GAjeepGirl

I took clothes to go home in but otherwise, I only really used my charger, phone, and laptop. I was in for 2 nights. The first day/night was all about sleeping and just trying to wrap my head around my new life. The next day, I was on my laptop a bit to cure the boredom between walks.

Yeah, that's generally true for most urban hospitals, but if you have someone there with you, they can keep your stuff....

Don't know what it's like in the hospital you're going to at but here all patients are advised not to take anything valuable with them to the hospital if it's possible because auf stealing.
I only brought phone, tablet and charger and a little money without all the cards etc. - on the day of surgery the nurses stash away the valuable stuff at a secure place.

@mello1 thanks for doing all this! So excited to see all the support of people and we’re all going through it together!

I brought my flameless candle to relax my nerves...it was very soothing and the overnight team seemed to enjoy it as well. I brought an extension cord, which I needed. Comy clothes for the ride home and a zip up hoodie. Uses a pillow for the ride home. I had a few extra things, soothing aromatherapy lavender lotion for my hands. I have my personal comforts, we all travel different.

Baby wipes/wet wipes

Ooh. Good idea...
Also, front opening bra.

you are hysterical - I very much needed this giggle today!

I brought a bunch of stuff but only used my charger. They provided a toothbrush and paste. I even had a robe but never used it because I had an iv attached the entire time so I wouldn't be able to get the robe on.

For one night I wouldn't bother with anything more.
Is it like really only an overnight stay??
I had to stay for five nights (planned discharge is on the 5th post-op day here) and brought a whole bag of things.
- favorite pillow
- pyjama and shirts for several nights
- comfy clothes and underwear for several days
- phone, tablet and charger
- books if you don't read on your tablet
- the bag I store stuff like toothbrush, deodorant etc. in

Comfy clothes and crocks so you can walk the heck out of the hallway with you headset on and Jammin and farting all the surgery gas out while on morphine!
Yes personal care items help but who cares if you smell or look like hell, you did it and wont see them again - JK

Me too - I even ordered a new pretty robe to boost my mood after surgery!

Toothbrush
Biotene Spray to moisten your mouth
Disposable House Slippers for walking
Cell phone charger + phone
That's all I took. Wore the same clothes home and brought a pillow from the hospital home with me for the trip. I held it to my tummy to keep the bumpy ride from hurting.
Went commando the whole time and wore a gown, cuz was just easier.

I am packing robes and slippers for walking around.

I went into all the March threads and put everyone's dates together so that everyone could see their buddies! I will put this in the other March threads as well. If you are new or don't see your name, I will be more than happy to add it!
March 2 Skywolfe, Earthquake88, AnnieK1073, Rearguard, Slimmy-Mommeee
March 3 Glannin, BigInJapan, Byrd0315
March 4 lucia.vsg
March 5 KSMermaid, gucci2018, ERYNN123
March 6 Pansypicker, Amber77
March 9 Angie526, auntCyn, highlyundermedicated
March 10 Confidently_Me, Nermada, Wellness Warrior, NewEnglanderGal, Amy Franks, finding.me
March 11 MaineDoc, 3charrm, lily66, asnirak
March 12 ronjsteele1, anyu3379
March 13 Q75j25
March 17 Mello1
March 19 medicpup2
March 20 JessicaMNCat, fiddlinjellybean
March 23 KingTeresa 2006
March 24 heavenlyscrts, jDubs, AngienHarry, SleeveCanadian, Learning2LoveTina
March 26 Cia2020, OnMyWay1956, Marthalynn
March 27 Ayemeeb
March 30 Stanlak
March 31 KhoricRitten

"With the lap band I NEVER had that comfortable feeling of fullness. I always felt queasy rather than full and vomited often, depending how the first bite landed. I ALWAYS regurgitated meat of any kind, that's why I'm a vegetarian today".

JRT Mom, can I ask if you've had any issues trying to get your Protein being vegetarian? I've been a veg head for 27 years - and had no issues when I had my band in - (it was removed because it eroded completely into my stomach after 11 years being in). I'm just worried that I won't be able to find a good protein source that is workable since I hate tofu. Any suggestions?
THANKS!!!

