Hi all. Date has finally arrived. Is there anything special you prepared prior to surgery day to make life easier the first while? Is there anything you DIDN'T prepare that you wish you had? I will have done the house cleaning, laundry and extra cooking/freezing. Any ideas are welcome ! Thanks ! 
Hi I'm 12 days post open op and really happy, never needed a single pain killer between op day and now, healing great and already using my hand for light tasks (sorry just want to shout it from the roof tops to how happy I am with it, was expecting a lot of pain and weeks of immobility).
Things I prepared in advance... I bought and wrote out all Birthday cards for the rest of the year, got the big shop in, bought a few pairs of elasticated trousers as buttons are a nightmare & I only own jeans & bought some sports bras as the hooks are also a pain & the usual like you said full house blitz.
Can't think of anything else, although I did feel quite uneducated about what to expect during the healing. I was totally unprepared for round about days 8-10 for a massive flair of CTS symptons that were far more servere than they ever were & was really worried I had made it worse by having the op, but now they're settling and things are on the up I'm looking forward to my left hand been done now rather than the worry & dred that I had leading up to having my right.
Hope it all goes well and your recovery is quick and easy.
Good luck Nicola x
I would wash with Tea Tree oil products for a week before surgery. It ensures you have no MRSA germs on your skin that can be carried into an open wound.
i had a successful outcome and easonable recovery period so hope all goes well for you
regards Elaine
Thanks Nicomarie and Elaine. Your comments are most helpful and encouraging ! One hears so many horror stories it's hard to know what to expect. I hope like you Nicomarie my pain will be minimal. Could you use the hand at all in the first week?
Hi, in the first week I couldn't do much with it really, could move my fingers to use my phone, pass light things carefully into my hand and hold them, stuff like that. But you don't really want to be doing anything much as there would be a risk of popping the stitches and/or undoing the surgeons work. Use the first week to 10 days to relax and let it heal.
Hi, in the first week I couldn't do much with it really, could move my fingers to use my phone, pass light things carefully into my hand and hold them, stuff like that. But you don't really want to be doing anything much as there would be a risk of popping the stitches and/or undoing the surgeons work. Use the first week to 10 days to relax and let it heal.
Just to let you know that surgery went without a hitch on Friday and all is going unbelievably well. No pain at all since initial slight discomfort as freezing wore off (Advil took care of that) and have been able to do all light tasks you mention. Big bandage came off this morning and am doing even more. The best is that I can hold my hand up (holding phone or book) and no pins and needles or numbness!! I am so encouraged I want to book my second hand to be done asap. Thanks again for all your input. It was most reassuring.
Hi glad it all went well
Can't believe you got your bandage off already, I had to leave mine on a week! But boy it felt good as they unwrapped it, was well overdue a really good itch haha
Oh man....a week! I couldn't wait to cut it off (I was allowed after 48 hours) as I had developed a rash on my arm from either the bandage material or the iodine they had used and I was starting to go crazy from itchiness...despite sticking a letter opener down several times to scratch the arm ! Lol. A little cortione cream on the rash after the bandage removal got rid of the rash almost immediately. Other than pushing, pulling or holding anything heavy I really feel quite normal ! I will remember your ccomment about days 8-10 in case the same happens to me.