Heart Pillow

[almost_hectic]

When I made mention in an earlier post to the thanksgiving thread, about the names and faces of my hospital staff fading from memory in the weeks after returning home, it reminded me of an idea I had after surgery and wished I had thought of in the hospital. The hospital gave me one of those heart pillows, ya know that you hug tightly when you have to cough or sneeze to try to keep the pain at bay. Even though coughing still hurts and do not even think of sneezing as that will hurt like hell!.. I think they're pretty standard issue at most hospitals. Mines bright red, heart shaped and emblazoned with the hospital logo and some other graphic text.

The idea I came up with was that with your heart pillow you should also be issued a nice Sharpie style permanent marker! That way you can ask anyone you like to sign your heart pillow. Sort of like signing someone's cast. I wish I had come up with this thought and been able to get my heart pillow out some day and read the names of my caregivers from that week in the hospital and think back to the amazing individuals who changed my life forever. That would have been a great momento to have years from now.

Its an idea I'm happy to share and encourage any of you to use!

 

[ForeverThankful]

This is exactly what they have at the hospital where I had my surgery! We got a bright red heart with the hospital name and a nice sentiment on it. There was also a loop of fabric that had a sharpie pen attached to it so you could have your support team sign it.

I'm only 6 weeks post-op at present and still using my signed pillow but when I'm done I plan to place it in a prominent location in my home!

It's a great idea!

 

[Paleowoman]

In UK hospitals we are just shown how to roll up a towel and hug it when we cough, snezze, roll over or are sittting in a car. I'm jealous of you getting those heart shaped pillows !

 

[honeybunny]

Great idea, AH! Mine was a small white pillow, nothing special but it did the job.

 

[almost_hectic]

Yeah searching the internet I found thisis not an original idea. Although it is one I wish someone would have shared with me in the hospital. Anne, your towel story, boy I dont know... having a rolled up towel at the ready when a cough or sneeze strikes dont sound as practical as a pillow. Nor as nice. I guess in the US we pay a ubttload for healthcare so a nice heart shaped pillow is the least they could do for us!

 

[Paleowoman]

The rolled up towel advice wasn't that practical, you're right. Once home I used a firm small futon cushion we have which was perfect.

I think you're right about the reason you get the heart shaped pillow in the US !

 

[Lisa2]

I didn't get a heart shaped pillow. I feel cheated Only kidding. I do like the idea of having the team of caregivers sign the pillow or a journal or something of the sort as a momento. There were so many people that cared for me. That would be a nice way to remember folks. There is one nurse in particular that I still recall with fondness - I felt she was an extraordinary person. I will never forget her. She helpied me sit up in the middle of the night and gave me a back rub. Or the times that she brought me popsicles in the wee hours because a) I didn't eat for something like 6 days and b) my throat hurt. She showed me such kindness that went way above the call of duty. And I don't know her name!

They gave me a wedge shaped block of foam. It was thick on one end (maybe 6 inches) sort of curved in the middle, and narrow on the other end (maybe 2-3 inches). I can't remember how big it was overall but it covered a lot of my chest. I used a travel size pillow case to cover it.

It was pretty easy to use. The narrow end went over the incision area and the thicker, curved area over the breast. I carried that little block of foam in its little white pillowslip for months. It was my security blanket!