questions

i will be having my surgery this month and want to be prepared does any one have suggestions on what i should stock up on or take to the hospital mine will be open gastric bypass  so i dont know how long i will be in there.

you dnt need much at all ,you can not wash your hair or anything so I would take femine cloths to help clean up with I did not even put my gown on I used there gown but I did use my house coat & slippers ,get chap stick for sure my lips stayed so dry after surgery that was the best thing i took ,my huby brought books but I did not want to read anything at that point ,you sleep alot & walk alot lol ,good luck where are you having surgery at ?

i will be at st.luke west in florence, they called me thursday to come in for friday but i told them there is no way i had to have at least a weeks notice since i have to find a sitter for the animals and kids,i was not sure with an open how long of a stay i will have, if i would feel like crocheting or just want to sleep, thank you for all your help.

Hey, sorry I didn't see this post earlier..I have been out with my preggy daughter all day buying baby things...I love being a grandma!!!..(she is due in Feb).. I am a patient advocate trained by Dr. Sonnanstine,.....Dr. Sonnanstine is an accomplished laparoscopist and rarely performs open surgery..he begins each and every case laparoscopically (this is true even in the most difficult cases) the chance that you will have an open procedure is pretty low-...You could spend two nights in the hospital and in that very rare case of an open procedure,could spend an additional night or two...I suggest wearing hospital gowns as they are easier for the nurses as well as Dr. Sonnanstine to check your belly, access the IV --and for you to change gowns...of course comfortable non skid slippers and a robe as he will expect you up and walking the next day after surgery.... Any type of necessities such has hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste..lotions..etc ...there is always the possibility you will be allowed to shower so bring anything you wish to use for that..  Something to read and yes of course crocheting as you will be spend time sitting in the chair and little time in bed...bring your phone book so that you can call friends, etc. I don't know if we had the opportunity to speak to each other personally, but please do feel free to contact me so we can talk further if you would be more comfortable.  If you would like me to visit with you the morning of surgery, please let me know..if you are scheduled on a Monday I may be at the hospital .. Please feel free to contact me via email for further information. Thanks Brenda

Hi!   Dr. Sonnanstine is my surgeon as well though I had my surgery last year.   I'm surprised to hear that you're having open gastric bypass because as Brenda mentioned...I've heard him say in class that he starts surgeries laparospcopically and then if he absolutely has to, he'll switch to open.  I hope this doesn't mean you have some issue that requires that you start surgery with an open procedure?  If so....my thoughts are with you.   I had my surgery on a Monday and came home on a Thursday.  I originally had the option of going home Wednesday....but ended up with a fever caused by a bladder infection so Dr. Sonnanstine kept me Wednesday night so I could be given antibiotics by IV to get rid of it.   I opted to wear the hospital gown during my hospital stay because it was more convenient for me.  When I was sitting up or out walking, I wore a gown backwards as a robe.  It worked out nicely.  I did take my own slippers with me though they will provide slipper socks for you to wear if you don't have any with you. 

Be prepared to be up and out of bed quite a bit!  Dr. Sonnanstine told me he wanted me up and moving about as much as possible.  I spent most of my time during the day in the hallways walking or in the chair in my room.  The only time I was in my bed was at night to sleep.  I took a book with me to read and a puzzle book to work on...but really, I barely touched them.  Between walking the halls, mealtimes that seem to last FOREVER those first few days and just the general confusion of being in the hospital....I didn't have time for reading.   I would recommend taking your own toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, favorite face soap or scrub, lotion, deoderant, shampoo, hair brush, etc.   They have the essentials....but sometimes it's just more comforting to have your own, ya know?  

thank you for your replies, i hope it ends up laproscopic but he said he wasnt sure he would be able to do it that way i have extreme adhesions from alot of surgerys or i could of misunderstood you get so over welmed with every thing.

I completely understand and I agree this is so overwhelming.. If you would be more comfotable that I attend your History and physical with you just give me a shout and I will try to work my schedule around your appt.. Brenda

Looking back on my surgery...I wish I had an MP3 player or some kind of Music to listen to, I was in a Private room with an HDTV that had about 13 channels, so Music would have been a great option for me. But I just went with the essentials, A fan, Chapstick, and so Forth. Like the other posters said chapstick will reallly be needed. I only stayed 2 days as I had Laproscopic RNY, SO if your having open plan on a day or two more, and just take the advice of the other posters. Getting comfortable will be your main aspect of all this, and like they said walking and sipping. other than that find what makes YOU comfortable.....in this situation, I can only tell you what my experience was, But I'm going on the fact that you will be in there a few more days than your typical LAP RNY patient....Even with Open it shouldn't be no more than a 3-4 day stay. SO good luck to you and let us know how it all goes....anymore questions and I will be here. Take care