Pre-surgery clothing planning and hair

What sorts of things did you buy pre-surgery?  Did you buy any clothes in smaller sizes?  In fact, how often did you buy new clothes while you were losing?  Did you buy every size along the way or just wait until your clothes were hanging on you to buy new stuff?  

Also.. have any of you just said "screw it" and shaved your head during the hair loss phase?  

I made sure I had lots of liquids and protein powder samples on hand. I bought a mini food processor and an immersion blender and an extra large heating pad. I didn't buy any smaller clothes before surgery. I am finding that buying clothes every other size is a good way for me to go -- wearing huge clothes that bag and hang is terribly unflattering and makes you look huge, and none of us wants to look our worst during this stressful time! But I really can't afford to buy clothes at every size.

I didn't shave my head but I did get a bonded topper. I came in to surgery with pretty bad hair loss already though (bad genetics).

Thanks!  I've already got a protein powder I like - hopefully my tastes won't change to make it unpalatable.  

I'm lucky that I don't work, so I won't need a ton of clothes to "look professional" while I lose weight.. I'd imagine that could get really expensive!  

I found some dress slacks at Walmart.  The George brand and bought every other size down to an 8.  They were about $16.00 and fit well.  As for the hair, I cut it off into a short layered bob as soon as it started thinning.     

Thanks!  I'll keep my eyes peeled for those. 

I recommend a blender and a food scale, and some protein samples.  

Clothing - it was helpful to me to have a couple pairs of comfortable, draw-string pants to wear around the house the first few weeks.  You can adjust them tight enough to stay up, but loose enough to not be constricting if the waistband is up against any of your incisions.  

I don't buy a lot of clothes while I'm losing.  When what I'm wearing gets too big, I go to the thrift stores and look for something that's a little tight, so I can wear it the longest time possible.  I can't afford to buy clothes too frequently.

I've definitely got the blender and food scale covered, since I already love to cook. :)  

Draw-string pants are a great idea.  Thanks!  Thrift stores are also a great idea.  I think a new one opened up in town recently, even. 

We have two goodwill stores in our County.  I will be shopping there for replacement clothes.  Before you roll them eyes, my Wife and I find a lot of clothes there that are new with tags.  They are also cheap to buy.  You can also find name brands.  Check out these kinds of places until you reach goal then go somewhere nice like Belks.  I plan to go to Belks when I reach goal and buy some nice clothes that aren't in the big man section!  Merry Christmas.

Thrifting is an "in" thing now, so I doubt anyone would roll their eyes!  

I made sure I had a food scale, protein powders that I could stomach (no pun intended), food for my husband (he wouldn't be sleeved until 5 weeks after me), and a comfortable gown to wear home from the hospital.

Yes, I bought clothes two sizes smaller before I had surgery.  I had been that size once, and I knew I would be it again for a good little bit.  I was able to start wearing them about a month post-op.  I'm still wearing some of them, but some of them are getting a little big for me now.  I have bought clothes pretty often, but most of the time I buy them on sale and with reward points/certificates so I'm not spending a fortune.  That said, I am also about to take a bunch of pants in to a tailor to have them taken in and hemmed up (I am short!).  I am not a fan of thrift store shopping--I don't like to wear other people's used clothes.  So when I shop, I make sure I get things that are on mad sale.  Good example:  I just bought a bunch of things from Talbots Woman that full price would have cost $425.  I paid $130 for it all...shopping like a BOSS!  Sale + reward certificates = mad savings.  This is pretty much the only way I shop.  I buy pants every time I go down 2 sizes because otherwise they look ridiculous on me--they make me look bigger than I really am, and who wants to do that?  Shirts and sweaters I can get away with wearing a little bigger because I layer--my classroom is very cold so layering helps me stay warm, especially since I have had trouble keeping warm post-op.

My hair is falling out like crazy but I'm sticking it out...can't shave my head as my employer would not be down with that, but I'm terrified to cut it just yet.  I am noticing that shorter hair is growing in and that it is all white.  Ah well...my grays are white anyway, so it's not such a big deal.  I don't plan to dye my hair ever, but I wasn't expecting what came back to be all white.