The Official What You Will Need For Your Upcoming Weightloss Surgery Thread!

[Wheetsin 714]

I haven't read every response so I'm sorry if I'm duplicating. And I thought I read you were going for a cosolidated list, so I'm putting it all in here. If that's not the case, ignore as appropriate. My sleeve next month will be my 4th abdominal lap procedure and 2nd bariatric procedure, and based on my lessons learned here's what I suggest:

For hospital:

Wear somethong with no waistband, preferred. Like a house dress. Inevitably I've had an incision EXACTLY where my waistbands fall. And I'ev also had a few incisions that were intentionally left unclosed. Those hurt the worst, even though they're the smallest, and also tend to be right where my pants hit. If you must have a waistband, try to find one without elastic (e.g. drawstring) so you can fully adjust the tightness. When I had my band out I wore one of those velvety track suit things, mine has a drawstring waist. Perfect.

Wear slip-on shoes if you have them. Socks are hard to get on when you can't bend comfortably, and I don't like other people putting socks on me. Flip flops, or those fugly plastic clog shoes (forgetting the name), or a ballet flat or something like that. If youdon't have or can't get, then when you take off your sneakers pre-op, leave the laces all loose so you can just slip them on later.

Nook or Kindle or book or whatever. My sleeve will be the first procedure that requires me to stay overnight, and post-op I've een either asleep or prepping to go home, but pre-op? I played Boggle on my iphone for almost 2 hours pre-op. Was glad to have it. DH was there but is always more nervous than I am and wasn't a great talker.

I always bring a small hair clip. You can't do anything but wash/rinse your hair the day of, and you're probably (technically) not allowed to shower the night of. I have curly hair that gets bushy if I can't put some kind of product on it while it's still wet. So I always bring a clip to at least pull the hair back from my eyes.

I prefer to bring my own slippers (they have memory foam soles).

I bring my own robe. I haven't been able to wear it (IV lines, etc.) but hospital blankets are cold. Even the warm ones get cold too quickly. My robe is warm. And it can double as an extra pillow, because those flat jokes in the hospital aren't cutting it.

Chapstick, deodorant, my own toothbrush, skin lotion and hand sanitzier. (I put all of the above in my purse). If my face or hands are dry, I will not be able to focus on much else.

Pillow, for supporting your stomach. Especially if you have a large pannus, this will help. When I had my lapband put in, it took me about 3 days of walking completely hunched over like an ancient lady until I realized that the majority of the pain was coming from my pannus "pulling" down on my incisions. As soon as I started to support my pannus with my arm, it was like night and day. LIttle nicer doing it with a pillow than your forearm, but hey, I was desperate. I will also help to apply steadying pressure when you go over potholes on the ride home. (About 4 days post-op DH drove me to visit my parents. He took a route that goes over a train crossing. He had a "theory" that the faster he went, the less I would feel the bumps so he gunned his truck and his them going about 45. Our marriage almost didn't make it to the next block.)

When I had my lapband out, I had the most horrible sore throat from all the gear using my mouth as enter/exit. Truly it was far worse than strep, and easily the single worst pain I had after surgery. I didn't have any eating/drinking restrictions so I used Chloraseptic. If you can have some type of analgesic lozenge or something, go for it.

Electric razor. Let's just say I'm 1/4 Greek and would be a good candidate for laser facial hair removal if everyone hadn't told me it feels like exacto knives slicing your face repeatedly. This isn't required, but I need it for comfort level.

For drive home:

I haven't yet had anesthetic make me nauseous, but it can make a lot of people sick for a while. I drove my mother home from a bariatric surgery she had and we kept having to stop on the interstae so she could chuck on the side of the road. So the REAL suggestion here is get a driver who doesn't get queasy when she hears others chuck. Second suggestion is to bring some type of a barf bag (those blue emi-sleeves the hospitals have are great) if you know or suspect the anesthesia will affect you. There's something about car rides that seems to make it worse, even if you've been "fine" for a while.

Keep said pillow with you. Either to support your abdomen, or to nap, or both. (If your procedure is outpatient, you'll probably still be nap ready by the time you're released)

Keep a blanket in your car. I'm always freezing cold after surgery, for a day or two. And DH is not, so it's nice to able to limit the use of the heater - for his sake. (BTW, when people lose weight, especially quickly, they tend to discover they're perpetually cold - you might want to just keep a blanket in your car long term).

At home:

I have DH bring one of the recliners up from his theater room and station it in the living room. From there I have same-floor access to the door, kitchen, a half bathroom, etc. This recliner becomes my docking station for at least 3 days until I can comfortably lay in bed. And on that note, I'd suggest getting some extra pillows. When I CAN lay in bed, I do best if I'm VERY propped up. I suspect this will be true with sleeve surgery, especially until my acid production drops off.

Don't wait until you're out of surgery to try and find supplements you like. Have them selected before hand, and have a few options. Things will probably start tasting different. Have cold & room temp Water ready. Not all bariatric stomachs tolerate all temperatures. When I had by AGB surgery DH bought a little apartment fridge to keep in the LR so I didn't have to walk into the kitchen. That was overkill. But if somehow being able to stay on the same floor as the fridge weren't possible, it would've been awful handy.

I'm queuing up movies & shows to watch on Netflix. Daytime tv sucks monkey butts. Also holding off on getting a few books I really want to read, so that I can have something to do until I can comforably move around.

If you have someone who can help you around the house for a few days, do it. Think about kids if you have 'em, pets... and how may up/downs it is just for an hour or two.

