What things are must haves pre & post LB operation? This is the only one I've heard specifically & often mentioned -

1. Gas X

After getting everyone's input, this might make a good "sticky" post?

I didn't use any Gas X ever - I hardly had any gas pains. Anyways, the stuff I got before hand for post-op was lots of liquids to drink, popsicles, an enema (my 1st post-op bowel movement was hell on earth and it would have been easier if I had just resigned myself to the enema earlier), rent movies to lay in bed and watch. That's all I can think of. Oh, and breath mints - the liquid diet makes your breath stinky!

I didnt buy in anything - but I did go nuts filling the freezer with food for the rest of the family, lol. It was bursting. But I didnt have to go shopping or cook a single meal for two entire weeks.

Even that wasnt necessary - I was perfectly capable of both - but it was nice.

Items I couldn't live without after my surgery:

1. heating pad

2. sugar free popcicles

3. prescribed pain medication from surgeon

4. husband's over size recliner (it hurt to lay flat for about 2 weeks post surgery)

5. my husband

6. canned broths, creamed Soups, pudding, Jello, etc.

7. Water

8. new bandages & triple antibiotic cream for my incisions

10. LBT

I am sure there are more things, but this is all I can think of right now. Best of luck!

The only things I used was broth (chicken and beef) grape juice, apple juice, popcicles, CIB, for the first week or so. Then some cream soups, cream of wheat, oatmeal, thinned mashed potatoes etc. I over bought, so don't buy too much, you just won't be able to eat much at first. I took Gas x once, but it didin't do much for me. A heating pad works great if you have shoulder pain. Good luck!

Betty, what is "CIB"?

CIB is carnation Instant breakfast. Here is my list for about to be bandsters::

lab-band shopping list

heating pad

flexible ice pack

liquid tylenol (they make adult strength)

chewable or liquid gas-x

a few books or movies

comfy clothes (loose waisted shorts or jumpers)

squishy pillow for car ride (guard against seatbelt)

a sports bra (doc said no underwire for a few days)

protien shakes

flavored water

make sure you have a good blender

I bought a drink mixer for the protien mix (cost $10 at walmart)

broth or stuff to make broth

sugarfree popsicles and jello

sugar free gum (ask your doctor)

sugar free breathmints (ask your doctor)

*Ask at your pre-op for the pain med prescription so you can have it all ready to go when you get home, our walgreens has to order liquid pain meds and it takes 3 days to get them.

~Mandy

These lists are awesome! I'll give it a few more days and then put all the suggestions together into one grand list. How/who makes posts "sticky"?

Mandy~

I went shopping at Wal-Mart last night and got most of the stuff you had on your list. Thanks a bunch for posting it...I'm sure it'll make post op time easier. Maudeispam, I didn't think of bandages, though! Talk about missing the obvious!

Emily

CIB is carnation Instant breakfast. Here is my list for about to be bandsters::

lab-band shopping list

heating pad

flexible ice pack

liquid tylenol (they make adult strength)

chewable or liquid gas-x

a few books or movies

comfy clothes (loose waisted shorts or jumpers)

squishy pillow for car ride (guard against seatbelt)

a sports bra (doc said no underwire for a few days)

protien shakes

flavored water

make sure you have a good blender

I bought a drink mixer for the protien mix (cost $10 at walmart)

broth or stuff to make broth

sugarfree popsicles and jello

sugar free gum (ask your doctor)

sugar free breathmints (ask your doctor)

*Ask at your pre-op for the pain med prescription so you can have it all ready to go when you get home, our walgreens has to order liquid pain meds and it takes 3 days to get them.

~Mandy

This is just about the best list I've seen. I'd just add walking to the list. Walking every hour or so really helps get the gas out. My gas lasted forever and Gas X didn't help. The only thing that helped was walking.

I made sure that I had gatorade, Crystal Light, books/movies, and some where to walk. The day after surgery, we were out on Revolution Avenue in Mexico and walked for like 4 hours. It stunk because their were some friends there that were eating and I felt really good so I wanted some. But I was good and just drank my gatorade!! It was really good because if I wanted something I would give mom that pouty look and how can you refuse your baby girl the day after surgery??? And let's just say I made out pretty good that day!!!

I didn't list bandages because I was told not to rebandage after the first 24 hours. I had glue not stitches or staples. I was told to let the bandages fall off in the shower and then let the area air dry. No ointment or bandages were needed. Make sure you ask the doctor what s/he wants you to do with your incisions. ~Mandy