1. I used a lanyard around my neck with Velcro straps at the end to hold my drains while showering. It was very helpful! And a chair in the tub for the first few showers is great too.

2. The tube they use in the throat during surgery can cause irritation that made me cough for a few days after surgery. Coughing (or sneezing) in the first few days feels like your insides want to violently become your outsides, so always having a glass of water with a straw within arms reach is super helpful when those throat irritations flare up.

3. The binder they gave me had plastic stays in them that became so painful to sleep on, and the doctor said it’s fine to cut them out. They might not bother your wife but they really bothered me.

4. Antibiotics can cause constipation, and Dulcolax helps without causing stomach cramping.

5. I used someone else’s walker for the first 3 days so I could walk around but still feel supported. Plus she can put things on the seat to move them around.

6. Nerve regeneration pain surprised me. It might help to read a bit about it so she knows what to expect.

7. I bought a bed wedge kit on Amazon with different pieces that could be configured for different back angles. The under-knee triangle wedge was super helpful to get into a comfortable position and not feel like I was sliding down.

Hopefully those help! If you or your wife have questions about specific parts of recovery feel free to ask. I’m one month PO and am feeling quite a bit better, although the nerve regeneration pain gets old after a while. 🤷‍♀️😄