Advice

1/2 dose of pain meds every 2 hrs instead of 4

Possibly help the strength and smooth out pain meds effect

Advice

2 sets of compression garments

When cleaning one, wear the other

Advice

3 drawer cart on wheels 12x14x12

Holds and keeps things close such as: pads, bandages, medications, phone, address book, notepad, pens/pencils, crossword puzzles.

Advice

Antibiotic Ointment

Lube incision areas

Advice

Careful with the neosporin

Advice

Check incisions daily for signs of distress or infection

Advice

Crystal Light or lemon juice/slices

Add these items to your water sometimes plain water gets boring;watch the sodium

Advice

Dermabond to seal the incision and steristrip tapes for the breast incisions

Ask your PS if he/she uses these or staples

Advice

Hemi-Sync Surgical Support CD's

Anecdotal evidence shows better recovery and pain management

Advice

Keep Medications, Creams, Ointments in small basket

Convenient to carry around from room to room

Advice

Living Will/Advanced Directive

Bring to surgery center or hospital

Comfort

Back Scratcher

Dry itchy skin, also use a good moisturizer

Comfort

Button up large shirts

Easier to get on/off then over the head shirts

Comfort

Candles/Incense/Aroma

Add aromas to relieve stress, lessen pain

Comfort

Good Moisturizer

Sometimes your skin under binders and bandages gets all dry and flakey

Comfort

Loose Drawstring PJ Pants

Need I say why?

Comfort

LOTS OF PILLOWS, Bed Wedges

keep comfortable/keep arms/legs elevated, use Wedges in bed instead of recliner

Comfort

New underwear or boxer type underwear

These are great because the legs are longer then typical underwear, great if you are having a thigh lift, the underwear won't irritate the incision in the groin area

Comfort

Recliner

A MUST, May be sleeping in it for a couple of weeks

Comfort

Sports Bra

For Breast Aug fitting and comfort for later

Comfort

Sweatpants

Nice loose fitting clothing

Comfort

Undershirts or Cuddle dud's (long underwear)

Wear these under binders, helps relieve itching;cuddle dud's are softer and smoother then t-shirts, warmer in winter too.

Comfort

www.gelzone.com

gelzone 6 x 48" Wrap

Comfort

Zip Up Robe

Helpful

Baby Wipes

Good for using when you can't take a shower

Helpful

Bed Liners

Absorbant-keeps fluids leaking onto bed/chair and makes it easy to slide off of. Avoids scooting. Scooting can cause stitch popping

Helpful

Bed tray with legs

something to put your laptop on so it doesn't rest on your legs: eating in bed

Helpful

Bendable Straws

For your drinks, easier when you can't bend so easily

Helpful

Chapstick

Post op lip treatment

Helpful

hybicleanse soap

For cleaning around drains

Helpful

Lanyard

For Pinning Drains makes taking a shower easier

Helpful

Pen Light

When room is dark, you are awake and you don’t want to wake others in room with you. Use for reading.

Helpful

Tongs or Grabber tool

Tongs for close things; grabber reaching tool for items further away or high/low up

Helpful

U-Shaped Travel Pillow

use in bed or during travel times

Helpful

Walker/Bar/Tall Stool/Rope

Something around the chair/bed/toilet to help in getting up

Helpful

Women's Urinal

Especially if you have the upper thigh lift

Medical

Arnica Montana 30X tabs and Gel

homepathic solution which may reduce bruising and swelling in association of soft tissue injury

Medical

Bendryl Liquid

Good for itch relief

Medical

Bromelaine

homepathic solution which may reduce swelling

Medical

Freshett

Ability to standup while going potty

Medical

Hand Sanitizer

Purell brand has moisturizer in it

Medical

Kotex Pads/Gauze Pads

Kotex Pads are a cheaper solution to put around drains, cut into thirds, cut a slit to fit around tubing, also line your incision, they are soft and could keep the binder from irritating the incision

Medical

Pro-Care, Protein Powder/vitamins

Load up on Protein and Vitamins pre surgery and post-op

Medical

Senakot use with stool softener

http://www.healthsquare.com/drugs/92719.htm

Medical

Stool Softener (Colace)

Decrease constipation due to pain meds

Medical

Stripping the Jackson Pratt Tubes?

Use an alcohol pad, it slides along the tubing easier then bare skin

Medical

Tablet to chart output of drains

Necessary for tracking fluid level output

Medical

Thermometer

Important to monitor temp; good check on inflammation or lack of it

Medical

Toilet Seat Riser

Don't have to bend down so far up or down

Relax

Camera

Keep updated pictures

Relax

Laptop

Bring to surgery center or hospital or hotel if staying away from home

Relax

Music IPOD

Listen to your favorite tunes

Relax

Reading Material

Read Books you have always wanted, but didn't have enough time

Relax

Writing Material

Catch up with old friends, keep a journal