Question:
Has your Dr suggested nursing home care post-op?
I just talked to my Dr and my surgery is a "Go" pending the ok from my insurer. He highly suggested that I spend 5 to 10 days in a nursing home following the surgery. I would have to let him know if I am ok with this before the surgery so he can make arrangements. Have any of you gone to a nursing home following surgery? Do you believe it is beneficial or should I just tell him I want to go home after my release from the hospital? — Linda H. (posted on March 30, 2002)
March 30, 2002
Hi, congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I'd need to know a bit more
information before I could say if it would be beneficial to go to a nursing
home. My first inclination would be that "no" a nursing home is
not necessary. However, if you fall into the super obese category then
some structured after care could be appropriate. I feel like a rehab
facility would be more appropriate however, than a nursing home. I doubt
that most nursing homes are educated or equipped to deal with a WLS
patient. If you don't have special or exceptional health care needs then a
nursing home or rehab facility really don't seem necessary. My husband and
teenage children were able to provide all the assistance I needed following
surgery. You might want to ask your surgeon if he means a rehab facility
instead of a nursing home. Or, you may want to find out exactly why he
feels you would need this intensive type care. He may have good reasons.
Best of luck to you! You're on your way!!
— ronascott
March 30, 2002
Only your surgeon knows what is best for you. If my surgeon suggested that
for the best care I needed to go into a nursing facility, I'd have signed
right up for the maximum 10 days. I wouldn't tell him what you think is
best for you, let him tell you. He's your surgeon and wants to take care of
you and he wouldn't want anything to happen to you.
— blank first name B.
March 30, 2002
Is it possible that instead of a "nursing home" he meant
"home nurse" as in someone coming over to check in on you? Just a
though.
— Julie D.
March 30, 2002
Are you super MO? Is your surgery taking place a long distance from your
home? Do you have anyone at home to help take care of you? I don't think
a nursing home would be the place, but a rehab facility might be a good
idea under the right circumstances.
— garw
March 30, 2002
You got to ask yourself "what kind of patient am I when I have been
sick in the past". If you are the type who like to bounce back and
rearing to go as well as knowing you are a bad patient,then go home. Set
youself up to go home and have home health come in to help you if your
insurance will cover it. If you feel unsteady about having this surgery and
you feel more secure having someone keep an eye out on you, go for the
extended care. I can speak from experience as a former nurse, a nursing
home may not be the place to go after surgery. You will basically need
acute care in a chronic care facility. If your physician want to do this
for you, find out where he is sending you before you step foot in that
hospital. Go to the nursing facility and stand in the middle of that
facility and get a good look at the nursing staff and the patients.Do the
staff look stressed and do the patients look well cared for. Also, will I
have family to be there to make sure I'm taken care of properly. Then speak
to the admission cordinator and find out if you will get the proper care
you need for those few days.
— Jan M.
March 30, 2002
They wanted my father to go into a nursing home for a couple of weeks post
op for several reasons- He was a high risk patient and my doc thought that
supervised care would be best, there wasn't going to be someone home with
him all the time, and the family's other reason was so our dog wouldn't
annoy him. We all thought that a nursing home would help him adjust to his
new situation better. The day he was supposed to go there, they gave his
bed away, so he ended up coming home- and was fine. Looking at it now, he
likes his own bed and space so home was probably a better place- more
relaxing at least. He DID have a home nurse come in daily for a few weeks,
and that did help a lot. I think patients need to be where they are more
comfortable- that will promote the best healing. Just my thoughts. It is
best to do what your surgeon suggests, if you have concerns I think you
should discuss it with him. Good Luck!
— Angela B.
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