We have a new bed
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325923)
Rockingham, Australia
March 20, 2024 9:44pm CST
Some of you might have read that my husband needs open-heart surgery and that it is scheduled for the middle of May. The sternum/breastbone will be sliced through the middle so the surgeon can get to the heart. Then it’s put back together again and left to heal. I hope that’s not too much information.
While it’s healing over 6-8 weeks, Vince has to sleep on his back. He isn’t looking forward to that as it makes his back ache and also makes him snore. We looked at hiring a hospital-type bed where the head can be raised as that would be a much better sleeping position for him. They are not cheap to hire but then he found one for sale on a website. It’s a kingsize single with a mattress and it’s now installed in the spare bedroom. The remote control lets you raise or lower the whole bed or just the head or foot.
We must have known something when we bought a Murphy bed for that room. The Murphy bed folds up against the wall and looks like a cupboard, leaving the floor area free. For a small charge, the seller delivered to for us and had a cup of coffee which was nice. People have interesting stories. Once Vince has finished with the bed, we can sell it again.
24 people like this
22 responses
@vandana7 (98855)
• India
22 Mar
@JudyEv Oh...I did not know that you all have beds like that. But getting a Murphy bed was kinda god planned arrangement. Hope and pray that your husband recovers fast from the upcoming operation. Hugs.
By the way, when my aunt had her hip bone surgery, we used to mechanically raise the upper part and put pillows behind. But the problem was the mattress. It would lead her to slide because of that plastic cover. Of course there was a bedsheet on that. Still, she would slide. This meant, when she sat for say about 15 or 20 minutes, she wanted to lie down again, we would have to call the nurse and ensure that her operated hip was not disturbed.
Another issue was, her legs would pain. Not being able to fold them. Circulation issue. So I ended up doing a lot of standing and pressing legs during the day and the night.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
@vandana7 I'm not sure what you mean 'all have beds like that'. Not many people have Murphy beds. I actually don't know of anyone else. I just thought it would be a good idea to be able to fold it away. I thought I could put a table in there sometimes to do my jigsaws on. I don't think Vince will slide down this one as the mattress bends. It lifts under the knees too which keeps the patient more comfortable and in place.
That would have been tiring continually massaging your aunt's legs. Thanks for your good wishes.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49039)
• United States
22 Mar
It’s great that you were able to get the bed.
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@Tampa_girl7 (49039)
• United States
22 Mar
@JudyEv It will help him to be more comfortable.
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@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Mar
@Tampa_girl7 It might be a long few months. Apparently he has to keep a pillow nearby and if he is about to cough, he had to clutch a pillow to his chest, otherwise the stitches might come apart. Perhaps I'll end up sleeping outside his door!! 
@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
We thought we might have to buy a new one but they're very expensive and we won't need it forever.
@Happy2BeMe (99392)
• Canada
21 Mar
Glad you were able to get a bed it will make sleeping easier.Having gone through open heart surgery I know how what recovery is like but he will feel so much better once it is behind him.. I wish him all the best with his surgery and recovery.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
@Happy2BeMe It's good to know how much better you felt afterwards. Vince gets very tired very easily so I guess that's all to do with his issues.
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@Happy2BeMe (99392)
• Canada
22 Mar
@JudyEv They do it quite often. I was surprised when I had mine done how many were getting done at the same time. I will be honest it is some of the worse pain I have ever felt in my life but it was well worth it to feel good. I had no idea how bad I felt until I finally felt good.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86769)
• United States
22 Mar
@JudyEv Yes they are not cheap I know Judy.
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@Juliaacv (48417)
• Canada
22 Mar
@JudyEv If it is that new, you may benefit more if you rent it out. After a couple of rentals you could sell it. Our daughter-in-law did that with the snoo bassinettes that she bought for the twins. They were so expensive and babies only use them for a short time, so she rented them out twice and since the electronics in them can break down after a period, she sold them after that before anything happened to the electronics and she doubled what she paid for them, which was steep to begin with.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79802)
• United States
22 Mar
You were lucky to find that bed and it will be perfect for Vince when he comes home from the hospital.
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@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
Thanks. It's a common operation nowadays but you wouldn't be a wife if you didn't worry a little bit. 
@Deepizzaguy (94624)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
22 Mar
Thank you for sharing the events with us on this site.
1 person likes this
@mildredtabitha (16048)
• Nairobi, Kenya
21 Mar
It's good news that you got a new bed for Vince. I hope the heart surgery in May will go on well and I wish him a quick recovery in advance.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157598)
• United States
21 Mar
That was a smart purchase on your part.
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@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
They are not cheap but only about a third of the price if you can buy one second-hand. The man who owned this only used it a few times then had to move to a new nursing home and couldn't take his own bed with him. I feel sure we'll be able to sell it again later.
@BarBaraPrz (45511)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Mar
Maybe the bed should be turned so that he could look out the window if he wanted to.
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@LeaPea2417 (36459)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Mar
I really hope he has a safe surgery and a good recovery. I hope the bed is comfy for him.
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@RasmaSandra (73502)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Mar
That does not sound too good but if it has to be it has to be, I will be putting him in my prayers when the time comes, That is a good idea about the hospital bed, I hope it helps.
1 person likes this
