What would you buy someone who is recovering from surgery

[lighthousekeeping]

My friend had a hysterectomy today. Major surgery. Im hoping it went alright obviously I wont hear from her for afew days!!

What can I send her next week? I dont live near her so cant visit.

Chocolate. My friend had cravings for it when stuck at home on her own. She sent out an SOS for emergency chocolate.
Also, stuff she can pamper herself with when recovering. My friend has never had so much time to pamper herself - manicures, hand cream, face packs etc.

Order her a couple of novels from amazon. Ones you've really enjoyed recently.
And send her some text messages, I loved getting texts when I was in hospital recently.

What a lovely friend you are! If a close friend then I found the White company yoga trousers absolutely fantastically comfortable post c-section, they have roll top waistbands so don't sit on the scar. Or a batch of current magazines

How about a "pamper" box? When I had abdo surgery a few years ago I put together a pamper basket for my bedside. It contained:

Nail file
Nail Polish & remover pads
Handcream and cuticle oil
Tweezers & Compact (to prevent me looking like a wolef during recovery :o )
dry shampoo
Comb
Magazines (I couldn't concentrate on a novel)
DVDs
Cleanser & moisturiser
Cleansing mask (one use sachet type)

Honestly? Having had a lot of surgery this year, I appreciated practical things more than pampering things.

I would do a box of snacks and drinks. Things like cereal bars, crisps, chocolate, anything that can just be grabbed and doesn't need to be kept in the fridge.

Have you considered doing a subscription to a meals service? My friend rates this one - www.cookfood.net/order/

Magazine subscription? If that is in your budget and you know her reading preferences. You can get subscriptions for any duration you like these days (doesn't have to be a year) for most mags.

A kindle. Or audio books

Agree hard to concentrate post surgery. Sister in law liked listening more.

I was happily reading books again a few of days after hysterectomy - a good way to retreat from the bustle of the ward! So I endorse the idea of books - 'real' or Kindle - if not in hospital, at least by the time she gets home, which is also a time 'spoiling' is appreciated.

Also agree with idea of delicious foods you don't need to prepare. And of really nice, ready arranged flowers (eg Jane Packer) or plants - again, for when she gets home rather than for hospital.

And texts for keeping in touch and sending brief chatty messages another briliant idea.

Dr Hauschka lavender bath - I give that to friends who have had c-sections. It is lovely and relaxing and the lavender is good for healing the scar.

Agree with a kindle or perhaps an I-tunes/Amazon voucher to download audio books or video. Also agree jog-style trousers and long loose tops to enable comfy sitting without pressure on scar. Anything that can be prepared as a snack or light meal without bending to open fridge or lift a pan. Mineral water based cooling spray might be nice in this weather and soothing cucumber/gel eye masks.

I recently had surgery and a freind of mine paid for a beutician to come and give me a mani and pedi at my home while I was recovering.

It was fantastic and just what I needed as I felt horrid and unattactive beforehand and it perked me up very well.

Some good ideas!!! She's sat up eating maltesers already, thank goodness!

Sounds an eminently sensible woman!