Pre-Surgery Prep!

Well after all that waiting and pushing on, surgery has suddenly come around so fast! And I've been buzzing around getting as prepared as I can be for my upcoming recovery. I'll have pre-op, followed by surgery the next day, then if all goes well I'll have 4 days in hospital. After this I have to stay close by the hospital for another week, and then I'll be given a final check over before I'm allowed to go home for the rest of the recovery, which I'm expecting to be 3-6 months, although I'm hoping to be able to do some easy, slow stuff and get driving again at 2-3 months.

Here's what I've got ready!

​I've included my amazon affiliate links for these items just as I do with my camping gear, so if you purchase any of these items using these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to yourself - thank you ❤️

First up, my flumpy new reclining desk chair! Oh I absolutely love this. It's ridiculously comfy, and I wish I had gotten one sooner actually! It leans right back, the arms turn up and down, and a leg rest slides in or out. I won't be able to go camping for quite some time but I'm hoping that with this, I'll be able to get back to editing the content that I've already filmed within a few weeks after surgery. And that's gonna be important for me during the recovery as doing nothing would drive me totally mad. It'll be nice to be able to get on with some projects while I'm stuck at home, and I don't imagine that I'll be able to sit upright at a regular desk chair for long spells at first. This is delivered in bits - I managed to put it together by myself in under an hour, but there was one part that would have been easier with two. I like to chuck a blanket over it and add a pillow too, along with my heat pad (see below).. well snug!

Next, a small chest freezer! I've loaded it with pre-cooked homemade meals, including apple and blackberry crumbles of course, made with foraged fruit for the cosy coming autumn. I've not got quite as many meals made up as I was hoping for but it's a good lil store for the early days when I might not feel up to cooking. And I can get big food shops doofed into this to get all stocked up while I'm not able to go out shopping myself. I had no space for it in my tiny kitchen so it's in my living room next to my desk, but being black it fits in real nice and doesn't look out of place at all. Nice and quiet too, with adjustable temperature so you can use it as a fridge or a freezer. I've only used it as a freezer and I love it so far.

​A nice big heat pad - this plugs into the mains, covers my entire torso and feels like absolute heaven! I think it'll be a godsend when my upper body feels like it's been hit by a truck. I've had hot water bottles and heat patches on me since last spring but this is much easier, and it's great to lay on or drape over myself. It has multiple heat settings and a timer function so I can use it in bed without worrying about leaving it on when I fall asleep

​A wedge pillow - I've already been using this since October 2024 when laying down flat became uncomfortable, started giving me a 'digging in' feeling and making my heart race. I'll be continuing to use this post-surgery. I actually have two of these, one which stays on my bed, and one which stays in my car so that I can sleep comfortably while out and about. I use it camping at the moment too as I'm sleeping close to or in my car, so it'll be a bit of a challenge to get used to sleeping without it again when I'm back in the wild! It's made such a difference to my comfort over the last couple of years. Apparently it's difficult to sit up from reclined post-surgery, and laying down flat to sleep will continue to be a no-go for quite some time, so this'll continue to be helpful. I'm also gonna have to get used to sleeping on my back, which as a life-long side sleeper is gonna be interesting! 

​A pill organiser. Apparently I'm gonna be blasted with an insane amount of painkillers, so this'll help me to keep on track of it all especially when I'm fuzzy-headed and knackered in the early days. I chose the multi-coloured one as I thought it might cheer me up when I'm feeling rough.. little things eh! I'm just hoping the sections will be big enough for all the pills..

​Wooly the sheep. A really soft, squishy pillow, not just to remind me of the sheep friends of the hills that I'll hopefully be reunited with over the coming year, but also to help me get comfy both at home and when I'm a passenger in the car (I won't be able to drive for 6-8 weeks). Wooly is also to hold against my chest to brace myself when I sneeze or cough and to generally bring some cuteness and comfort to the ordeal. Aint she adorable! My son introduced me to Squishmallows when he was a little one. He grew out of them, but I never did haha (not sorry).

A home gym! We already had a few bits and bobs but we now also have a bench and a rack. George and I have sacrificed our living room table for strength and fitness.

​This won't be being used by me for some months yet, but it's there ready for when I'm eventually healed enough to start building some strength in my upper body. I'm actually really excited about this, as I've always had a strong lower body, but been weak up top. My caved-in chest just can't support any weight as it is now and I get injured if I even attempt to do pushups or anything like that. While I can't use this yet, George is making good use of it already; he's a couple of months post a serious leg injury (complete hamstring avulsion) and can't play his sports currently, but this is helping him to keep his muscles strong in the mean time. They're both real sturdy, were easy to put together and while I can't comment any further as I can't use them yet, George is very pleased with them so far.

​Aside from a stool for the shower and a few bits for the hospital; slippers, jammies, ear plugs and sleeping mask, plus the next books in the series that I'm reading at the moment (Earths Children by Jean M Auel), that's about it I think! I have a dear friend who'll be staying with me for the first 2 weeks in and around the hospital, and a wonderful support network of friends and family who are gonna be helping out once I'm back home. I'm so very grateful for every one of you! It's an uncertain time but I feel everything is gonna be alright in the end. Better than alright :) but I'm expecting a rough ride for a while. The next post will be after the bars have gone in.. so excited!

I'm ready! :D