Post-operation home help

[curiousgeorge]

It looks increasingly likely that I need an operation which will leave me without the use of one arm, and only partial use of the other.

After the initial accident, I managed with help from friends, but this time around I think its getting too much to ask.

So I am looking for home help, a couple of hours a day to help with the basics like cooking, washing up, errands/shopping...and bathing.

Mostly maid-type duties but the dressing/bathing thing I would prefer a male and this is usually beyond the job scope of a domestic helper.

I've tried searching for caregivers, home care, etc but maybe I am using the wrong search terms. A nurse who can spare a few hours a week for a few extra $$ would be perfect, but I have no idea where to start looking.

Any ideas?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Ouch. Sorry to hear about the accident. Sounds like you've done a right number to yourself this time!

My initial thoughts would be to contact TTSH (Tan Tock Seng Hospital) as they have a considerable number of male nurses there from the 'peens. These guys are pretty okay from what I've been given to understand. They may well be able to steer you to an outfit that might be able to provide what you need. For obvious reasons, they cannot (sic!) work part time but they might be able to point you in a suitable direction.

Or you can start here as well:

http://www.singaporehomenursing.com/About-Us.html

If they can't help, they can probably point you in the right direction.

Get well Bro!

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks SMS, that was kind of my thinking, the male nurses from PH...a couple of moonlit hours on the way to/from work...

But then I guess most of what I need is çaregiver", sort of less medical and more dogsbody, but I guess the dressing/bathing thing makes it a bit differernt. I might put some feelers out with my domestic helper, she's from PH and been here 30+ years...

[QRM]

After my major surgery I had a part time nurse come around every day to help with Physio etc. I will try and see if I can find his details.

[curiousgeorge]

ok, as it happens i did have the surgery back on 12th May.

The two main problems are bathing and cooking.

Bathing I can do once someone has taped plastic bags over the dressing, so my friends chip in to visit on the way to/from work to tape me up.

For food, i was struggling. But someone recommended Magic Meals Mobile, who offer home delivery of three meals a day plus two snacks according to the principles of one of three popular diet plans. Not the plan i was following, but at least it is wholesome, healthy non-processed food that i can nuke with one hand! And despite my lack of exercise i have dropped 4kg!

I upped my domestic helper to 2 visits a week, and mostly i am managing. Cold Storage delivery is a god send for things like detergent/drinks and heavy stuff i cant carry.

So...2 wks after the op i still have tingly fingers, no use of my right arm. Physio 3 times a week, exercises 6 times a day and horrible pain 24/7. On MC until the end of june at least...i can already recite the programming schedule of every TV channel!

[sundaymorningstaple]

CG, hang in there. Sounds like you've got the logistics about sorted at least to a manageable degree. Lost 4 kg? You sure pick a hard way to do it, don't you! I thought the way I showed you was a lot easier.

One day at a time mate. You have a long road to recover and hopefully, you will be the exception to the rule.

Ok, for the record, I was a bad boy myself the last half of last year and gained a total of 6 kg over my target. So, about 2 months ago I went back on the programme and decided to find out were the actual bottom was (I never experienced the hunger that other talked about even thought I hit the bottom of the doctor's range). On Wed, June 1, I'll be starting refeed again, 3 years to the day since the last time only I didn't stop at 69 but as of this morning I'm down to 65.3kg and the hunger is coming so Wed sounds like a good time to end it.

Hope your progress continues, albeit slow, but anyway I'm sure you aren't gonna be down any longer than is necessary.

[curiousgeorge]

. Lost 4 kg? You sure pick a hard way to do it, don't you! I thought the way I showed you was a lot easier.

Absolutely it was easier...when i had 2 hands to cook and weigh

Innira has been very good, my program is on hold now until i can cook again. The delivered meals is just to help with logistics in the meantime, the fact i lost weight too is a bonus. To be honest, the food is pretty similar to the program, just not weighed in my quantities so i end up only eating half.

Prior to that, doctor told me to up my calcium intake throughout the day...i figured chocolate was good medicine Now I settle for supplements and a pint of skim milk spread out during the day...apparently the body just excretes excess calcium if the doses are tooo high.

[morenangpinay]

sorry bout your accident.do you still need a male nurse to help you out? if you need one i can ask around.? hope you get well soon!

[curiousgeorge]

sorry bout your accident.do you still need a male nurse to help you out? if you need one i can ask around.? hope you get well soon!

Thanks for the offer but i have learnt to live with one hand quite well now...much easier since the incision healed. It'll be another month before i can begin to actively move my arm, but i do passive physio 3 X 3hrs a week to try and establish some range of motion.

One thing I did learn...Ch5 is utter crap.

[morenangpinay]

thats good to hear... i only watch "The Noose" in ch 5 very funny..