I currently have a broken leg and accidentally breaking my arm from a fall now is my worst fear. I’m so sorry this happened to you.
I ordered this wedge pillow set and this elevation pillow on Amazon for my broken leg.
I also grabbed an overbed table on wheels since I work from home, along with a waterproof cast cover and a bath chair for showers.
It’s amazing what I found just by entering in “broken leg accessories” on my Amazon app while in the hospital. Feel better soon and hope this helps!
I had my lap on Friday morning; here are the things that I found to be essential to help me through it:
QUESTIONS: - What are signs of infection to watch for? - How much can I lift after surgery? - Can I use heat or ice for pain? - When can I return to work? - When can I return to pelvic floor PT? (If applicable) - Will you provide me with pictures/videos? - When can I shower? When I can I submerge my incisions? (take a bath) - If you find endo, are there limitations on where and what form you’re willing to remove? (My doc was transparent about leaving anything on my sciatic nerve because walking is more important) - What level of pain/bleeding should I be concerned about?
PRODUCTS: - I don’t have a recliner to keep me upright, so I invested in this pillow set. It’s essential if you can swing it. The gas pain I had was very minimal because I made sure to prop myself up, even while sleeping. It takes all the strain off of my abs. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B085W6LHT9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_GA1EQP3HMTQM21N74NDW - Night shirts! I am living in them. Brands I bought off Amazon include WiWi, Ekouaer, and Avidlove. I wore an Old Navy t shirt dress to the hospital for the procedure, also highly recommend. - Aerie Real Me Boyfriend Underwear saved me. I have a Kardashian booty, so the mesh hospital undies didn’t fit me well. The pads would fall off due to the bad fit but I bought these a size bigger than I needed and it’s been a lifesaver. AERIE: https://www.ae.com/us/en/p/2776_6112_073 - I didn’t want to use narcotics for my procedure, and my doctor was very respectful of that. That being said, ice was (and 4 days later still is) my best friend. I was turned on to Yuyu bottles from another user for period pain (they’re basically water bottles that you can wrap and tie around you). During surgery, I’ve been putting them in the freezer and it’s THE BEST. It’s the only way I can asleep. You could also use bags of frozen peas in a pinch. https://www.yuyubottle.com - I took this tiny pillow in my backpack and used it to cushion my stomach from the seatbelt on the ride home from the hospital. Very important! I also keep this on my lap so I don’t accidentally push on my incisions. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079VVLYC7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - Meds: Tylenol, Motrin, Gas-X, Stool Softeners (Dulcolax), Miralax just in case (I had to use it once), and ginger candies (for nausea). - Some other things that helped me: dry shampoo, Summer Eve wipes, pads, pantry liners, Equilibria CBD, a magnetic cable wrangler so my chargers wouldn’t fall and need to be picked up (Smartish Cable Wrangler -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BB5MBZ9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
PREPARATIONS: - Have everything you normally bend over to get to moved up. For example, I moved my pads from under the sink to a small basket in the counter, and put all my nightshirts and sized up underwear in a laundry basket and put them on the couch. - Have LOTS of liquids on hand - bottled water, peppermint tea, Gatorade, liquid IV, broth, bone broth, hot cocoa, etc. Make sure that you don’t have to bend to get to them. I had cottonmouth from the anesthesia for 3 days. - Try to prep at least a pot of soup. Eat small meals the first day, and try to get some fiber in (carrots, oranges, cantaloupe, etc) to help avoid constipation. - Have the fridge full. Make sure you have bread, milk, eggs, butter, cereal, crackers, soups, anything you need for at least 5-7 days. Have a friend/partner/delivery service (be careful about lifting!!) lined up if you need anything while recovering. - Clean your space. It’ll be easier to spend time in if it’s clean. - Do as much laundry as you can before. Clean bedding, towels, and clothes ready to wear will make recovery much smoother. - Queue up your entertainment. It can get frustrating having to find something to watch/do.
Best of luck! 🍀