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BED PAN RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE - ALSO GEL PACKS

Posted , 12 users are following.

sarah22500
sarah22500

I haven't a clue what type of a bed pan would be suitable (safe!!) to buy after I come home. I'm having to cope on my own and I dread not being able to get out of my bed and acxropss to the bathroom in time in the night. I'm 75 and I also have nerve damage/numbness in my feet and lower legs so my balance is poor at the best of times. I'm not very good at getting out of bed quickly as I have to stand a while to balance myself so is there any hippie on her whose bougfht a bedpan for this reason and can recommend one please? Sorry to ask all these questions but I've only got a week to go.

Also a question about icing.Do you recommend gel packs or frozen peas?

Anything else?> I've got grabbers, an apron with pockets, everything up high,shoe horn, microwave meals,..it's the bedpan thing that's starting to concern me.  Is there a flatish one if you can't move very well?

0 likes, 23 replies

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  • RichardKen
    RichardKen sarah22500

    Posted

    Dear Sarah

    An internet search should turn up a choice for you and how about including a female urinal? I'm sure that would be a worthy addition and would save you many bathroom journeys!

    Gel packs are so much better than frozen peas.

    All the best, Richard

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy sarah22500

    Posted

    Could you consider a commode? I was dreading getting in and out of bed. I was given the most fantastic gadget in hospital, a bit of material knotted together which meant I could get in and out of bed as fast as before. You will be taught how to get in and out of bed before you go home. 
  • joyce66162
    joyce66162 sarah22500

    Posted

    You need a potty seat next to the bed not a bed pan.  I also used diapers-Depends.  Very helpful for me although no underwear the first week due to issue of pulling up from feet.  I bought 3 gel packs so I would always have a cold one.  At 8 + weeks, I still use to help with achiness and pain.  Reacher  is critical.  Im shocked you don’t have help the first few days (at least) as it is very hard.  At 70 I did not have the strength or endurance to do it alone.  Hoping the best for you.  Order that potty chair (Medicare?) ASAP!
  • anniepaint
    anniepaint sarah22500

    Posted

    Sarah if you are in the U.K. ring your district nurse. They should be able to get you a commode for as long as you need it, they do ones that are raised too. Using a bed pan on your own could get messy. 

    Good luck

    Ann

     

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen anniepaint

      Posted

      Dear Annie

      In the UK there is also the Red Cross.  I got my raised toilet seat, shower stool and grabber from them.

      Cheers, Richard

  • stacy17516
    stacy17516 sarah22500

    Posted

    Sarah. All good suggestions from the group.  Can you ask to go to a rehab for a week?   Or do you have a church group that could help you out.   I would definitely ask insurance for potty chair to put next to your bed.    
    • ray0825
      ray0825 stacy17516

      Posted

      Yes, the potty chair is an excellent idea. There are also raised seats you can attach directly to an existing toilet seat for when you transition back to a regular toilet. The added height is very important to being able to stand back up with a new hip, especially if your existing toilet is one of the low types.  If you can add grip handles on each side next to the toilet that can be a big help. The leg and hip muscles will take a few weeks to start getting back to where they were before. 
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen

      Posted

      Oops what happened there?

      Dear Ray

      I got a couple of stand alone toilet seats with strong arms that drop over the toilet from the Red Cross that were very helpful.

      Cheers Richard

  • ray0825
    ray0825 sarah22500

    Posted

    I don’t have any suggestions on bed pans, although most people I know prefer the flatter ones for ease of use. If you are at home by yourself, maybe ask the doctor if there is a recovery/transition facility where you can stay for a few more days after being released from the Hospital until you get your strength back and able to feel confident about being at home solo. The first week is a bit of a challenge and was the toughest for me. I needed someone there to help a little, if nothing else just to reassure me. If you have any friends or family that could come in a couple times a day for a week or so to warm up your meals that would be good. Perdonally, I found the meds affected me a lot during the first week and I don’t think I could have stood there long enough to even warm up pre-prepared meals, let alone be able to figure out how to get them to a table with a walker that requires 2 hands just to stay stable. As far as ice, I prefer the gel packs. I got several so I could rotate them and still have a cold pack ready. If you’re not careful, frozen peas can thaw (eg you fall asleep) and can become a mess inside the covering :-). It sounds like youre thinking though the details. But it would be really good to at least have someone visit and check on you 2 or 3 times each day. I wish you the best. I’m getting ready for my 2nd hip replacement in early December. 
  • ellen60516
    ellen60516 sarah22500

    Posted

    Hi Sarah,

    Have been following your posts. I am hoping that you might stay in the hospital a couple of nights since you will be going home alone. Do you have a leg lifter for getting out of bed? A portable potty to put near your bed? Wish I could pop in and help you.

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie sarah22500

    Posted

    Sarah, when I had mine a couple of years ago in UK. Hospital provided everything. Frame to go over toilet. Commode for downstairs in daytime. Soxon to get tights or socks on stool with arms to sit on. I used mine in bathroom and the handy grabbed which will become your best friend.  Bedpan is gonna be hard to get on and off on your own.probably would be better to get incontinence pants like Tena or depends for night time. You should be able to get your pant on using the handy grabber to help get them over your leg etc. Good luck 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy auntiebeanie

      Posted

      Dear auntiebean. I think it depends very much where you live what you are given. I was given raised toilet seats only in advance, the rest I had to buy. I was given a free fantastic lift leg into bed thing, a bit of material knotted, while in hospital and a set of crutches and that was it. They did offer to sell grabbers etc to us both at the pre op and when I was in hospital, Amazon is cheaper! I also asked my local surgery about help when I came out as I live alone and they said nothing was now offered.  
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