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Top Necessity Before Lap Band Surgery



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Tomorrow I am going shopping for everything I will need at the hospital and the first week after. My list so far is the following:

Body pillow

chewable vitamins

SF Jello

broth

Heating pad

Gas X strips

Water

SF Popsicles

I keep staring at it wondering if I'm missing anything. I was just wondering what you took with you to the hospital or had the week following surgery that was invaluable to you. There are a couple of obvious things I did not include like drawstring pants and my cell phone. I also am going to buy more of my Protein Drink powder. Thanks!!

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liquid tylenol for adults...my pain was so low that I didn't take pain pills but for 2 days. (and be forewarned! pain pills very well may constipate you, trust me on this! I even took the stool softener with it...ugh!) I am on day 5 and have used tylenol when needed, usually at night. Good luck! :)

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You might get some Vitamin B12 for possible fatigue, anti-nausea liquid if anesthesia makes you sick, You'll need some type of calcium citrate, most of the liquid is nasty, chewables are ideal, but hard to find. Don't forget PJs and slippers. Don't bother with a book, you won't have time or feel like reading. Look for some sugar free fudgecicles, they're great. I bought Costo's chicken bouillon and mixed Protein isolate in it for a little extra. Costco's Muscle Milk Protein Powder is really good in vanilla.(mixes with any fruit).

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I spent a good amount of time waiting for a room in the hospital. I was in the recovery area, but fully awake and I didn't have a TV or anything. I was very happy to have my Kindle with me.

You won't be allowed anything by mouth until have they have done a barium swallow to make sure that everything is ok. Bring some kind of lip balm; your lips will be very dry.

Good luck!

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I was only in the hospital overnite so you really don't need anything. As for at home your doctors office should have given you a program for your eating schedule. I was only off work for 1 week. One of the things i have found on this site is that lap band patients are not informed... its really sad. Im not sure why- is it the bariatric programs that are at fault ?? Anyway, i had my lap band 2 years ago, have lost 80 pounds, just had a Tummy Tuck. It has been my experiance that lap band patients will never eat the way they used to ever again. I have been filled to 7cc (14cc band). My diet mostly consisits of Soups, chilis, and chowders. Your life time food intake will depend on what you find you can tolerate. I cannot tolerate meat or chicken or fish and believe it or not could not get yogurt or mashed potatoes to stay down. As for protein- most Protein from GNC or costco, or muscle milk has protein that bariatric patients cant use... there are different types of protein. I use ViSalus - they have tri sorb protein that is readily absorbed into the muscles. Its also much more affordable than the other products. Its not the quantity of protein but the quality of protein you need.

Good Luck to you.... Be Healthy

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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