I’m looking for practical advice. What should I plan to wear home? A tent? I have read some people had their clothes put on over the sling. I don’t think I have a shirt that big. Will I be able to pull a sleeve over the affected arm when I get home? I would really love to get a shower before the nerve block wears off. I’m dreading the loss of independence. It’s a torn rotator cuff repair, btw.
I wore a sleeveless t-shirt which I took to the tailor to open up, via snaps. then I purchased shirts (think flashdance) where I put my left arm in second. The stretch neckline that was also two sizes too big (hence the ability to get the shirt on. The shirts were Ellie Tahari…the t shirts from Rite Aid. Showering after? Talk to your doctor. Oh…and pull on pains…easily on with one hand.
Good luck! The first few weeks will be difficult. But it does get better.
I bought some cheap tank tops and wide neck t-shirts from Old Navy that were two sizes larger than my usual size. That made it easy to slip them over/around. The tank tops were also useful since I couldn’t bear to wear a bra for a while, so I layered them under loose cotton blouses, including a big chambray tunic with front pockets. If I were to have my other shoulder done (still trying to avoid that), I’d buy a poncho or two for warmth without needing to bother with sleeves.
Be prepared to not sleep very well at first. (DH had this surgery about 15 years ago.) Apparently lying down flat is very uncomfortable for a while.
I say channel your inner Hugh Hefner and wear a bathrobe home (without putting your arm through the sleeve). You’ll go from surgery to a recovery room, then out a back exit directly to your car which they’ll have your driver pull up right outside the door. Nobody but hospital staff and your driver will see you between the time you come out of surgery and climb into your car. At least that’s how it’s worked for the various hospital trips I’ve seen (as both patient and driver).
Once you get home you’ll probably be too exhausted and sleepy to take a shower, honestly. Make sure you have a goodly supply of soft pillows. I suspect you’ll be sleeping sitting upright for a few days.
We rented a recliner for a week or two after surgery. As VeryHappy mentioned, sleeping in a bed is uncomfortable.
Forget a bra completely. I wore a soft big button up shirt. Buy extra pillows and get an ice machine ready. Good luck.
IIRC, DH had some sort of contraption that fit around his shoulder and was connected to a machine that pumped cold water through it. It kept his shoulder completely surrounded by cold for the first few days. Much better than ice packs that will slip off all the time.
Purchase a body pillow if you do not already have one. A lot of my patients say it really helped them sleep better in those first few weeks after surgery when you cannot lie down flat comfortably.
Thanks everyone! I do have a recliner that DH modified to operate on the left side. I was thinking about getting some XL flannel shirts, assuming I will be able to get my operated arm into them. I like the idea of a robe to go home in.
If you live where it is cold, get a really big coat to button or zip over the affected arm. I loaned an old long and large parka to a friend who had shoulder surgery last year. She said it really helped.