QUESTION:

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Before the surgery, I actually made chicken and beef broth and froze it. I knew when I got home I wasn't going to be cooking, so thawing it and heating it up a little bit at a time was a huge help.

Thanks so much for this list. Can someone clarify the heating pad thing? Is a heating pad really helpful? I have some reusable heating gel packs and I'm wondering if they would actually be helpful. I know they're amazing for cramps but I'm wondering how that could help after surgery. Thanks again.

Ohhh, if you have shoulder pain from the gas they pump into your abdomen, the heating pad makes you feel so much better. I slept with it on High, under my left shoulder, for two days.

Yes the heating pad really does help with the gas pain. Also, after surgery for some reason you will be cold all the time. So, it's the Two Birds rule.

Not sure how other sleevers have figured out how to keep their food from getting cold by taking 30-45 minutes to eat, but I ordered this online for me. I know...it's for babies...but it'll work for me with portion control as well. Here's the link if anyone is interested:

Green Sprouts Warming Plate

Can someone fill me in on the chapstick? Are you congested after surgery?

Can someone fill me in on the chapstick? Are you congested after surgery?

The pain meds cause cotton mouth, therefore, no saliva to moisten your lips and they get VERY dry at times.

Can someone fill me in on the chapstick? Are you congested after surgery?

When I came out of surgery my lips were peeling, and dry, with some raw nicks. I couldn't drink anything for most of a day and a half, just use "sponge pops". When I was under, they put the bougie and breathing tube down the hatch, the surgery was 3 1/2 hours, so the lips got pretty banged up and dried out. I even signed a sheet staying that I understood that I might wake up with cuts or other injuries in.on my mouth...even chipped teeth! Its the anastesia(sp) mostly I think....

Hospital Stay Checklist.doc

QUESTION:

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 its 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...

You are amazing!!! This is exactly what I'm looking for! Still nervous about May 13th, but this is perfect.

Why thank you! Whooottt!! Can't wait!!

Yes you will want to cough up any stuff in your lungs if you have it, and do your breathing machine. It's very important. I also needed a catheter but only once, though not every one does.

Irene...thank you so much for this, this thread is awesome and soooo helpful!!!

I'm bringing a battery operated sound machine so I can get some sleep at night.

I'm bringing a battery operated sound machine so I can get some sleep at night.

Oh wow, haven't heard that one before but an excellent idea!

tooth paste and breath mints, ipod, face wash, fluffy pillows and your own blanket cause that hospital bed was the worst ever, 3 days of that and I just didn't even want to lay down.