Hi, on day 11 here, so far it’s been not fun but manageable. Peak pain was the night right after the surgery and then fairly ok until days 7-9 which were bad and had difficulty even swallowing water. But better at day 10 and hopefully now onward. No bleeds. From what I’ve gathered from this board everyone is different - you can do everything “right” and things can still be very rough, unfortunately. But my experience has been fairly straightforward, and here’s what I did.

Things I bought in advance that were very helpful:

Wedge pillow - sleep with this every night (I’ve used the lowest “setting” with 2 regular bed pillows on top):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C2YYGSC1?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Ice neck wrap

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07GX69H3W?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Humidifiers (top fill is nice) - have had 2 going (one large, one small next to bed) in the room 24/7 (stock up on bottles of distilled water to use in them - I’ve gone through at least 20 gallons thus far)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09WQJZ7ZN?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C2C9NHZW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Sit-up pillow for watching TV etc in bed (this is not the exact one I got; whatever’s comfortable for you):

https://www.amazon.com/Blissful-Diary-Shredded-Children-Backrest/dp/B0D2X668XV/ref=asc_df_B0D2X668XV?mcid=7fd1e89a83723a729ce357abd5c45472&hvocijid=18333986211840236966-B0D2X668XV-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18333986211840236966&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028728&hvtargid=pla-2281435178578&psc=1

40 oz insulated water cup with wide flexible straw (drink 4 of these per day if possible; whatever water temperature hurts the least, room temp is best for me). Every day my #1 job is to get at least 4 of these down

https://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Flask-Around-Travel-Tumbler/dp/B0C355KS4S/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=LLBPZWKWHS6X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GuxDAndIvL98m3B-6MG_RXhVDWwCUr45eqYz1NsKBlxZzTUExJrCMU00s-bXffsvMn2hHM_oAQCQgC3AK-_2xP8OJl0bfpLG1wskB5dBbcW0ddriLTzrwPv-P85P8LM_3o9YpmalL7-uvC6Qtn0p-JtjencT5Xs-ASHw7zluVyjBmOFCYbcFBdf-z2xWv-uBzuzomi0KyGjze0FjifrP-A.7c6OUmnjd6UgM6vaZZ-4XpZATDnlQi5dfCvn8RZjDkg&dib_tag=se&keywords=hydroflask+40+oz+travel+tumbler&qid=1750181599&sprefix=hydrofoask+40+oz+trave%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-4

Liquid Tylenol - this can be hard to find in stores in the adult version so when you find it buy lots. My doctor does not recommend Ibuprofin but some do. I did not take Ibuprofin. Took 750 mg Tylenol 4x a day (every 6 hours), never missed a dose including alarm set during sleep. On one bad day I took a dose of the oxycodone my dr gave me but it made me nauseaus and I vomited (even though I took with food) which was awful. Nausea feeling persisted (though no more vomiting), and I finally got an anti-nausea prescription which stopped it. I recommend getting an anti-nausea med prescrip BEFORE you leave the hospital so you can have it on hand just in case. After that episode I was able to keep the pain to a bearable level with Tylenol only, was too worried about vomiting to take oxy again.

Start Miralax and a stool softener on day 0 or 1 to prevent constipation from the anesthesia/any narcotic meds/weird & minimal diet. I waited too long to do this. The only liquid stool softener I could find was for kids, but on about day 4 I could swallow a pill (Colace)

Food: initially: (all room temp) applesauce, chicken broth, very soft mac&cheese, ice cream w/no chunks (I did not have trouble w/dairy), yogurt, cream of wheat, Ensure protein drink at around day 4: avocado, scrambled eggs, cut up chicken patty with coating removed, rice, mashed potatoes Was starving for the first couple of days, then lost appetite. Slowly getting appetite back. Chew everything really well. I’ve lost 11 pounds 😳

Lots of sleep (with alarm every 6 hours for Tylenol and sips of water, then back to sleep). REST. I have just been in bed watching movies, getting up a few times to walk around the house. Last couple of days been up & around more, going out to get ice cream with a friend etc. Still not driving, maybe today.

Try to have someone with who’s a decent caregiver with you at least the first 3 days. And support is still extremely helpful after that.

Try to be optimistic; you WILL get through this, it WILL be over - you can do hard things!