I had open heart surgery in March to replace a congenitically defective heart valve. 4 months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer & had a mastectomy because I couldn't have radiotherapy with the new heart valve underneath.
After the open heart surgery, I stayed with friends for a week and my private health fund organized what's called Rehabilitation at home ... for when I went hom on my own. A nurse & physio & an occupational therapist & a cleaning lady called once a week for a few weeks.
When I had the mastectomy, I just went straight home after 2 nights in hospital. All drains were removed before I left. I had prepared the house and supplies before I went into hospital.... so food was in the freezer and I put everything I would be needing, for food preparation & self-care, where I wouldn't have to stretch up. Lots of towels and plain white cotton washcloths at the ready. Also used QV Soap Free Lotion to wash gently around the wound & pat dry (same as the nurses showed me after open-heart surgery).
I only used the Private Health Fund Rehab service this time for a nurse to come check on the wound... which was fine. I was told, after a week, to go see my GP, who's only across the road. Fortunately, the regime given me to prevent pain, worked. 2 Panadol every 6 hours to cover it, so it didn't break thro'. So, apart from the couple of checks by a nurse in-home, I was OK on my own. The hospital physio had already given me the exercises I had to continue. My neighbour did kindly offer to look in on me for the first night I was home alone....& I had my mobile phone with me at all times, to call her if necessary. But I slept like a log & was fine.
But some hospitals also have an in-hospital Rehabilitation program where patients can transfer over to, for whatever time is deemed necessary, if their surgeon gives a referral. If someone has Private Health cover, cost would come from that. But there's got to be some access for public patients, too. I'm pretty sure that was the case in the Rehab section of the hospital that I was in. My mastectomy surgeon only gave me a referral for services at home (nurse visit) because that's all I needed.
I suggest you track down any of these...the social worker, community outreach nurse or breast nurse, who is at the public hospital you're going into. Talk to them about your after-surgery needs and care, given you'll be home alone... and what is available to you as a public patient (without Private Health cover) , In Home, or In -Hospital Rehab, or a bit of both.
Very best wishes. I hope all goes well for you and for your daughter & her baby, too.