I know I'm not long term yet, but since I have had both a lap band and a bypass I feel qualified to answer.
With the lap band I NEVER had that comfortable feeling of fullness. I always felt queasy rather than full and vomited often, depending how the first bite landed. I ALWAYS regurgitated meat of any kind, that's why I'm a vegetarian today. With the bypass I get that nice "whew, I'm full" with no feelings of queasiness, and I haven't vomited once since I got my bypass.
I got my band a month before yours and it worked well for 5 years, but I also developed s slip, a hiatal hernia, and even with the fill pulled out I was vomiting up almost every other thing I ate. I don't miss it it all, and like elcee if I knew then what I know now I woulda gone straight to the bypass.
Good luck!

Got my gastric sleeve scheduled for March 17. I start my liquid diet on Tuesday the 10th.
Nervous and excited for the new journey at the same time!!

So ready and so scared at the same time. Wishing us all luck on our dates, a speedy recovery, and lots of success!

Well, I'm closing in on week 1 of my liquid diet; I seem to have gotten into a routine. I think I have all of the things in place that I need for the hospital and post-op. I was a bit bummed out because the kidney specialist wants to re-run some labs and my pre-op appt. has to be re-scheduled, but I decided not to allow these matters to take away from my laser focus now. Also I just received some new books on bariatric recipes post-op for the puree, soft and beyond phases. One book, The Complete Bariatric Cookbook and Meal Plan' by Megan Moore, RD, CSOWM, CD answers a lot of questions that many have had post-op. I also got 'Comfort Cooking for Bariatrics Post-Op and Everyone Else' by Lisa Sharon Belkin which is a book with lots of illustrations of quick foods one can fix.
In the Introduction of Ms. Belkin's book, she list her 'mantra' to her commitment to maintain her weight that she got from someone who was asked the proverbial question of how long and how did she lose half of herself in weight. I thought it was pretty profound:
It has taken me every day. Not six weeks, not six months. Every day. I start again every day. I gave up bad habits one at a time. I gave up excuses. I gave up blame. I gave up sugar and bad carbs. I gave up short cuts and fake stuff. I took advice from my body about wat was working and what wasn't. I took advice from people who had won, not people still at war. I focused on one path instead of chasing miracles. I celebrated every win. Some days it was a new number or a new size. Some days it was an airplane aisle with turning sideways. Some days it was someone saying, "All the cute clothes are for little people like you." Some days it was just being able to put the bread down, spit the sugar out, or stop before regret! And honestly, some days I celebrated being able to start again tomorrow. I made time for success. I prepped, I planned, I scheduled it. Success in anything has to be scheduled. I quit waiting for a better time. This is now my mantra. The time is now. My success has been scheduled.

Pre op testing completed yesterday - day 48934 of liquids (okay it just FEELS that way), I'd say I'm as ready as I'll ever be! So excited, but a bit scared to be honest!

We are entering Week 2 of the March surgery group! Week 2 folks, are you ready?
March 9 Angie526, AuntCyn, highlyundermedicated, Nette200486, Wendy128
March 10 Confidently_Me, Nermada, Wellness Warrior, NewEnglanderGal, Amy Franks, finding.me, saracha
March 11 MaineDoc, 3charrm, lily66, asnirak
March 12 ronjsteele1, anyu3379, Jay2016, GAJeepgirt
March 13 Q75j25
March 14 Amie

Thanks Mello1!

Welcome, welcome!!!! Added you smile-everyday to the list!

March 12th for me (it was supposed to be the 5th, but I would have been the last patient for the day - with a late afternoon operation!!! They asked if I wanted the first available for the next week and I agreed. Tomorrow is my pre-op testing. I had my lap band removed in 2015, and I'm having "revision" to bypass. I'm beyond excited, but I worry that something is going to jinx it. One week of two required weeks of liquid pre op diet, and no replacement hormones has made me a bit grumpy to say the least!
I remain skeptical until I'm on that OR table, sound asleep! 😛