Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

What to take and have on hand...



Recommended Posts

I am having surgery Monday, April 22.

So sure the dr has given me lists of things I should have (vitamin's, Protein blah blah) I want to hear it from people who have been there. SSOOOOO........

What should I take tot he hospital to make my stay more comfortable?

What should I have on hand for the first two weeks after surgery? (Keeping in mind the first two weeks is full liquid).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

First thing is Chapstick because omg your lips will be so so DRY!

Loose clothes to wear

Slippers for walking the hall a robe cause they told me I could not wear a bra for a week.

A book or magazine

Personal stuff like tooth brush, hair brush ect....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My short list of hospital necessities:

Chapstick

Lotion (hospital lotion is watery and I was DRY)

Tooth brush and paste

Socks with grips on the bottom for walking

Clean undies

I wore yoga pants and a baggy t-shirt to the hospital that I could wear home as well

Phone and charger

My own pillow!!!! (Heaven in the hospital then hugged it in the ride home. Make sure it's washable though, gotta clean off hospital cooties)

Gas-x strips (my docs nurse told me to smuggle em in)

Heating pad!!!!!

Hairbrush/clips, etc

Deodorant

I did not bring a gown or robes wore the hospital gown plus another over it backwards when I was up and about. Less really is better,I always bring a book and never read it (pain meds make me drowsy and dizzy) I did use my iPad but coulda lived without it.

HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 221.6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Chapstick

phone/charger

kindle/ipad

facial cleansing pads←I washed my face 3 times a day. I've always been greasy though

Antibacterial hand/body wipes←same thing I liked wiping myself down

lotion

I took tshirts, sports bras,panties, slip on shoes and loose pants. As soon as my catheter was out I was in my regular clothes. They unhooked my iv so I could get dressed up top and I took a "bath" with my antibacterial wipes. Slip on tennis shoes so I didn't have to walk those halls in my socks. Gross

hair brush

Hair ties

soap. I took my own and Shampoo and conditioner. The stuff they give you blows.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much for the advice! Very helpful!! What about when you came home? Was there anything you really enjoyed/used/wish you had?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×