What to wear for surgery?

cciele

Can I get away with appearing in public in sweats and flip-flops when going to the hospital? Even though it is outpatient surgery

All levity aside, I'm having knee surgery tomorrow morning (need to get there by 7 am, ugh). Will check in with you all later!

15 years ago

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

Prayers and positive thoughts!

15 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I've actually thought about this question too and am curious to hear people's thoughts. I had something done a couple years ago (pre-YLF) and I had to be at the clinic at 6 in the morning. I remember throwing on yoga pants and a hoodie and I felt sooo frumpy and not put together while I waited in the waiting room. I remember wishing I had put on real clothes. I wouldn't go in sweats now... it just doesn't feel right... even for surgery (although that's what most people wear!) I'd prefer something soft like leggings or ponte pants, etc.

Good luck tomorrow!

15 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Cathy, good luck with your surgery tomorrow. I wouldn't worry too much about looking stylish in this situation. Since it is day surgery, you will need to wear something that will be loose and easy to get on and off. Your knee may be sore afterward and perhaps bandaged, so you won't want any tight fitting pants. Perhaps, a loose fitting dress or skirt. Sending you hugs!

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

When I had foot surgery, fashion temporarily left my mind completely. I draw the line at telling people what to wear to sleep, to surgery, or to their own funeral.

First of all whatever I wore had to be stretchy to get over my swollen, bandaged foot, so there were practical considerations. I also knew it would be hard enough getting to the bathroom on my broken foot, and I did not want to deal with any buttons, zippers, etc. Definitely nothing skinny, straight, or too stiff. Second of all, honestly, it's a hospital, and you are about to be knocked unconscious and have your body cut open. Anyone who judges you for not dressing up for the occasion is just a rotten human being.

When I had surgery, I was nauseous and vomiting for the first week due to the antibiotic. Did I honestly care what I was wearing? Not one bit. Sure I didn't feel great, but I wasn't going to feel great anyway. I just had my bones broken and reset and was on Vicodin and an antibiotic that made me vomit.

Anyway, good luck Cathy! Hope the surgery and recovery go smoothly.

15 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Good luck with your surgery, Cathy! I wouldn't worry about what to wear as long as it's comfortable. How long is the recovery supposed to be? I hope you're getting some help with your girls while you recuperate.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

permssion for sweats granted from me at least.
I hope all goes well and you have a speedy recovery!

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Yes ! Just make sure that the sweatshirt has the word PATIENT on it !

And of course Queenie would say ok, she went out for syrup in crotchless sweats : )
( That is one of my all time favorite stories ! It always makes me giggle. )

Good luck tomorrrow !!!!!!!!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have my blessing. For all my ops, I wore sweats and converse to and from the hospital. Good luck! Ops are never nice things :0(

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Good luck with the op x

15 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Good luck for your operation, I hope it goes smoothly and recovery is a breeze. I hope you are wearing the sweats - comfort is paramount at times like these (along with copious amounts of sympathy and chocolate)!

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

Isabel- you just made me choke on my coffee. And for the record, they were NOT crotchless, they just had a slight hole in the crotch.
Cathy- i hope the surgery went well and you have lots of Vicodin to see you through the next few days

15 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I wore a track suit if you will when I had surgery. I was in-patient, though. I can't remember what footwear I wore. Those few days are a blur.
Watch the vicodin though. I found out the hard way that I was allergic to it. Not so easy when you just had surgery near your gut.
But you'll do just fine. Make yourself as comfortable as possible, and take it easy. Hugs!

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Here's wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery Cathy!
Maybe you could find sweats with PATIENT written across the butt

15 years ago

Veteran

Remember, what you wear to go there will be what you wear to go home. So keep in mind how you will be feeling afterwards and what the easiest thing to put on considering your knee. I don't know if a longer summer skirt would be easier for this situation or wide leg exercise pants or maybe even some wide leg shorts.

Praying for your sugery and a speedy recovery.

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm very late to this thread but I hope your procedure went smoothly and you are recovering well at home.

