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

What a GREAT thread...and website! I just found it and am overloaded with all the info here.....I am saving lists like mad!! My surgery is scheduled for 1/23/12. Thank you so much and keep the ideas coming

Sheesh! Everything here is so helpful! It all feels so real to me... I received my date today, feb 6th! Came here just looking for some tips an I am amazed at all of you, so super encouraging;) thanks!

May I suggest you also keep a running total of meds, etc that are administered...and make sure that before they give you any otc meds ask the cost - you have the right to bring them in if they are charging too much.

Note everyone you saw and what they did and how much time they took - especially if you have complications later.

These are for you later on to be able to dispute any charges you should not have to pay.

Excellent suggestions!!!

Stuff I used in the Hospital

There are many things people recommend you take to the hospital for your stay. However, since everyone is different, your needs might not match the recommendations. Here is a quick list of things I actually USED while staying for 2 nights:

1. Chapstick (I LOVE Burt's Bees Replenishing with Pomegranate Oil)

2. Slippers

3. Robe (to cover up your backside, since your gown is rarely tied closed due to constant examinations)

4. Cell phone. I texted friends to update them.

5. Flip video camera (if you want to document what's happening like I did)

6. Trashy magazines because who doesn't like trashy magazines to pass time quickly. Plus, I had a lot of fashion magazines since I was enjoying entertaining the idea that I would soon be able to wear whatever I wanted. Makes looking at fashion MUCH more fun when there are possibilities that you will wear them one day.

7. A empire waist dress and slip on shoes to go home in. Trust me, you won't want a waistband touching your incisions.

Everything else was provided by the hospital - toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth rinse, pillows, blankets, socks, that sexy gown, etc.

ROFL!!! @Beach.. trashy magazines?? Seriously, that's the first time I've heard of this. I'm sure it is quite entertaining.

I should probably clarify that "trashy" to me is "In Touch," "Us Weekly," and gossipy things. Kinda made it sound like porn, which was DEFINITELY not on my mind in the hospital! lol

Haa!!! Yes, best to be clear because that is what I was thinking.. and its OK if you did too. That said, I do love Us and People. Very good reads.

@beach and diva! LOL! That is hilarious! Btw, I call gossipy magazines "trashy magazines" also. Hahahah!

This has been great, I have my date and am scheduled for March 13 with Dr. Aceves. Reading all the great info and making a list to pack, chap stick, riccolla and heating pad at the top. Getting excited and nervous can't wait.

This thread really helped me and I brought:

Chapstick

Pillow pet (gift from friend) for my new tummy

Change of clothes

That's it actually. Kaiser provided everything from gown to toothpaste and brush, to pillows and blankets and tummy girdles.

What a great thread. I have about 4 weeks to go and I'm the type of person that would drag my whole home to the hospital. When I had my C section I brought WAY too much stuff. This time I will pare it down a bunch.

It may still be kind of cold here in March though so wondering what to wear home that won't hurt.

This has been great, I have my date and am scheduled for March 13 with Dr. Aceves. Reading all the great info and making a list to pack, chap stick, riccolla and heating pad at the top. Getting excited and nervous can't wait.

Wonderful!! You will love your entire experience. Keep me updated on how you're doing!

What a great thread. I have about 4 weeks to go and I'm the type of person that would drag my whole home to the hospital. When I had my C section I brought WAY too much stuff. This time I will pare it down a bunch.

It may still be kind of cold here in March though so wondering what to wear home that won't hurt.

Lots of stores have put their sweats on clearance recently. Go get some!! I know WalMart did for a fact, and I'm sure they won't last long. Also, get them loose on you because the incisions will be a bit sore - including perhaps a sports bra or maybe some camisoles that won't rub against them.

All the best!!

Lots of stores have put their sweats on clearance recently. Go get some!! I know WalMart did for a fact, and I'm sure they won't last long. Also, get them loose on you because the incisions will be a bit sore - including perhaps a sports bra or maybe some camisoles that won't rub against them.

All the best!!

Ooo good idea! I will buy some loose, baggy sweats. Then I can pass them on to my Mom, lol. Thanks!

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.