What things should I have prepared before I come home from my surgery? What things should I take to the hospital? What small tasks should I already have taken care of before the big day comes?

Laundry. No lifting for awhile.

Oh and I wished I'd have vacuumed the upstairs because I wasn't able to lift the vacuum up the stairs for w week.

For the ride home from the hospital, 1-2 bottles of water and a chapstick/lip balm for my all day long cottonmouth. You dr will give you a list, but those items were'nt on the list, lucky I had them in the car. Pain wise , it was a breeze, and I have a very low tolerance for pain. It just felt like a really bad pulled muscle, and I needed help getting off the couch for the first week. If you can clean the house and do laundry before surgery, do so. Also cook ahead for others, as they will be taking care of you and will appreciate an already prepped/ cooked meal. Google "Freezer Meals" or "Hobo Meals" for some easy ideas. I went back to work after 7 days with no problems. Good luck !

Try to take care of as many things as you can pre-op so that when you are home from surgery you can spend that time relaxing and healing.

The best thing to have in the hospital for me was my toothbrush and toothpaste to help get the cotton mouth feeling to go away.

Bring some comfy clothes to wear home from the hospital with shoes you can slip on and off so you don't have to bend.

When you come home you want to some of the following things:

Heating pad for gas pains you can put under your back and shoulders

Decaffeinated Tea helps to sooth the stomach and helps move gas

Frozen Ice Pops these will help you stay hydrated as well as sooth the internal swelling

Ice packs that you can place on your port and incision sites for relief.

Gas Ex or Beano

Small medicine dose cups you can use these to drink and sip from so you don't gulp your Water or shakes.

That's all I can think of right now...

Oh, yeah, I also was very glad to have a body pillow to sleep against that first week. And remember a pillow for the car ride home. Bumps in the road hurt!

This is all such wonderful information! Thank you!

Another important question: how many people did you fill in on your procedure? I haven't made a public announcement on Facebook, because I don't need critics. I have only told my parents, my siblings, my husband, and my best friend. At lunch while I was having my Protein shake, my coworkers were asking what was going on with the sudden change in diet. I felt pressured as though I was living a double life and that I should fill more people in on what I'm doing. I try to be private, but wanted to know what everyone thought. How much of an audience or group knew what was going on?

Not everyone is comfortable with giving out their information. That is something you have to decide. Your going to have critics no matter what you decide as you lose weight people will start asking you more and more how you did it and if you had surgery etc.

I chose to just be open and up front about it. I don't harp on it I just do my thing, drink my shakes and eat my foods and do what I need to do for me. If someone asks I tell them truthfully and I move on. I don't expand and give huge details. If they ask and they have an interest I will expand up on it, but I'm not here to be entertainment for people. I'm here to educate and support others who might find themselves or a loved on in the same position as I was. Just to sit around telling my story to a bunch of skinny B*tches isn't for me they can watch the Real Housewives or some such drama

Most of my co-workers and bosses know and no one harps on it. They all are excellent supporters, I have family and friends who all know and I don't hide it even when I go out to restaurants or other places. If I order something off menu or ask for something different sometimes they ask and I say I have a dietary restriction very rarely will anyone ask what that is..but if they do and do so nicely I will tell them. I find that people who delve deeper usually have an interest for themselves or a loved one.

Those who are critics and harpies have more issues with themselves and I don't worry about placating them in any way.

I don't know if that rambling helped you but the bottom line to it is that it's a personal decisions and people gonna hate whether you doing bad or good, so just do what feels right to you and don't worry about anyone else issues with it.

Exactly five. My two supportive daughters and nervous but supportive mother, my supportive best friend, and my WLS skeptic husband, who is watching in wonderment. My advice is under-tell, don't over-tell. I work with mostly men, and they don't notice anything, which is a relief.

I agree on LAUNDRY!!!!! I made the mistake of thinking, oh I will be home all week, won't need to do laundry prior. I ran out of sweats and comfy shirts. So make sure you have lots of sweats/jammies whatever if you don't do your laundry.

