Hi guys. I'm tentatively scheduled for 1/25. I've already downloaded the hospital stay checklist (great list!). I was wondering, while I'm at it and gathering things together, if anyone had any recommendations for what to have on hand for when you come home? What did yall find extra handy to have on hand for the first month home? What did yall find you needed most and really didn't need to worry about? Thanks in advance!

Comfy lounge clothes, multi vitamin, whatever ppi they are going to put you on, protein shake, clear liquid stuff, and lots of bottled water. I also used a lot of crystal light and Hawaiian punch drink packets. You may need a pill crusher if your surgeon doesn't allow you to take pills whole. A stool softner can be helpful too with all the protein.

Ask your doctor if he will go ahead and prescribe your pain killer so you can have it ready when you get home. You will probably need it the first few days. I also used my heating pad. The hospital bed killed my back so I used it for that! Be careful about buying too much of the liquid foods. I bought lots of Jello and broth. Then after only getting that at the hospital for two days, I can stand either. I would just buy a little of each and I was able to go to the store day four post-op to buy the rest of what I needed. It was good for walking. Good luck and congrats on your big day being so close!

Ask your doctor if he will go ahead and prescribe your pain killer so you can have it ready when you get home. You will probably need it the first few days. I also used my heating pad. The hospital bed killed my back so I used it for that! Be careful about buying too much of the liquid foods. I bought lots of Jello and broth. Then after only getting that at the hospital for two days, I can stand either. I would just buy a little of each and I was able to go to the store day four post-op to buy the rest of what I needed. It was good for walking. Good luck and congrats on your big day being so close!

There is a pinned list of this very question floating around somewhere with lots of great advice. I am not sure how to find it, maybe someone out there can do so.

A variety of the low cal Gatorade. Protein shakes. Your computer and maybe some movies. Comfy clothes for the tummy. Some herbal teas for soothing the tummy. If you have stairs you might want to keep some clothes down stairs for the fist couple days.

Mouth wash!!!!! You mouth tastes yucky as you go into ketosis.

I tried looking for a pinned thread and I didn't see it? I saw the hospital stay list.

These are great suggestions. Things I wouldn't have thought of.

Will I not be able to climb stairs for a few days? Our bedroom is upstairs and DH is planning on taking me directly there (do not pass go do not collect $200) because of our 3 saint bernards. He's afraid they'll get TOO overly excited when I come home.

Just to chime in, for me the stairs were no problem. I am 4 days post-op and live in a 2 level town home. I was able to go upstairs shortly after coming home from the hopsital and have been up and down numerous times a day without any trouble. Just take it as slow as you need to, you'll do fine. Now the St. Bernard's.... you'd know better there haha.

Now the St. Bernard's.... you'd know better there haha.

Good to know about stairs. HAHA You know... I REALLY don't think the saints will be a problem but he does. Then again, I've never been away from the 2 youngest ... well ever? Big Girl would be used to it. We've gone to Disney World before since getting her. One of the youngest (they're both going to be 2 in Feb) is a real mama's boy so I suppose DH has a point there. The mama's boy waits at our bedroom door for me to wake up every morning to escort me downstairs. Although I have to say, I'm more worried about the ninja kitties in our room over the big dogs.

Definately don't forget the liquid pain killer, it's a bit ouchy the first few days. I'm 3 days out now and up and around, but I still get that kick in the guts feeling.

Make sure you have high Protein drinks. I was given Optifast by my doc and it only had 14 g or protein in 8 oz. That is way too many Optifast to get the protein in. I switch to another brand and only have to drink 16 oz to get all my protein in. I can't take Loretab so my doc gave me Ultram pills to swallow for pain. I only took 3 and I was fine. I even caught a cold and cough my third post op day. I thought for a couple of days I was going to bust my gut open with all the coughing I doing, I am 9 days post-op still have a horrible cough and don't even have to hold my stomach when I cough. I get stronger every day. I get to start mushy food in two days and I am kind of excited.

Good Luck with your sugery.

The list is under "general" topic...

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-surgery-thread/

I also used my heating pad, hardly used pain pills (I think I took them twice after I left the hospital and that was it), definitely have a RTD Protein shake that you can just grab from the fridge and sip (I like Premier Protein you can buy a whole case at costco or Sams) and I also used straws (I think some people think that straws are a no no after surgery {because theoretically you can drink too fast}, but just about every sip I take is from a straw and I don't have a single issue!) Also I used sugar-free Halls Vitamin drops, because I had a sore throat for a good 10 days post-op, thanks to intubating, etc. That is all I can think off the top of my head. Good luck with everything!