The only things I can add are related to having a toddler (who still wants/needs to be picked up). I had them put my picc in my right arm the first time (this part may not apply now, since Ab was an infant) because I knew I would be holding her with my left arm on my left hip, while I did other things.
I also cut out the chores that someone else was willing to do for me, like my dh did the dishes, my mom and MIL came and vacuumed, folded and hung up laundry after I washed it,, etc. Basically, I only cooked dinner, <i>washed</i> laundry and went to the grocery store (and occasionally a walk around the neighborhood, to keep me from turning into a mushy puddle, haha), but someone still helped me carry the groceries in when I got home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
I also arranged to have someone come over during my middle of the day ivs (I was on 8 hours), so I would have no distractions when hooking up my meds or unhooking- flushes, etc. (especially the emergency ones- anything from booboos to the leaky diaper). They also did the chores while they were there, so it worked out pretty well, lol <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Occasionally, my help would stay after my ivs so I could take a nap, plus I tried to nap whenever Ab did.
If your doctors can arrange for 12 hour meds, encourage them!
I know it sounds lazy, but I had to "pretend" that I was in the hospital, and do nothing that absolutely didn't have to be done. My 2 priorities were breastfeeding- I was pumping and she took a bottle the whole time, so it was very time consuming- and taking care of Ab, and getting me rested, fattened up and healthy, so the ivs weren't a waste of time.
Needless to say, my family would rather have me home than in the hospital (the trip to my house is shorter to come and see me, at the very least, lol), and they are a Godsend when I am sick. It took having Ab for me to finally say "Yes, help me please" because I want to be as healthy as I can for her.
Oh, and I also had the knit stretchy thing to tuck my lines in when I was disconnected (btw, make sure you cut it longer than you think you need it- I wasted a foot or two like that- aheh), and then I had a bunch of cheap kneehighs I bought at Walmart that I cut the toes out of, and pulled that up over the knitted sleeve thing so that little fingers did get in the holes of the knitted sleeve. It also made it a little less noticable if you get it in skin tone- if you're feeling fun, you can get the colored ones, <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> .
I also cut out the chores that someone else was willing to do for me, like my dh did the dishes, my mom and MIL came and vacuumed, folded and hung up laundry after I washed it,, etc. Basically, I only cooked dinner, <i>washed</i> laundry and went to the grocery store (and occasionally a walk around the neighborhood, to keep me from turning into a mushy puddle, haha), but someone still helped me carry the groceries in when I got home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
I also arranged to have someone come over during my middle of the day ivs (I was on 8 hours), so I would have no distractions when hooking up my meds or unhooking- flushes, etc. (especially the emergency ones- anything from booboos to the leaky diaper). They also did the chores while they were there, so it worked out pretty well, lol <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . Occasionally, my help would stay after my ivs so I could take a nap, plus I tried to nap whenever Ab did.
If your doctors can arrange for 12 hour meds, encourage them!
I know it sounds lazy, but I had to "pretend" that I was in the hospital, and do nothing that absolutely didn't have to be done. My 2 priorities were breastfeeding- I was pumping and she took a bottle the whole time, so it was very time consuming- and taking care of Ab, and getting me rested, fattened up and healthy, so the ivs weren't a waste of time.
Needless to say, my family would rather have me home than in the hospital (the trip to my house is shorter to come and see me, at the very least, lol), and they are a Godsend when I am sick. It took having Ab for me to finally say "Yes, help me please" because I want to be as healthy as I can for her.
Oh, and I also had the knit stretchy thing to tuck my lines in when I was disconnected (btw, make sure you cut it longer than you think you need it- I wasted a foot or two like that- aheh), and then I had a bunch of cheap kneehighs I bought at Walmart that I cut the toes out of, and pulled that up over the knitted sleeve thing so that little fingers did get in the holes of the knitted sleeve. It also made it a little less noticable if you get it in skin tone- if you're feeling fun, you can get the colored ones, <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> .