Episode 95 – Taking on surgery, recovery & caregiving

Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation, and when you live with Multiple Sclerosis, even a “routine” surgery can totally upend daily life. In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we get real and open up on the weeks following Dan’s hernia surgery and how recovery has affected our caregiving dynamic, routines and sense of normalcy. Just 11 days post-surgery, we share what we feared most, what surprised us, and how preparation, flexibility, and community support have helped us navigate this unfamiliar chapter together. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human as we get into everything that comes with having a routine (yet major surgery) when both people in a relationship are living with MS and serve as each other’s primary caregivers, including: Adjusting our caregiver schedules and transfer procedures Managing spasticity Altering sleep schedules Incorporating dignity-preserving tools Dealing with the emotional weight of temporarily giving up things we love It’s also a reminder that healing is more than physical. It’s also relational. Here are the links we referenced that offer depth and insights for our conversation: Dan’s healing: The night before – Link to check out Jennifer’s emotional essay written, well, the night before Dan’s surgery. Dan’s healing: The weeks after surgery – Link to check out Jennifer’s follow-up essay highlighting the realities we had to face. PureWick – Link to learn about the in-home urine collection system we discuss in the episode. An open invitation for you, our listeners Have you experienced surgery as a patient or caregiver? What helped you through recovery? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.