Preparing for neck surgery, a question?

[Bummer Knees]

My question is for members of this forum who have had neck surgery.

I am scheduled to have an acdf next month.

I am trying to get things ready for surgery, and am looking at the
style of clothing (shirts) I will need after surgery. Is a button up style of shirt required after surgery? I wear lots a t-shirts and would think they would be difficult to get on/off after surgery.

At this point I do not know if a neck collar will be requred after surgery.

I have been advised to have lots of popsicles, ice cream and soft foods.

Are there and other suggestions that might help in preparing for and the after of this surgery?

Thank you everone for your help.
Bummer Knees

[Joanne]

I had shoulder surgery recently I wore a buttton up which Im glad I did it was easier getting back on.
Im also looking at neck surgery in the future so I will most likely wear a buttton up, t shirts are my favorite but when u cant move nothing but fingers button up shirts rock oh yea make it a flannel they are warmer too and good luck

[nursedina]

Bummer - I have not have neck surgery, but have had lumbar and thorasic surgery. Button up shirts are a must. Also anything that you use on a daily basis, please put on a waist high shelf or counter so you do not have to bend too much to get to things. Books, and things to keep you occupied while you are in recovery, a grabber to get things off the floor never hurts either. You can get them at walmart for 10.00. you don't want to be bending your neck and bending over ot get things from the floor.

Soft foods are a great idea and prepare meals ahead of time where you can just pop something inthe microwave if you need to and no one is there to help you.

Pillows, ice packs, and body cleansing wipes were my friend. You will feel all gross and might have a limit on showers etc..when you get done. If you have a limit on showers, you can cleanse with the wipes, if not, them you want medical tape and some bandages with some kind of plastic to protect the wound while you shower. A hand held shower attachment was also a great addition sinc eI could take a shower without directing the water at my surgery sites.

Good luck! We will be thinking about you!!

[Cervical_Fusion]

Bummer button up shirts will be easier for you to deal with, most likely you will have some type of collar, so button up will allow you more freedom around the neck area with the collar. Make sure you have a couple of nice new pillows for sleeping, finding that right sport at night can be a killer with that collar on.

[Bummer Knees]

CF how did you sleep before surgery? I can not sleep in bed because the arms go numb, I do a little better in the recliner but the numbness is still there.

The surgery coordinator I spoke to yesterday mentioned a collar.

Joanne good luck on your surgery.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

Looks like I get to use this surgery for an excuse to go shopping for new clothes!

[jayne]

Better get a laptop while you are out there....it really helps

[Cervical_Fusion]

Bummer I slept in the bed before the surgrey but i was in pain and had difficulty sleeping in any position and anywhere. I still go numb and tingeling if i lay in one postion very long, i wake every night about 3 hrs after i go to sleep tingeling and all numbed up. So i still deal with the issues after 2 cervical surgerys. Good luck with yours, but the best pillow i have found for me is one of those that kind of pillows that form to your position, can't think of the real name of them right now. but i get a new one about every 8 or 9 months as they wear down and are no help then. When new they are hard and keep my neck straight so earier to sleep then.

[Cervical_Fusion]

Bummer I sleep about 3 hours at a time. Last night I went to bed around 1 tooks my meds and laid there probably for about an hour watching tv. Well i woke up about 4:45. mu usual 3 hr nap. The dr did give me a new pill to try last night was the 3rd of takeing this new pill. First night it worked great and I slept all night, 2 night with this new pill again i slept all night. Both nights after getting up my pain was much better and i felt rested all day, did not wake feeling exhausted or if i had been fighting all night for a good nights rest. Well the 3rd night again I am back to the 3 hr nap. I will keep takeing them and hope they will eventually work better for me. The pill is Pamelor an anti depressent and also used to treat chronic pain. I have that one for sleep and also cymbalta. Hope some day the dr finds one that will actually work for me. But here I am this morning up with coffee in hand and it is only 5:15 right now. Maybe something for u to look forward to. But I hope not.

[Bummer Knees]

CF I hope you find what works for you! It sounds as if our sleep patterns are much the same.

I sat in the massage chair and did the massage, & moist heat until 1:30 then went to bed. I was up at 4:30 due to the numbness, got up for a while, back to bed, and back up at 6:30 for the day and more to massage.
This was a good night for me!

I found a cervical pillow yesterday at Walgreens, one that is soft and I can use in the recliner. I have a habit of tilting my head while in the recliner and I feel like I am choking, the cervical pillow helps keep my neck in position and prevents this.

[tpm]

Bummer Knees good luck with your surgery. I did pretty well following my surgery, at least the first one anyway. My second surgery I had difficulty with the anesthesia so I had nausea and well you know the rest. Very scary after just having neck surgery. In the end I did OK and pulled through. A V neck T shirt would be ideal with a comfortable pair of sweat pants or pajamas. Both of my surgeries I did not have a collar afterward nor did I even have a bandage on my incision.
The really bad sore throat everyone talks about had me nervous but luckily I did not have much of one following both surgeries. I did have numbness around the incision site after my second surgery for about 8 to 10 months but eventually did go away.
Best of luck to you and believe me it is scarier then actually going through it. You'll be fine