Pre Op for Sleeve Surgery

I will be having my WLS on September 12! My insurance company had me wait 6 months and now the time is (finally!) here!! I want to ask for any tips you may have, whether it's what to pack or how to prepare or whatever!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery!  We are sure you will get many responses from our members but here is some information you may find helpful:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/photographing-your-weigh t-loss-surgery-journey/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/weight-loss-surgery-hosp tial-stay-what-to-pack/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-self-c are-after-weight-loss-surgery/

Best wishes and please keep posting so we can share in you journey.

Hi Mag,

Congratulations on being on the threshold of a new phase of your life.  As you see above, I was just sleeved on 8/20/13.  Trust me, you need to bring nothing if your hospital is a full service hospital.  You don't need to bring pjs because the verry fashionable hospital gowns will serve you best.  You'll be going to the bathroom a lot with all the liquids they will pump you with to make sure you stay hydrated. 

The only thing you may want to bring is a robe for when they want you to walk.  They will ask you to get up and walk the same day or the next day after the surgery, depending on the time you go into surgery.

You can also bring your hygiene products (deo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and lotion) if you are particular about using your own products.  I brought all this but used none (except my toothbrush bcoz it's a sonic one) because the hosp. provided all these.  I didn't even use my deo bcoz all I was doing was laying around most of the day.  I did not sweat so no need for it.

The only other thing you might want to bring is your cell so that friends and family can check on you.  If you are a reader and wish to bring something like a kindle, that's a good thing to do with all your time.  You just have to be sure to know where you've placed your electronics in order to keep them safe.  I don't think you should bring in something as expensive as an ipad unless your hospital has a safe place to lock it away. 

I also don't know how much time you'll devote to such activities as reading.  I think with the pain you will spend some of the time knocked out on the painkillers.  If your experience will be anything like mine and you are having the procedure done laparoscopically, the majority of your pain may not come from the incisions.  The pain will mostly come from the gas that they pump into your stomach cavity so that they can see where to guide the instruments.

Incision pain will come into play when you have to cough.  There will be phlegm that you have to get off your chest.  Make sure to hold a pillow to your stomach when you have to cough and bring one with you for your trip back home.  Place the pillow between you and the seat belt to avoid the belt pressing against your incisions.

I hope that you will get through it without any issues.  Don't be too apprehensive about the amount of pain you'll be in.  The drugs are gooood!  If all is well more than likely you will be surprised at how quickly you will feel ok to walk.  Again remember, the drugs are good and they will probably make you sleep a lot.

Best of luck!

My sleeve is on the 11th!  Good luck to you!

You too! See you on the other side!