As far as telling people: I posted to Facebook the night before surgery. I didn't need critics in the weeks before when I had my own doubts. But by the night before, I was already set. There wasn't much anyone could say to make me change my mind. I got TONS of support and well-wishes. I also got two people messaging me for information because they had been considering it, and two distant friends messaging me saying they had Lap-Band and love it. It was very reassuring!

I hate secrets anyway, so it was just in my nature to do it that way, plus I wanted to blog about it. However, I was VERY nervous to press the "enter" button on the post. But, once it was done, I felt good.

- K

Walking! Even if it's just a bit more each day, little by little, this will help your body get ready for surgery. Drink a lot of Water to hydrate and cleanse your system. I wrote myself a letter to be opened at 150 lbs. That felt good. I took flip-flops and a robe with me to the hospital. Didn't open the book I brought but I did like having ear plugs and an eye mask. Good to have my own pillow in the hospital and then I used it in the car on the way home.

As far as telling people, that is so individual. I told a few more people than I would have liked to know now, but that's just me. All has been very positive but I just feel so private about it. I don't want people talking about me or monitoring how I'm doing, even if it's all well-meant. I elected not to tell my parents because they are elderly and I didn't want them to worry -- plus my mother has handed me every diet book on the market for the last 25 years and I don't need her "help" with this. This is my project, Project Me.

This is all such wonderful information! Thank you! Another important question: how many people did you fill in on your procedure? I haven't made a public announcement on Facebook, because I don't need critics. I have only told my parents, my siblings, my husband, and my best friend. At lunch while I was having my protein shake, my coworkers were asking what was going on with the sudden change in diet. I felt pressured as though I was living a double life and that I should fill more people in on what I'm doing. I try to be private, but wanted to know what everyone thought. How much of an audience or group knew what was going on?

I work at a family med clinic so I have been extremely fortunate that I could share my surgery. Obviously doctors and nurses support a healthy weight. We had a pot luck at work and they made sure lots of fruits and vegetables were included. I know some people are very private and choose not to share,but I'm glad I did. My co workers are so supportive and I've got half the clinic hooked on making protein shakes. For me it was easier to share. I don't have to explain my small portion of tuna at lunch they all understand. I guess it's really up to what makes you comfortable

Thank you for sharing this and being honest. This is SO me. My loving mother is concerned about my health and has hinted and been blunt throughout my life. I didn't want to tell her, but my sister told me that I should. I didn't want to tell my dad, but my sister said it needed to happen. I did, and I am thankful for it. They were very (and continue to be) skeptical about this, but like you said, this is PROJECT ME!

As far as telling people, that is so individual. I told a few more people than I would have liked to know now, but that's just me. All has been very positive but I just feel so private about it. I don't want people talking about me or monitoring how I'm doing, even if it's all well-meant. I elected not to tell my parents because they are elderly and I didn't want them to worry -- plus my mother has handed me every diet book on the market for the last 25 years and I don't need her "help" with this. This is my project, Project Me.

My surgery was on 3/13 and an outpatient procedure. I prepared my room the night before by having meds,music,clothes and books on nightstand. I cleaned my apartment and washed clothes beforehand. I have two yorkers so I enlisted a neighbor to help with them. I took music and a book to hospital and my own socks. I was dropped of at hospital hours before my surgery do that allowed me to unwind and read. Walking after surgery helped me tremendously.

Another important question: how many people did you fill in on your procedure?

My answer is one less than I told yesterday, lol! A woman in my apartment building (senior independent living) offered me a cookie yesterday and so I told her I was on my five month diet to qualify for insurance for banding. She's actually a kind person and I know she meant well but she proceeded to tell me about her friend who died from peritonitis after WLS! Like I needed to hear that!

Like many offices, a senior building is tightly focused on gossip, so I'm sure most people here will know because I already discussed it with other people who were pushing me to eat Cookies.

Great advice! I am going to go and get Gas-X and a body pillow so that I have it ready for post-op!

@@kayzoog Your blog has helped SO MUCH!