I am so excited my insurance approved me!!! I scheduled my surgery for August 16! I am sooo excited but pretty nervous! I have never had surgery or anything so this is all pretty new to me! I have been watching YouTube videos and also following this forum to get prepared...

I have a few questions. I have about a 3.5 hour drive from the hospital to my house....the day I am released from the hospital, would anyone think it will be ok to drive home that day, or would you recommend a hotel? My dr. Thinks I will be ok to drive but said it is completely up to me...just wanted to get feedback!

Also, what did everyone do to get prepared? Did you buy lots of different Soups, popsicles and Protein powers ahead of time, or just get a few essentials? What were your favorite soups and powders?

Does anyone have any other words of advice? The nerves are setting in and just don't want to overlook anything! Thanks in advance!

Oh yeah, and did anyone make their "meals" ahead of time? Like in the soft foods stage, make puréed baby food and freeze it?

My date is August 16 too! Congrats. I'm not going to pre make anything because you never no how the body will heal and what if you aren't advanced to the best stages of diet? Just me. Good luck!

I would highly recommend a hotel Congrats on your date! The only advice I can offer is use the search and you can find lists to help you pack, lists of things to purchase that you'll have ready for after surgery. I bought soups..mostly broths and veggie type soups I could strain, popsicles, sf pudding, protein shakes (take it easy on the protein shakes because your taste will likely change and you'd be stuck with a powder you're not going to drink) and sf jello. After your surgery, walk and get in your fluids! Good luck!

I wouldn't recommend driving home. You will probably have pain Meds on board. Do you have someone to take you home?

My concerns about broths is all the sodium. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good, low sodium broth?

My husband and mom will be there with me, so they will be driving me

I wouldn't recommend driving home. You will probably have pain Meds on board. Do you have someone to take you home?

My concerns about broths is all the sodium. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good, low sodium broth?

You can make homemade chicken or beef broth. Kroger has a low sodium and fat free broths as well as Swanson, Campbells and numerous others.

I wouldn't recommend driving home. You will probably have pain Meds on board. Do you have someone to take you home?

My concerns about broths is all the sodium. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good' date=' low sodium broth?[/quote']

I'm sorry I should have specified....having MY HUSBAND drive me home! I Know I will be on meds and most likely sleeping

I think I would still recommend a hotel.

Congrats on your date!! I'm waiting on my authorization, too...

Congratulations! I wouldnt try making the drive, you will most likely be tired/sleepy and depending on how sore you may be or if you will have gas/nausea disconforts, I would stay in a hotel just to be on the safe side, or have someone else drive you home, but it could also be uncomfortable to be riding in a car for that time period immediately after surgery.

Although there is no place like home to be able to rest in your own bed.

I would recommend a hotel stay, maybe 1/2 way between the hospital and your home, because I had robotic surgery in May, and that 40min ride home was hell. It's going to hurt either way, but maybe breaking up the ride into two days may help. Also, consider getting an abdominal binder to reduce bouncing pain from bumps in the road. Good Luck!