Gentlemen, we know that you have a lot on your plates. Often, you are the providers for your families and communities, and you typically take the helm of many responsibilities at home, so asking for help after surgery can be hard!
You may be lucky enough to have a partner or family member who can assist you with your healthcare, but sometimes you may not have that luxury.
Maybe your spouse doesn’t like needles, or you don’t want the females in your life touching certain parts of your body. Or it could be as simple as leaning into your protective nature and not wanting to burden the people you are trying to protect and care for with post-surgery home care responsibilities.
We know you want to get back to work and be productive . If adequate and proper care is not received during the early phase post-op, recovery will be delayed, and you will experience personal and professional setbacks. So, the sooner you get the support you need, the sooner you can return to being the reliable provider you are.
At Navi, our mission is to provide specialized nurses who deeply understand and respect the unique needs of men’s health. Let’s look at the most common surgeries men undergo and the types of support our private duty nurses for after-surgery care provide to ensure you are back on your feet as quickly as possible while reducing strain on your loved ones.
Top Men’s Surgical Procedures Requiring Home Care After Surgery
Surgical procedures can range from routine outpatient procedures to more complex operations. In some instances, you get to go home right after you recover, while others may require overnight stays or a few days in the hospital.
Recovery will look different depending on various factors, such as your age and general health condition before surgery, but at a minimum, you need and deserve to give your body time and effort to recover – that’s where in-home nurses can help!
Inguinal Hernia Repair
Men are more susceptible to inguinal hernias than women, and risk factors include aging, chronic coughing (typically associated with smoking), chronic constipation, and a family history of it. Treatment for an inguinal hernia repair is surgery to repair, reinforce, or reconstruct the weak parts of the abdominal wall so that they can hold the small intestine in place. It can be performed as an open surgery or a more minimally invasive laparoscopic approach.
During recovery, as the body adjusts and the abdominal muscles regain strength, you will need help to manage daily activities, post-operative wounds, and pain. In some cases, urinary retention and chronic pain can occur. If this happens to you, additional nursing support is warranted to help troubleshoot issues and provide hands-on support and guidance.
Want to be prepared for the road ahead and supported in a smoother recovery? Hire a nurse after surgery. They will come to your home, support your logistical men’s healthcare needs in the early stages of recovery, empower you to learn how to fit your post-operative restrictions into your daily life, and be there right away as a resource for guidance should any post-op issue occur.
Prostatectomy
A prostatectomy is surgery to remove part (partial) or all (total) of the prostate. After the surgeon operates on the prostate, they connect your urethra back to the bladder. Post-operatively, urine is either passed as usual or, in some cases, a catheter is inserted to drain urine after the surgery.
This means that you may go home with a catheter, typically for seven to 10 days, until it is ready to be removed. As part of your post-prostate surgery care, you will be responsible for managing your catheter and drainage bag and monitoring your urine’s color, volume, and scent.
While it may just be a catheter for nurses or physicians – or some strange-colored urine that they know is normal after surgery – to you, this can be a scary new addition to your body and a whole heap of information you know nothing about. What’s more, it can feel challenging and sensitive to ask your partner or family members to help you with an apparatus connected to personal areas of your body draining bodily fluids – we get it.
That’s why it’s smart to hire home nurses specializing in post-prostate surgery care. These experts can help provide the privacy you seek and deal with any issues swiftly and discreetly.
Cholecystectomy
A cholecystectomy is a surgery to remove the gallbladder. Not all gallbladder issues require surgery, but a cholecystectomy may be necessary for recurrent gallstones, infections, or certain types of cancer.
Recovery from a cholecystectomy varies by the surgical method chosen. However, both approaches cause pain in the tummy and shoulders, bloating and gas, nausea and diarrhea, and surgical wounds.
Sometimes, a drain will be left in place, IV antibiotics will be prescribed, and a special diet must be followed. Depending on your insurance, you may or may not qualify for insurance-covered nursing care, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t benefit from the support.
A trained nurse who can provide expert home care after surgery will be able to assess and clean your wound until it is healed. If you need antibiotics or drain care, they can help with those in the same visit. Moreover, they can ensure you eat the right foods to promote healing and monitor for early signs of complications.
Joint Replacements
Joint replacements are precisely that – surgeries to replace old or worn-out joints. Their goal is to relieve joint pain and improve mobility, which can get you back to the quality, active lifestyle that you are used to!
Recovery from joint replacement surgery varies depending on the joint being replaced, the approach your surgeon is using, and your general men’s health status prior to surgery. Knees, hips, and shoulders all have different post-op instructions with their own unique restrictions and recommendations.
However, pain management to ensure early movement is the backbone of all post-surgery home care. Typically, the quicker you are up and moving, the quicker you recover.
Hiring an experienced in-home nurse who is trained to juggle different types of pain medications after surgery ensures you always have something to control your pain. This will keep you moving on the road to recovery.
Cardiac Bypass
Nearly 80% of all cardiac bypass surgeries are performed on males, according to PLoS One studies, making it a critical men’s health issue.
A cardiac bypass is needed when there is inadequate blood flow into the heart muscle itself to allow it to pump adequately. During a cardiac bypass, pieces of vein are used to bypass blockages in coronary arteries, allowing blood to flow to the heart. This more extensive procedure and recovery requires a watchful eye and support – ideally with home care after surgery from a trusted nursing team.
Typically, this procedure requires a handful of days in the hospital before going to rehab or home, and full recovery can involve complex ongoing care needs. This can be very comforting for you and your family, and in this case, having a nurse by your side will bring you all great peace of mind.
Healing at home should be a standard, not a luxury. So be sure to plan in advance and get expert post-surgery home care from a team of qualified Registered Nurses who build care around you and your family’s needs.
Get Home Care After Surgery in Phoenix, AZ with Qualified RNs
While asking for help is something many people struggle with, don’t let it be the reason you go it alone in your men’s health recovery journey. Having the support of a private duty nurse after surgery can make all the difference for a swift and successful recovery.
It’s time to view seeking professional support for your health as an investment in yourself, a much-needed breather for your family caregivers, and the fastest way to get back to doing everything you need to do for your loved ones sooner. In short, it’s a win-win for the whole family!
Invest in your recovery, your family, and yourself. Hire Navi Nurses for home care after surgery on your terms and to build your co-created care plan. Call us at (480) 630-0808 or reach out today. You’ll be heard by a medical professional right away.
