motel stay right after surgery...what will i need

ok folks, my sugery is on the 4th, i have 2 days in the hospital, then because i live more then 60 miles away from where my surgery is i have to stay in a motel close by hospital for 2 days before i am medically released...i just wish the insurance would pay to stay in the hospital but oh well...

i am taking just the bare neccisities to the hospital, but i also want to take only the really neccessary for the motel stay....we will have microwave and fridge, thats it...i am sure a coffe pot...i was going to take my ninja blender, but just the main containter as i have 3 extra small ones....as of right now i dont like the protein drinks with milk blended..i have been using the nectar ones with my lemonade in a shaker bottle...so maybe not take the blender?
i am sure i will be sleeping alot if i can get comfortalbe in the bed...i have a memory foam bed that is adjustable at home, i had to get a new bed, we had a water bed, but due to my large herniated disc i had to get a new bed, i sleep with feet elevated and head also...so sleeping flat is going to be hard.. not sure if there is a reclinder in motel or not....

once i get home i will have full access to everything..but i cant pack  my whole kitchend to the motel just for 2 days...
thanks for the help
debby

laying flat was really tough for me.  I slept in a recliner for a couple of nights after going home.  I wouldn't count on having a recliner.  I would take extra pillows.  Not sure what is on your plan to eat, creamed soups strained? broth? bottled water, jello?  

Take your vitamins, protein powder (if you like the Nectar just shaken, don't bother with the blender), Tylenol, toiletries, really comfy clothes like sweats and a baggy shirt, a book or your laptop (though you may not use them much), your cell phone and charger, maxi pads 'cause you might start your period even if it's not really that time, and plastic spoons and cups and dishes for heating and eating your liquid meals.

I assume someone will be staying with you?  They can go out and buy whatever you'll be able to eat or drink those first couple days, I assume stuff like broth, jello, maybe yogurt and pudding.  You won't have a freezer so skip the popsicles.  Don't buy much because one container of jello may make two meals.   And if you have someone with you, they can run out and get anything essential you need.

How far away do you live from your surgeon.  I'd say if it is much more than 60 miles away, I'd hang out a few extra days.  Hopefully there are no complications, but if there are, being close by is a really good thing.

OOOhhh a question I can answer! lol

I just went through this. I live 3hrs away from my surgeon so we were required to stay long enough for my 1wk ck up. I was in the hospital for 3days. We actually arrived a couple days earlier to get settled in and allow me some time to relax and enjoy our "mini-vacation" lol

I'm not sure which motel you'll be lodging with, but I can tell you the one we got did NOT have a recliner. I have lower back problems and couldn't sleep on my back anyway (although now I can, yippee! :D sry got distracted lol) but I did wish at the time that there was a recliner. Also, not sure if you'll have a JP drain or not, but I did have one and I HATED trying to sleep with it. So, yes, if you need elevation bring extra pillows. I remember wishing I had a body pillow...so if you can get one or have one that will help u a lot. (My hubby ended up putting our bags full of our packed clothes under my pillow and one under my knees to help me sleep...it looks ridiculous!)

As far as food, I knew we were going to be a little limited on funds, so beforehand I made up 3 containers of sugar free jello (two boxes for each one to ensure I had enough). Because I was told not to have anything red the day before, I made one red for the first day I was there, one green for the night before surgery, and then another red kind for when I left the hospital. Just making those beforehand saved me because it was already done and I didn't have to worry about buying those expensive jello cups. I also stocked up on some Dannon Lite and Fit yogurt for the days before surgery. We packed up a cooler and bought one bag of ice on the way out of town and then used motel ice the whole rest of the time to keep things chilled.

(Also to save money, we packed things like bread, lunch meat, sliced cheese, string cheese, and chips for my hubby so we didn't spend a ton of money for him to eat out. With you having a microwave as well, you can get some cheap TV dinners for whoever is going with you and they can also make quick sandwich and chip meals. It saved us a ton! Eating out is expensive!)

I also stocked up with two cases of water and a couple boxes of the crystal light little premeasured packs...and tons of propel because I knew that I would need lots of hydration. While we were there my hubby went down to the Vitamin Shoppe and bought a case of Isopure RTD Protein drinks so I could get my protein in as soon as I got back to the motel. So, I was set on the liquids/jello for me.

You're lucky to have the microwave and fridge! I was going to pack cans of broth and just take a hand can opener, but I called the motel front desk and they told me they didn't have a microwave or fridge. Oddly enough, once I left the hospital I didn't want to even think about broth! I had nothing but broth in the hospital and to this day it makes me a little queasy. So, me and broth are not on speaking terms right now.

Go to the hospital in VERY comfy cloths. I went in my pajama pants and a loose shirt and even my house slippers lol I knew I would walk out in those clothes so I wanted to be as comfy as possible.

Sry this is long, but I just wanted to mention one more thing about protein shakes. I know some of them out there can be doozies, just downright nasty, but I found FUSION to be awesome. Perhaps you'll be able to stomach that one. I believe the link is bariatricfusion.com. The vitamins are amazing, too! I've told many about them here...they taste sooo good, almost like I'm eating a sweet tart, but sweeter...strange to think they are a multivitamin for bariatric patients lol

Ok, this got long enough, hope I helped. Lemme know if you have any other questions...I just went through this two weeks ago, so it's ALL fresh in my mind!

Kor