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Wiping Buttocks after surgery

  • 1.  Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-04-2020 12:27
    Hi,

    Does anyone have any stories, feedback or suggestions about how to wipe your own butt after OHS?  My wife will be home for a period of time but having her stay out of work longer just to be my butt cleaner is a poor use of her time.

    How long was this a problem and how did you handle it?

    Thanks

    ------------------------------
    Mike M
    Halfmoon, NY
    Bi-Cuspid Aortic Valve w/ Moderate/Severe Leak
    Aortic Aneurysm
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-04-2020 12:30
    Mike,
    I have heard that you have to avoid reaching behind you to wipe, but that you have to wipe from the front. That's the challenge. The nurses should tell you that.

    Thanks,





  • 3.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-04-2020 14:12
    Hello Mike,
    I just went ahead and wiped after my surgery. I did it very slowly. I tried to sit up as straight as I could, leaned into the wall next to the toilet and reached around slowly.
    It was not as painful as I thought it would be. I also learned to fold three to five small stacks of paper and kept them ready to be used instead of trying to rewipe, fold and reach around three or four times if needed. That way I only had to reach around once and took care of business, After my first three or four practice tries I had it down to an easy system. Just turn very slowly and do not be afraid of leaning into the wall next to the toilet.

    Richard Short
    Chapter 395





  • 4.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-04-2020 19:13
    Scott have you had surgery yet I thought it was scheduled for yesterday ??

    ------------------------------
    Tim Purgacz
    IT Analyst
    Australia
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  • 5.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-04-2020 19:20
    Mike, 
    It was, but they cancelled it because my surgeon had a patient that arrived at the hospital that needed emergency surgery. They rescheduled for this Monday. I came down with somewhat of a cold Friday. They said they could reschedule for Thursday next week depending on how I'm feeling tomorrow. They told me to call tomorrow to speak with an on call surgeon to see about scheduling for Thursday. I know they don't usually operate if you have a cold. I would rather feel 100 %. I would be over this by or before Thursday. 

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 6.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-05-2020 03:28
    Never had a problem, was never told not to wipe my own butt ....Good luck

    ------------------------------
    Mary H
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-05-2020 07:04
    Hi Mike,

    I may not be the best person to respond to your question because I was in a medically induced coma for two weeks after my open heart surgery and in intensive care another week after that, during which time the nurses did everything for me.  Three weeks post-surgery, however, I was transferred to Kessler Institute for physical rehab, including learning to walk again, and was taught all the usual sternal restrictions, including not lifting more than 5 pounds, not bending forward to tie shoes, etc.  In fact, they trained and tested me for compliance.  At no time whatsoever, however, did they warn me about wiping my butt, and at no time whatsoever did I have even the slightest problem wiping my butt despite my other physical difficulties at the time.

    When I was released from Kessler and came home, three weeks after arrival and six weeks post surgery, I felt great and was fully independent, chaffing at my wife's insistence that she accompany me on my daily neighborhood walks the first week after coming home,  I was feeling so well that I started doing some internet research on sternal restrictions because I began to wonder how much they were medically necessary and how much they may have been an insurance industry over reaction to an occasional sternal complication in an effort to reduce insurance costs.  

    Sure enough, I found that restrictions varied by doctor, region, country (restrictions in the UK are significantly less severe than they are in the US) and over time.  I then called a cardiologist friend who has been practicing nearly half a century and he confirmed that sternal restrictions have varied over the years (just like other medical recommendations) and that the restrictions he imposed on his patients tended to be quite a bit more liberal, obviously based on a case by case basis.  He suggested that, no, I would not harm myself reaching for a can of peas in the kitchen cabinet, and encouraged me to experiment, using caution and within reason, rather than blindly adhering to some overly conservative regime that didn't fit my feeling of wellness at the time.

    I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't worry about butt wiping as a problem unless it actually does become a provlem for you personally.

    All the best,

    Ira

    ------------------------------
    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-05-2020 09:35
    Thanks for the replies.  I have issues now wiping.  Its like my arms have gotten shorter over the years but its most likely due to my flexibility and extra weight.  I found some devices online that provide an extension to assist in this arena.  Hopefully I wont need it but it will be there if needed





  • 9.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 01-05-2020 23:39
    Hi Mike,
    Have you tried using a bidet? I purchased one from Amazon a few months ago but and don't know how I've gone al these years without it. I'm planning on having my surgery in a couple months but hoping this bidet will save me from any wiping issues.

    ------------------------------
    anthony truong
    Austin TX
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 03-05-2020 17:05
    I wanted to close the loop on this thread for those that come after me.  I finally had surgery and I have had a number of wonderful bowel movements since then, both in the hospital, and at home.  I did not have any issues with wiping.  I took my time  and wiped safely with no issues.  I did prepurchase a wiping wand (I don't remember the brand name) but I didn't need to use it in the end (no pun intended).

    Just an fyi,  I received a cardiac pillow but what really helped with the pooping (after all of the anesthesia) was a corset like device from http://sternasafe.nl/



    ------------------------------
    Mike M
    Halfmoon, NY
    Bi-Cuspid Aortic Valve w/ Moderate/Severe Leak
    Aortic Aneurysm
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 03-05-2020 17:21
    "Wiping wand"? 'I suppose they could have dubbed it an "asswipe" but that might have corrupted the slang meaning or possibly imbued the product itself with an unintended meaning.  Still, if I had been the marketing guy, I couldn't have resisted.

    All kidding aside, welcome back, brother!

    Ira

    ------------------------------
    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Wiping Buttocks after surgery

    Posted 03-05-2020 22:40
    OH My.....

    I am so happy to hear that everything came out OK in the end Mike.  LOL

    Your letter to the Forum was the first letter I read when I joined up here...and I thought, " Well, I guess we can talk about 
    everything here".  And that has been proven right...again and again.

    So great to hear from you.  Thank you for letting us know how everything turned out

    M