uber driver could be your neighbor, right?