QUESTION:

"I'm having surgery soon, what will I need for my hospital stay or for shortly after???"

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Okay, ladies and gentlemen, this question comes up here so much - I felt it would be a great idea to start up an official thread. My plan is once I think the list is great enough, I'm going to create a checklist for all the folks out there that will be sleeved shortly and have the above question. Then if you are around long enough and as much as I am, and someone has that question you can just lead them to this thread. Fair enough?

Sometimes it's just nice to have everything all in the same place, kinda following the WalMart rule of thumb. They are very successful, aren't they?

Anyway, please start with your suggestions and I'll get my MSWord fired up. I'll also start with the first suggestion:

Comfy Pajamas, underclothes, and slippers or warm cozy socks...

Hospital Stay Checklist.doc

I am a nightgown girl. I think nightgowns are easier, because I didn't want anything with a waistband (had an incision right at that place where a waistband would be) plus I just love my nightgowns!! I brought 3 with me, just in case! They were comfy, and I looked stylish doing my laps around the hall! lol...

My bariatric coordinator gives everyone a small firm pillow with a picture of the procedure on it. I used it to press against my stomach when I needed to get in and out of bed, also when I needed to give a nice strong cough to clear my lungs after surgery, and I continued using it to help me at home. If you aren't given one of these (ask ahead) make sure you bring a small firm pillow with you for this purpose.

Great idea Diva!

Awesome suggestions Jordi, thanks!!

I will start working on the "bring it" list on Friday. I have the day off and don't have a lot to do except unpack more boxes. Funny, we moved into our new home in May. Yeah, gotta finish that up... lmao!

Laptop with cord (install Skype or some other voice chat to save $ on phone calls!), books, magazines, stuffed animal, some sort of crafts (e.g. knitting), Spanish dictionary if you're heading to Mexico - might not be necessary, but why not improve your Spanish while there?

My bariatric coordinator gives everyone a small firm pillow with a picture of the procedure on it. I used it to press against my stomach when I needed to get in and out of bed, also when I needed to give a nice strong cough to clear my lungs after surgery, and I continued using it to help me at home. If you aren't given one of these (ask ahead) make sure you bring a small firm pillow with you for this purpose.

What a great idea!! I just had a uterine fibroid removed (laproscopic) and I could really have used one of these!! I tried to explain to the nurses that my swollen stomach needed support but they didn't get it. I asked if they had some sort of elastic girdle thing but they told me they couldn't give me anything like that.... I was miserable.

Thanks for putting this together!

A few things I've read about that I probably wouldn't have thought of:

An eye mask and ear plugs (wish I would have had them a few months ago during my hospital stay!!)

Slippers or slip on shoes to walk the hallway

A camera

Lotion, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc

Reading glasses

Phone charger

I'm getting the surgery in Mexico and I plan to bring some Water and food items with me for the night before. I don't want to have to worry about going out to get something to eat (I'll be by myself).

My nurse ok'd some sugar-free Halls vitamin C drops. My throat hurt so bad, I was really glad I brought these to suck on once they determined I had no leaks and were letting me have small sips of water.

Ive seen lip balm and gas-X on other lists...

Things I took that I needed and used:

- Chap Stick, #1 by far

- SF Ricola lozenges... sooooo dry with the oxygen

- Gas X strips

- Listerine strips

- Book (barely used, hard to stay awake to read long), glasses

- Cell phone

- Deodorant and baby wipes to clean up some before going home next day

Things I took and did NOT need or use:

- Robe and slippers

- Makeup (pah--right, as if lol)

- iPod (can't sleep with music anyway, so I'm gonna stare at the walls while I listen?)

Wear what you plan on wearing home, you'll only be in it a couple of hours anyway. Also, even though I turned on the TV for maybe an hour, I got a bill for it from some external company (not the hospital) -- only $5, but it's the principle of the thing. Had no idea I'd have to pay for the damn thing, so clarify that before you decide you want it on.

Wow these are all excellent ideas! Keep them coming. I will get that list prepared soon. I ended up not having a lot of time this weekend. It just makes sense to wait until more ideas are brought up first anyhow.

Awesome, you all rock!!

Pencil and pad for taking notes or jotting things down.

List of any last minute questions.

Lilmissdiva,

Maybe you can also do a list for things that we when we get home too.

Lilmissdiva,

Maybe you can also do a list for things that we when we get home too.

It will be all inclusive -- we need so many things for before/during/after. Thanks for the suggestion!!

I brought cute night shirts, Chapstick, mp3 player, makeup, book... I didn't use any of them lol I didn't see anyone in the hospital ever change out of their hospital gown, there is too many tubes, shots, drainage bag, catheter bag. I was so tired, I never thought of listening to music let alone read. And... makeup, ya right lol My surgeon uses a blue die during the surgery, which, of course leaks down the side of your face, I was more concerned with washing my face to get the blue off then applying makeup. I suggest you keep it simple, stay in the gown, just bring real baggy clothes, with a very loose waist band, slippers to wear home, hairbrush and toothbrush and paste. Once I got home, not much changed for a few days other than I could shower. Stay comfy.

Ear Plugs. They saved my sanity. The hospital was so loud and noisy as well as my room mate her family.

I sent my husband out for the gas ex strips, nose spray and tweezers( something about surgery sent my few annoying facial hairs to grow overtime)

I did need my robe, but stayed in the hospital gowns and used the slipper socks they put on me before surgery.

They gave me a cough bear that they put a tshirt on with the hospital logo and the name Bari Bear on it. (not sure if I like that bariatic term on it) and it was huge in helping walking and getting up and coughing.

That's funny that you say that... I had one eyebrow hair that drove me out of my mind the whole time I was in the hospital lol As for the noisy hospital, it was noisy, but, they wake you up every hour for one reason or another, rest just wasn't something I got in the hospital, unfortunately.

Ear Plugs. They saved my sanity. The hospital was so loud and noisy as well as my room mate her family.

I sent my husband out for the gas ex strips, nose spray and tweezers( something about surgery sent my few annoying facial hairs to grow overtime)

I did need my robe, but stayed in the hospital gowns and used the slipper socks they put on me before surgery.

They gave me a cough bear that they put a tshirt on with the hospital logo and the name Bari Bear on it. (not sure if I like that bariatic term on it) and it was huge in helping walking and getting up and coughing.