Gettin' ready for surgery

Cali board friends,

Some of the best advice and knowledge that I have received about WLS has been on this board, so I thought I would ask for your expertise.  In most areas of my life, I like to plan ahead.  With the holidays fast appropaching and time being precious I am getting nervous that I won't be prepared for what to bring to the hospital and what I will need when I get home.  I am almost a month away from surgery (Jan 8th) and I want to know if you think it's best to buy vitamins, protien powders etc, before surgery?  I know that I won't feel real yippy skippy after surgery but my husband is very supportive and would get whatever I needed if I just ask.

So, what did you do, what do you recommend for me to bring to the hospital and have at home when I get back. 

Thanks so much.

Barb

Hi Barb,

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery!

You really won't need much in the hospital. Here's a list that others may want to add to:
Your own pillow
bathrobe
slippers
chap stick
Maybe a magazine or something to read.

I wore something super comfy to the hospital and just wore the same thing home.

Do Not go and buy a bunch of protien before hand. For the majority of us, our tastes changed and what we liked before was no good after.

It would be good to have some SF jello, SF pudding and broth. For broth I found I liked to buy regular soup and strain it. It tasted better and seemed to last better too.

For vitamins, just follow what your doc says. Also, we filled my pain meds before surgery so I wouldn't have to worry about doing it after.

Again, good luck to you.
Sue

Sue,

Thanks so much for your great suggestions.  I will get the SF jello & pudding and love your idea about the soup.  I am not too much of a broth person, so I think your idea about straining is an excellent one.

Thanks again,
Barb

Check out my blog in April. I blogged about surgery prep and what to take and what to expect during the first few days.

Kim,

Loved your blog and all the great advice and factual information, it will come in very handy.  I especially liked your idea of making copies of what others have said about their first couple of days & weeks and put it in a book.  Great idea for reference to get your hands on quick.

Thanks again
Barb 

Sue gave you some good advice Barb...oh what a way to start out '09. I am really happy for you!!!!

Janine,

Yep, Happy New Me and Happy New Year too.  Thanks so much for your support.

Barb

Barb,

I am on the countdown, as I go in on Tuesday.  I have been packing my bad and here's what I have, no skid slippers, a book, info on Bariactric Fusion vitamins to ask the nut about, I am wearing the clothes homes that I am wearing to the hospital, but I also packed an extra pair of undies, toothbrush, toothpaste, fash wash, brush and hair tie.  Also check out the www.bariatricfusion.com website and email cs and get a sample.  They are a all-in-one new chewable vitamin for wls patients.  it's only about $25 /month with free shipping of you buy 2 bottles.  I also have several types of protein on hand, just in case my taste changesafterwards like so many people... Happy Holidays!

Charity,

Awesome and I am so excited for you.  Great suggestions on the contents to bring to the hospital.  Thanks for the website too.  I wish you the very best of the holidays and know you will do great during surgery.  You will be on my mind and in my prayers on Tuesday.  Thanks again for the great suggestions.

Always,
Barb

Barb!

Congrats!

Like others have said, don't take a ton of stuff with you as you likely wont touch most of it...pillow for sure (also useful for holding against your tummy on the ride home to cushion any bumps!) and chap stick...slippers...I think that's all I used.

You can get samples of lots of different proteins if you go to the company websites and look around...some are free some arent...I found the samples to be helpful after my surgery because if I liked it I could get more, but if I didn't I wasnt stuck with a big can of it. The trick with the soup is handy for sure, I couldn't stand the taste of any of the "broths" I had right after but the strained out soup worked like a charm for me!


Shells