Tips for Surgery Day & Coming home

[TheProfessor 378]

I was banded yesterday (December 18th) and I have made it through night 1!

Thought I would post some tips and tricks that helped me have a successful and relatively comfortable surgical day.

1. If your surgeon calls in a prescription for you for pre and post-op meds, pick it up the day before, rather than waiting until the day of your surgery. With my surgery just 3 hours away and a 2-hour drive ahead of us to the Clinic, I almost melted down in the pharmacy when there were four other people ahead of me picking up prescriptions TAKING FOREVER! I could have gone the night before. Silly me.
2. A pillow for the car-ride home. Placing a pillow between your tummy and the seatlbelt is a great idea to protect those tender incisions.
3. For surgery day... bring along a tote bag with an extra pair of socks and undies, your I.D. and any medications you are currently taking (plus of course anything else your surgeon has instructed you to bring). You may wish to leave the bra behind (bliss!) as you almost certainly will not be wearing again to go home post-op.
4. Set up your house/bed ahead of time BEFORE you go in for your procedure. This saves you time and makes things easier when you get home. Set up your bedroom with:

• Tons of pillows in your bed - you will very likely want to sleep in an upright position as the gas will be painful, and sitting up lessens the pain tremendously!
• A large sippy cup or spouted water bottle to sip sip sip sip sip Water out of through the night. No gulping!
• Your reading glasses (if used) within easy reach
• Your phone nearby (if you are addicted to staying connected with the outside world as I am)
• Your pain meds bottle right on hand, cap unscrewed (you don't want to be twisting with your tummy wounds. Yowch!)
• Gas-X dissolvable strips. These really, really helped.
• Kleenex for the tears (if there are any). I had a little cry due to tiredness and pain. Glad they were there.
• A night light. This is a great help to allowing you to see where you're going when you are woozy from the narcotics and need to pee.
• An extra warm and fuzzy blanket or comforter. I found I was prone to being cold and the extra warm layer helped.
• Your caregiver's 100% attention. Your surgery day and first night can be rough, so having someone to love you up and give you what you need is important. :-)

Hope this is helpful!

The Professor

[PSRS520 75]

Thanks as I will be heading for surgery 12/30, this will be helpful

[jeniker3 19]

Good to know.

[AJP1243 46]

I put all I needed in a gallon zip lock bag. Id's insurance card chap stick, medicines I was on gas x as well, Water flavor, and my glasses case. Really didn't need anything but chap stick cause I was asleep the whole time and most are sent home once they need anything out their bag. If you are up to using your iPad you are up to going home.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Congratulations!! All good tips too. Best of luck to you. Keep connected here. It really helps.

[TheProfessor 378]

Yesss! Chap stick! Woo wee - dry lips. SWLC (my surgical clinic) told me to bring a dressing gown, but I did not even touch it. I went from being in my street clothes to my surgical gown, then post-op recovery back into my street clothes.

MAKE SURE YOUR GOING HOME CLOTHES ARE LOOSE AND COMFY! Absolutely no restrictive or high waistbands. Your tender tummy will thank you!

[Lawrence Baxter 22]

Did any of you have to do a Hibacleanse prior to arriving?

[TheProfessor 378]

Not a "Hibacleanse" per se, (i.e.; using that particular product), but yes, I had to have a shower the night before surgery with an anti-bacterial soap, and then another at home the morning of my surgery. No makeup, no moisturizer, just soap up all over, rinse, dry off, and go.