I don't like to take my hydrocodone any longer than I have to, so I use liquid Tylenol and try to have a few bottles on hand. Gas-X never did a thing for me other than taste bad. The gas that Gas-X works on (I say "works"lightly) is not surgical gas, i.e. the piercing ache you might feel around your collarbone/shoulder area... so don't buy it thinking it will bring relief. Surgical gas, and intenstinal gas, are two wholly different things. As an addendum to what I just said - I just remembered that an RNY friend dumped on liquid tylenol. For VSG it might be better to wait and see if you can tolerate it, unless your surgeon gives you the OK ahead of time.

If your shower hyas a stationery head, I suggest getting one of the kind of tubing that you can move around. Especially for ladies out there. Bending and twisting is gonna smart, and let's face it. Some things in life require us to bend and twist, or be able to hit it with some Water. I'm just sayin'...

When I had my AGB and the graduated diet, I made sure to buy everything a few days prior to my surgery so that I didn't have to go to the store if I didn't want to. Ends up I wanted to, the next day, just to walk around a bit. But having the option is nice.

Since my AGB both of my parents have had bariatric procedures. I've made each of them a large gift basket and brought it to the hospital. Here's what I try to include:

• small plates (cocktail size)
  
• toddler utensils
  
• refillable water bottle that will fit into a car drink holder, and has ounces hashed so they could track water intake
  
• liquid Tylenol
  
• Wet wipes/hand sanitizer
  
• Snap-up robe (belt can be uncomfortable)
  
• SF Jello
  
• Mio or Crystal Light (was allowed with their surgeon)
  
• liquid breath freshener
  
• Sudafed dissolvable strips
  
• corn bags (cloth bags filled with field corn, I think they're far superior to heating pads, and caln also be frozen)
  
• Book, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, etc.
  

[Wheetsin 714]

Why do I type things like, "... and his them going about 45"? On what planet does that make sense? Apparently the one my fingers come from...

[HotRod67 1]

How about tampons/menstrual pads? Did surgery cause anyone's cycle to kick in early? That will definitely be my luck.

[Wheetsin 714]

My surgeries have never coincided with TOM but my reaction to things like stress and/or medication is to be late, not early. I would def. bring tampons if it were scheduled at that time. I know hospitals can supply them but I don't do pads and my body is pretty picky about the tampons I can wear comfortably. I've heard others saying the hospital gave them pads b/c there's no way they could manage a tampon. Not sure what the VSG post-op pain is like. I was sore after my other procedures but not so sore I couldn't have tended to feminine hygiene needs.

[Stacey Nicole 40]

I'm having surgery tomorrow and naturally woke up with my period today! I was told absolutely no tampons. They will be giving me mesh panties to wear with a pad. Not happy about it but what are ya gonna do right?

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

I'm having surgery tomorrow and naturally woke up with my period today! I was told absolutely no tampons. They will be giving me mesh panties to wear with a pad. Not happy about it but what are ya gonna do right?

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Well, on your Sleevie... not the TOM so much. It'll pass... keep on sipping, walking and resting!

[gramaof4 58]

I'm having surgery tomorrow and naturally woke up with my period today! I was told absolutely no tampons. They will be giving me mesh panties to wear with a pad. Not happy about it but what are ya gonna do right?

Same thing happened to me...and you know I think the surgery shocked my body...cuz my period was short and not messy as usual.... Was definately not as bad as I had anticipated. Dr.s made no big deal of it and even removed my lowers during surgery as to not make me feel vulnerable. Was way okay!

You'll do fine...and good luck!

[Colorchic 13]

8 days till surgery!

[TrumpetTinklers 196]

this is fantastic!! i have surgery in 8 days - & i'm going to use this list this weekend to do the final preparations!

[lisalalani 81]

Thank you SO much! This is a GREAT help!!!

[lizzyshade 56]

Thank you for this topic! I have made a list of what I will need and am really glad about the small firm pillow suggestion. I used one with anther surgery and it really helped. Thank you again!

[lizzyshade 56]

In regards to having your period during surgery: If you are on a birth control pill talk with your doctor about taking the pill through your Pre-surgical time straight through your post surgical recovery time to avoid the whole thing all together.

If you are not on the pill you could also plan ahead and get on it for a couple of months to avoid the period worry all together. Seasonale is an example of a bcp that is packaged with 84 active and seven inactive tablets so you only have a period quarterly (every 4 months).

[Paula Spurlock Butts 20]

My surgery is the 23rd of April at OCC with Dr. Ortiz in Tiajuana. I am flying from Florida, with one layover each way, so I want to carry as little with me as possible. I will be there for an entire week, and so clothing space will be the premium. Other than basic toiletries, I am taking my kindle and some dvd's. (I checked and the Marriot has those in each room.)

I am taking one rolling bag, so what fits is what goes, which means my laptop is a no-go.

So, I would add to the list, for those who are traveling a long distance, dvd's. I might finally get through the whole first season of Game of Thrones.

I have some heavy weight nightgowns from Catherine's, and I may go get at least one more, because I can use it as a dress on the way home.

Start on all liquids tomorrow... we shall see what we see..

Paula

Forgot to add that you can go to pixelofink.com and download tons of books for free.. about 8 a day are offered.

Edited April 12, 2012 by Paula Spurlock Butts

[Paula Spurlock Butts 20]

Oh, yeah.. forgot to put ear buds for listening to your kindle.

[cookie2012 44]

What a fantastic list!! My surgery is booked for 30 May. I've got a beautiful African basket my mother gave me so I'm going to start collecting my surgery stuff in that. I live in Australia so I have started hunting for the high Protein Drinks, we don't have Isopure here I don't think. Oh, not sure if this has been added but what about brand new from the shop undies??