I'm having a medically necessary hysterectomy in October and am creating this page ahead of time to coordinate the support I'll need during surgery and recovery. This surgery is being recommended for medical reasons in hopes of reducing, and potentially eliminating, some of the symptom clusters and severe flares that have become increasingly difficult and disabling for me. It's an important step in trying to improve my overall health, functioning, and quality of life. I'm generally a very independent person, but that independence already requires a lot of adaptation. Even on a "good" day, I live with significant mobility challenges, chronic pain, fatigue, and other health conditions that can make everyday activities unpredictable or difficult. Recovering from major surgery on top of my usual baseline means that many things I normally manage independently, even with adaptations, may temporarily be difficult, unsafe, or simply not feasible. For approximately the first week to week and a half after surgery, I am planning for 24/7 in-person support so that I can recover safely without trying to push myself beyond my postoperative restrictions. As recovery progresses and I am cleared to do more, I expect those needs to gradually decrease. During the second week, I may primarily need help during waking hours and may be able to be alone, or with my housemates nearby, overnight. All of this may change based on how surgery and recovery actually go and what my care team recommends. Support may include help with personal care and hygiene, bathing and dressing, medication reminders or assistance, transfers between my bed, couch, wheelchair, and vehicle when needed, gentle movement and walking as directed by my care team, meals, laundry, dishes, errands, and other light household tasks. Transportation will also be an important part of recovery. I will have postoperative follow-up appointments in addition to routine weekly appointments and additional physical therapy visits. We can use my vehicle for these trips, and I will cover gas as well as meals for anyone providing longer periods of caregiving or transportation support. I use both an upright four-wheel walker and an ultralight wheelchair depending on my needs. Anyone assisting with transportation may need to load and unload one of these devices. My walker weighs approximately 35 pounds, and my wheelchair weighs less than 25 pounds, particularly when disassembled. I'm happy to show anyone unfamiliar with my equipment how to handle and operate it safely. One particularly important part of postoperative support will be helping me balance rest with appropriate movement. Walking and movement are already complicated and inconsistent for me at baseline, and surgery will add another layer to that. I may need assistance or reminders to get up periodically and walk, reposition, stretch, or move gently according to my postoperative instructions. This will need to be balanced carefully with pain, fatigue, mobility limitations, and my underlying health conditions. The goal of organizing support ahead of time is simple: I want to give my body a genuine opportunity to recover safely instead of relying on my usual adaptations and trying to do too much too soon. I'll use the calendar here to break these needs into manageable shifts, rides, tasks, and other specific ways people can help. No one person is expected to do everything. Having several people each take a shift, appointment, meal, or task will make it possible to build the consistent support I need without placing the entire responsibility on any one person. Thank you for helping me make recovery safer, more sustainable, and a little less overwhelming.
Because my dietary restrictions, sensory needs, and food tolerances are fairly complicated and can change depending on my symptoms and recovery, please check with me before bringing or preparing food. Grocery store, Instacart, or DoorDash gift cards are especially helpful because they allow me to choose foods that are safe and manageable for me at the time. Please do not visit or provide in-person care if you are sick, have recently been sick, or have had a known exposure to a contagious illness. My energy, pain, and sensory tolerance can fluctuate significantly, so I may sometimes need a quiet, low-stimulation environment with limited conversation, especially early in recovery. Please don't take this personally! My housemates may be home during caregiving shifts, but they are not responsible for coordinating my care or answering questions about my needs. Please contact me directly whenever possible. Additional dietary, visitor, or household information will be added here before surgery as needed.