15 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Thanks all for the advice and well wishes. I ended up wearing yoga pants, t-shirt, hoodie, and clogs

Everything went really smoothly. The worst part was lying on the gurney, waiting what seemed like forever, to go into the OR. Now I'm at home with my Vicodin, ice, and leg elevated on the couch. Getting used to hobbling around on crutches. At least I'll have plenty of time to surf the 'net while couchbound!

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Cathy I'm glad it went well and you are already home. Hope your recovery continues well.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad that all went well, Cathy. Hang in there and catch more of you on the forum :0)

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

So glad this is over for you and you are on your way to recovery!!

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm happy you are home. Are the kids killing you with kindness?

15 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I bet you are so glad that is over, I'm glad to hear you are back at home already.

I hope that your recovery is as painless as possible and you are up and about in no time. No, hang on a minute, I'm rethinking that last statement, because if it were me, I think I'd like to receive as much sympathy and help for as long as possible, at least for the first couple of days!

Maybe, just maybe, I would have a few little requests for assistance and would enjoy watching my beloved family respond to my whims (Note - not 'whine', 'whim'!). Not that I've ever done this before, mind..... (says Katiepea, only girl and therefore princess of her household!)

Here, let me get you started...... "Honey, could I please have a cup of tea? No, I've changed my mind, tea doesn't appeal, a coffee would be nice! No, sorry, must be the medication, definately a glass of milk! Hmmmmm and a biscuit? No biscuits? Can you go to the shops and buy me a packet of biscuits please - I just really need a choc-chip biscuit, I'm sure it will help with my healing. Oh and a newspaper. Oh and that Womans Day magazine that I've heard about. When you get back, how about a foot massage? My feet, oh they are so cold! Oh and can you plump my pillow/scratch my back/peel me a grape?" (heh,heh,heh)

I reckon you could get away with it for quite a while. (Goodness I'm cheeky, hope I made you smile!) x

Seriously though, hope you are feeling comfortable and making a good recovery.

15 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Cathy, I'm glad to hear that everything went smoothly for you, and I hope you are resting comfortably. Take care of yourself and let your family spoil you. Hugs!

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

Cathy- I"m glad too that everything went well. I hope you get lots of rest and pampering. I would totally take full advantage of my family- hehe

15 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Cathy I'm glad to hear your procedure went well, hope you're continuing to recuperate. Am I allowed to ask if you had an arthroscopy? Are you recovering well? I think one of those is on the cards for me soon. Boo.

15 years ago

cciele

Veteran

You ladies are funny! Yes, I have been enjoying taking advantage of "pampering." No cooking or cleaning up. It'd be great if my knee didn't feel like !@#$. My kids have actually been really helpful. They get me icepacks, clean up the floor (so mommy doesn't trip, etc.). They even want to sleep downstairs with me in the living room, but I said no to that one

Tam -- I don't mind talking about the surgery if people don't mind hearing the gorey details. I had arthrosopy on my left knee for a chronic, anatomical issue (the lateral meniscus on both my knees is torn up and I have osteoarthritis in my knee caps).

As far as recovery goes:
Day 0: Have surgery, come home. Hey, knee doesn't feel too bad (I was under general anesthesia and they also used a local on the knee). I just take some Vicodin when I feel a twinge.
Day 1: !@#$$! My knee feels like it's being stabbed repeatedly by large knives, and is swollen to a scary size. I double the Vicodin (staying with the prescribed limits, of course).
Day 2: The knives are smaller today, and so is the knee (down to grapefruit size from melon size).
Day 3 (today): No more knives, just little needles every now and then, unless I bend my knee too much, then "!@#$%%." Am using just ibuprofen now.

Sorry to hear that you need one But it's supposed to be "quick" to recover from, compared to other types of surgeries. We will see!

15 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Glad to hear everything went well, Cathy. It is actually quite impressive progress although it probably doesn't seem so to you! Thanks for the details, this is probably in my future as well.

15 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Cathy thanks for the update!! It does sound like you are making good progress, but ow!!! I hope this fixes your knee problems! Please do keep us posted!

I have a suspected meniscal tear as well - having an MRI tomorrow to confirm. I don't know whether I'm hoping it shows up on MRI or not....I don't want to have surgery, but I do want my knee to get better!

15 years ago

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