Got a Surgery Date!!! How to prep

SKT
on 7/20/17 7:04 am

Super excited - talked to the nurse this morning and I have my surgery booked for Sept 15th. Feels so real now.

For those of you on the other side...are there anythings you wish you did before surgery? Or things you didn't need? Packing items, recovery plans - any details would be wonderful.

THANKS

Tuktu
on 7/20/17 7:44 am
RNY on 03/07/17

Congrats SKT! You are on the way and so close now!!

Packing items for hospital - I took baby wipes to just keep clean, chapstick as hospitals are usually really dry, few electronics e.g phone and tablet - I was sleeping alot but I did read a little on my tablet. I didn't need to pack a lot of clothes as I stayed in the hospital gowns the whole time. I did use my own housecoat for walking the hallways. Before surgery they usually provide you with a list of things to bring to the hospital and when to stop taking meds before surgery.

I wouldn't go out and stock up on much of anything in bulk in case you don't like the taste of something after surgery. I bought a huge tub of protein powder that was "unflavored" and it was on sale - unflavored doesn't mean it doesn't have a taste - it tasted awful LOL. Big waste of money for me. Taste buds do change after surgery

SKT
on 7/20/17 2:20 pm

Thank you! This is really helpful.

Kathy1212
on 7/20/17 8:51 am

Congratulations! That is exciting news.

I brought clean underwear and socks, all of the normal toiletries plus some dry shampoo, a hair tie to put my hair in a pony tail after surgery, and some dry mouth spray that was invaluable to me (I'm sorry I can't think of the name). I brought gasX on advice of people here but wasn't allowed to use it. Others are allowed to use it so I think it varies; I was at St. Joe's in Toronto.

My surgery was first thing in the morning so I just wore the same outfit home from the hospital after as I'd only had it on for an hour pre-op. I wore their hospital gowns the whole time I was there, and a second one backwards as a robe for when I walked and it worked fine. The hospital was super hot and the gowns were nice and cool, and big, too. They had special ones that fit bariatric patients.

I brought my laptop and phone, a book, and used all 3 quite a lot. I didn't sleep well in the hospital as my roommate had a visitor the first night and they talked all night long, so I jus****ched Supernatural on Netflix. Then the second night I had a different roommate who had an upset stomach all night so I didn't get much sleep either because she kept waking me up to call the nurse (she was elderly and very sweet).

Prior to surgery, I bought: new bathroom scales, a kitchen scale to measure food, new measuring cups, tiny tupperware containers to hold food, a mug warmer plate to keep my food warm, a sectioned toddler plate (on advice of Sudbury dietician...which I've never used), some protein powder (that I ended up hating), and premier protein (which thankfully I liked).

I use everything except for the toddler plate all the time and love my mug warmer. It holds my little glass meal bowls perfectly and keeps any food or drink hot, which is wonderful.

Pre-Op Visit: Jan. 10, 2017, weight 304, surgeon: Dr. David Lindsay, St. Joe's, Toronto

1st Day of (3 weeks worth of) Optifast: Jan. 11, 2017

Surgery Date: Feb. 1st, 2017

  Kathy  

SKT
on 7/20/17 2:20 pm

Thank you!

(deactivated member)
on 7/20/17 3:01 pm

I never find the hospital gowns to fit ...so thank you for the info!!!!

Congrats and your info is invaluable --- will be searching for a mug warmer!

(deactivated member)
on 7/20/17 2:58 pm

Congrats ! So exciting !

Smoka
on 7/20/17 6:23 pm
RNY on 09/12/17

This is great! All the best to you.

Barb

Referred May 2016, Orientation July 4, 2016, Pre-Nutrition Class March 31, 2017, Nurse April 10, 2017, Blood work/ECG April 13, 2017, Ultra-sound April 27, 2017, Psychologist May 30, 2017, Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy June 5, 2017, Internist June 13, 2017, Dietician June 14, 2017, 2nd Round of blood work August 2, 2017, Surgeon September 6, 2017, Surgery September 12, 2017 - St. Joe's Hamilton - No Opti

Height 5"4" HW 231 SW222 CW141

PreOp-9 lbs M1-20lbs M2-11lbs M3-13lbs M4-7lbs M5-8lbs M6-7lbs M7-5lbs M8-5lbs M9-2lbs M10-0lbs M11 - 0lbs M12 - 0lbs

IamBettyCooper
on 7/22/17 9:38 pm

Definitely don't stock up on too much ... you really overestimate how much you can consume. And taste buds/tolerances change. Sugar free jello was a lifesaver during Optifast and I wasn't able to tolerate it after surgery for some reason (still doesn't sit well a year later!).

For the hospital, the wifi didn't work well for me. I brought my iPod and listened to music ... great way to drown out all the noise. Some people recommend ear plugs. I also brought my own PJs (loose) and housecoat and slippers. And pillows ... made the bed comfier and the ride home easier. I brought a book and magazines but was too groggy to really read much.

I brought GasX too but didn't need it. Wipes are handy.

TWH ... Referral April 2015 ... Orientation July 2015 ... Psych Sept 2015 ... Social Worker Oct 2015 ... Nurse Practitioner Dec 2015 ... Nutrition Class Jan 2016 ... Nutritionist Feb 2016 ... Surgeon Appt April 2016 ... VGS Surgery July 2016

HW 294.2 SW 271 CW 183.1

Gemmie
on 7/24/17 1:02 pm
VSG on 01/31/17

How exciting!!! Who will be doing your surgery? Which doctor? Did they let you know?

Congrats!

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