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Post Op Survival Kit



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I'm going to start assembling my "post op survival kit" as I'll be in a hotel the night of my surgery. What items do I want in my "post op survival kit"? I know heating pad, Water, broth (I'll make my own). What else?

Also, what's everyone's favorite Fiber? I've used Benefiber in the past but I understand it's hard to find now. Has it been recalled or something? I need something that's tasteless/odorless and not gritty or slimy.

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Gax X Strips were helpful...sugar free popsickles. :)

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I'm going to start assembling my "post op survival kit" as I'll be in a hotel the night of my surgery. What items do I want in my "post op survival kit"? I know heating pad' date=' Water, broth (I'll make my own). What else?

Also, what's everyone's favorite fiber? I've used Benefiber in the past but I understand it's hard to find now. Has it been recalled or something? I need something that's tasteless/odorless and not gritty or slimy.[/quote']

Ice packs for your stomach, lots of them! more than 1 heating pad. I had them on my left shoulder & back. Gas X strips, don't wait for it to happen just take them. Make sure you have all the med's your Dr. Prescribed for after surgery. I use fiber gummies. Tissues. Good Luck :)

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I had to sleep with a pillow over my stomach for several days. It seemed to help having some kind of light pressure over it. Also ask the hotel if you could get a handicap room. My aunt did when she got bypass said it helped out a lot when it came to being in the shower. I stayed at my parents for while since they have a handicap accessible bathroom and being able to sit in the shower felt great. Also nice having that bench in the shower to shave your legs. Took me about a week to finally be able to do that though.

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Don't over think this, I did and probably threw out about $100 worth of stuff I bought and didn't use our couldn't stomach. I think the key things are gasx and heating pad. Eventually during that week you will need to add a stool softener (and 7 weeks later I still need it). You will not feel like eating/drinking, so at least make sure you get your Water in. Bring running shoes for walking and don't wear white as your incisions will be oozing a bit.

Everything else you can manage when you are at home. Don't get freaked out about your Protein in the first few weeks, it will be nearly impossible to get in 70 grams. I bought more Protein powder, drinks, puddings that I couldn't stomach and ended up throwing alot of it away. GNC offers a 30 day return policy on all if its products so if you are unsure if you will like something, perhaps try to purchase it from there first.

I never used icepacks for anything and you are not handicapped, so don't take room from someone that is - shave your legs the night before. You will be tender and maybe have gas pains, but the more you get up and move, the better.

Good luck to you.

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Clothes wise, something loose and comfy, no elastic tight waists, a comfortable bra or crop top. I was rather bloated post surgery and also need to avoid the pants rubbing over any sutures.

Doc also recommended a small medicine cup for my first few days post surgery to very slowly sip liquids.

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Chapstick, heating pad, hair tie (if you have long hair), loose comfy clothes, your own pillow, gas x, glasses (if you wear contacts), tooth brush. That was all I needed!

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Wow! These are SO helpful (and some funny!) tee hee. Keep 'em coming!

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chap stick is something to make sure you have and imodium a.d. if your dr approves.

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Just got thru surgery last night....so I did end up staying the night in hospital. So far since home 11am on to now 4pm, I have downed about 35 oz including 30 grams of Protein. No gas pains, 6 cuts, largest 1.5 inches it looks like. More sore if I move in getting up or down, walking fine. Sugar count was high after surgery but fine now.

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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.
      · 0 replies
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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. 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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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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