I still wear Stayfree Ultra Thin Overnight Maxi pads - they have wings on both the crotch area and the wide rear areas that if you also angle more up towards your back area, will reach any drips that might occur. In fact, I am wearing one right now. I always take them on trips also.
I recall stocking up on Stouffer's frozen meals (the portions were ideal), stocking my entire pantry and buying double of everything we needed at home - detergents, paper goods, etc. I didn't want to have to run out to the grocery or have someone go for me. Knowing our house was well stocked was a comfort.
Personally speaking, I had the pads, feminine wipes that I kept with me in my purse but at home, Aveeno packs that you use for full tub soaks for poison ivy, I'd use a tablespoon in each sitz bath soak, baking soda is a good substitute for this though, plenty of clean towels and handy nearby for the sitz bath soaks, also plenty of reading material.
And mainly I only told a handful of people I was having my ostomy reversed. In fact I didn't have any visitors in the hospital, except for my husband. This way I was free to run the bathroom umpteen times a day or walk the halls, slowly getting my strength back. My phone didn't ring (not like it did for my resection, it was like an office back then, why do people feel compelled to call you in the hospital?). My nurse told me I was smart for sneaking into the hospital so quietly. Later, a few weeks at least when I told people I had the ostomy reversed, they were shocked - but we wanted to send you flowers, we wanted to visit with you, etc. So that idea worked out brilliantly! I still wasn't in any shape to host visitors in a hospital room - still hadn't had real food until my 5th day, still didn't spend my time in my room, I was either on the toilet or like I said roaming the halls, walking 2 laps around the surgical floor, several times per day. I was determined to get my life back!
Post Edited (Marsky) : 6/17/2012 10:18:11 AM (GMT-6)