Hello Mama,
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. The things coming to mind right now and I'm sure others will think of things that I don't would be:
a walker
a cane
Loose clothing
easy meals
someone to stay with one when your husband is gone
pain relief
plenty of pillows to support yourself with
do your grocery shopping ahead of time and such
For your husband it depends on what he likes, puzzle books, reading material
Just tell your children the truth that you are going to be in the hospital to get your back fixed and your going to miss them, but you will talk to them on the phone. Send them with some of their own toys and pics of you and your husband.
I hope that you have a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. I'll keep you in my prayers , Toni

Hi,
Well, you know I don't know if you are having a fusion, but it doesn't matter, back surgery is taxing in the body, and after 5 lumbar surgeries let me tell you what worked for me.

An electric hospital bed - I put it in the living room so I could be close to the kitchen, bathroom, front door, etc. (my ins. paid for it)
Raised Potty - After surgery there is no BLT (bending, lifting or twisting). A regular toilet seat is too low, so you need the raised one, trust me!
A Shower Chair - You will be in tons of pain, and taking a shower will make you tired, plus you do not want to fall!
A Shower Mat - Don't want to fall...........
Satin Sheets - They are easy for slipping and sliding out of bed
Miralax - It is the best anti-constipation medicine, and after surgery the last thing that you need is constipation!
A Grabber/Reacher - Because of the no BLT rule, you need something to be able to pick up things that fall, or are out of reach, I agot mine at ACE Hardware Store.
A Walker - For the first two weeks while at home from the 1st surgery it helped me bunches!
A Cane - For when you graduate from the walker......


All of the things that you need in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets that are currently low, you need to bring up to waist level, again because of NO BLT!
During my recovery I just wanted to watch movies and do nothing, I was in so much pain, it was unreal, but hopefully you will have good pain management post-op. As far as the kids go, I can not help you there because my youngest is 22..... LOL! But I can tell you that you are NOT going to be able to carry your kids for about a year.

I hope that your surgeon gave you a realistic time line on recovery..... Most surgeons will say; "Oh, in 3 months you will be back at work!".... YEAH RIGHT! NOT! It actually takes a full year to recover fully from spinal surgery, so if your Doctor says 3 to 4 months, just know that is not realistic. For your husband, I don't know hun, tell him to pack his patience! Good luck with surgery and I hope that you are up and about sooner than I was!

Thanks Ladies for your answers.Some of the things you have suggested we already have from when my husband had hip replacement.I have already done most of the shopping and have frozen a few meals.My daughter is a wonderfull cook and house keeper and I know she will take good care of the kids.She still lives at home so the children will get to be in their own home.So I have that covered so far.My mother and my husband have decided to take turns staying with me at the hospital so that will make it easier on Hubby[he is just 10 months out from his hip surgery and I know it still bother him].I told them that I would be ok after the 1st night for them both to leave but that is out of the question because about 10 months ago a family friend had surgery,her husband stayed with her but dosed off to sleep and woke up and found her dead in the bathroom floor from a blood clot.

The biggest sugestion that jumps out at me is the hospital bed.Did your dr suggest it or did you have to ask him about it?I have been thinking about it and it does seem like it would make it alot easier on me.

By the way I am having a fusion.The dr said he would fuse 3 vertabra put in 2 rods,4 screws and a growth stimulator.He has talked about me needing more surgery after this one to repair the other damage to my spine.I had a really bad fall about 14 years ago and fractured my spine in 3 places,the ER gave me pain meds and muscle relaxers and sent me home.They didnt tell me that I needed to see a specialist or anything.The fractures are at T11& T12,T4 & T5 and L4 & L5 AND I have small tumors all up & down my spine probably from birth,spinal canal norrowing and other things I cant remember right now.My dr told me that it would take several years to repair all the damage he could[some cant be fixed] because he wants me to have proper recovery time between surgeries.He is doing the worst 1st and will move on to the next worst.

With all that is wrong with my back and having Fibro and nueropathy in my hands,arms,legs and feet the disability board is still fighting me.They turned me down at the hearing in September and now we are at the appeals counsel stage.My drs have even wrote letters in my behalf and that hasnt helped at all with them.

Hi mamawx4,
Yes, I suggested the hospital bed to my Doc and he just wrote the script for it and the insurance company paid. It is easier to go up and down with the electric bed, and it was a HUGE blessing for me. I also had breaks on my vertebraes from an accident at home! I went down 14 flight of concrete stairs during one of our hurricanes (I was trying to walk the dog-DUMB!), and that is why I ended up with a 3 level/360 fusion from L2 to L5. Things did not go as plan so now I am in worst shape, but such is life! I hope that your surgery goes well and that you will have better pain management post-op than what I did... Take care!

Hi Mama,

I'd suggest a dressing stick and a bath sponge/brush to reach wear you cant after surgery. usually they come in a "hip replacement kit". I'd also see if your husband can fill any prescriptions before he leaves the hospital with you. Depending how long after your last hospital dose you leave, you might need it during the ride home, or soon after.
I also would mention that you might want some thing to put your hair up if its long. I'm always hot in the hospital and my hair being down makes it worse. I'd also bring a pillow for the ride home. Good luck and feel better.