I'm having my surgery on 12/31 and I've started a shopping list. So far I have:

Gax-X strips

sugar-free throat drops

Sugar-free Jello

broth

Sugar-free Popsicles

What else do I need?????

Chapstick

Good one! Got it on my surgery bag list!

What about flavored water? I have my surgery on 12/30. I bought Vitamin Water. I love it! Good luck!

Low sodium V-8

a few cases of BOOST/ENSURE low carb ( I forget which one it is), to get the amount of protein in each day your will drink about 2-3 8oz bottles per day. (then watch the weight melt away ) lol

Chewable multi vitamin

Caltrate Calcium (get chocolate, taste like a tootsie roll lol)

Thanks for the info, this helped me start my list.. I am getting banded January 9.

What did you wear they day of your surgery? Do you think pajamas are ok?

When I had my gallbladder out laproscopically, I wore tights and a loose shirt. The tights were NOT a good idea, because the elastic hit right where one of the incisions was.

So I'm going to wear regular clothes when I go, but put a cotton nightshirt in my surgery "goody bag'' to wear home - I mean, no one is going to see us, right?

I was banded in Mexico and here is what I used

COMFY pants with as loose a waist as possible - wore this on surgery day, after surgery, and for about 2 weeks after. Bought some polyester stretchy pants for work

Big, baggy, comfy shirts

Slip on shoes

Baby wipes (you may get diarrea)

lotion

chap stick

lap top, books, Ipod, stuff to do. You might not want to do anything but lay around and watch TV.

Gas-Ex!

Tums!

Anti Nausea liquid - you can get it at Wal Mart or Target, it's like 3 bucks. I only had to use it a couple times, but it helped ALOT....prevented me from throwing up, which could cause the band to slip. I will always keep it on hand.

Your doc will prescribe a strong reflux medication, anti nausea, and pain killers, but get the Tums and stuff for extra.

Food:

First week (clear liquids)

chicken broth - I would mix mine with cumin and lime, the cumin is good for nausea

Gatorade recovery (g3, I think?) Protein Water

special K protein water

Vitamin water

beef broth

Veggie broth

Coconut water, for me was a life saver. It tasted good and helped my tummy.

I would mix garlic or basil or whatever herb sounded good into the broths, helped alot and made the tummy feel better. Garlic and Cumin and many other herbs are good for digestion and stomach upset, and it made it much more tasty.

Popsicles. I ate them all the time. Jolly Rancher ones are the BEST! Don't worry about sugar free. It's gross and you don't want to fill your body with chemicals when you are recovering. It'll just make you feel worse. Same with Jello

2nd week (creamy liquids)

bean with bacon Soup broth (added extra water to make more broth)

split pea soup broth (same)

Protein powder

I loved Target brand "Nutrition drink" - tastes great and gets some protein and Vitamins

pudding, I liked it with a little whip cream on top

creamsicles

fudgesicles

Chapstick

sugar free Apple juice

Sugar Free Applesauce

Low Sodium V8 Juice

Sugar Free Jello

Sugar Free pudding

Fat Free chicken and Beef broth

Immoduim and Stool Softener (You never know which one you'll need)

Gas X

Sugar Free Popsicles

Sugar Free Orange Sherbert

Chewable Vitamins

Chewable Caltrate for Calcium

Vitamin E Skin Oil to put on your scars to reduce visibility and promote healing

Cottage cheese

Frozen Fish Filets with no crust, just flesh. Steam or Bake them.

Vegetable Soup, Split Pea Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup

Flavors for Water optional

Take to hospital: PJ's, Robe, House Shoes, Pillow,

You might want to buy a Pedometer to measure your steps when you start walking.

Remember when you shop for food, you will need to break old habits. Eat 3 meals and 3 Snacks a day. Small bites and chew chew chew. Drink lots of water.

Get some freezer bags, ziploc snack bags,

Follow your dieticians and doctors orders about the Clear liquids, Full Liquids and Mushy Foods.

I'm sure there's more and I'll think of them when I hit Post. Good Luck and Happy Band Day.

Hey! Good Luck with your surgery! I'm 3 days post op and I'm trying to document everything on my blog. I hope this helps!

http://happilyafterlapband.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-to-do-to-prepare-for-lap-band.html

Clear Protein drinks, like Isopure. Protein helps your body heal. I liked the V-8 Splash too. I had no problem with liquids after surgery, and wasn't even hungry for about a week. Only problem was the pain in the port site, but that was manageable with pain meds.

Wish I'd found this forum before my surgery! I had no idea what to expect, and my Dr's office wasn't much help, had to figure it out myself.

Good luck!

I had Protein shakes thinned out.

Lots of Pillows to be comfortable

Slept in a Recliner for a while (easier to get up from.)

Pill splitter/crusher combo. (I got mine on ebay)

Heating Pad to help with the aches if you get em.

Good Health to you !

You will have a new Birthday.

The New Years Eve Birthday ! Congrats ! ! !

Shirley.

I am also getting band on Jan 9th. I just went shopping myself for surgery. I bought gatorade, V8, sugar free Jello, 100% unsweetened apple juice, broths, sugar free popsicles, sugar-free pudding.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info, this helped me start my list.. I am getting banded January 9.

What did you wear they day of your surgery? Do you think pajamas are ok?