I am going to Dr. Boreland March 3rd in Louisiana. I was wondering what are some things you wish someone would of told you to bring? I will be staying in a hotel there for 3 days.

Alos anything else you might add you wish someone would have said.

I have read a lot of the forum, but Im sure most of you did as well and still there were things you wish someone would have said.

I wish I would have been ready for the back pain I had after surgery. Not that there would have been anything I could do about it, I just I would have been mentally ready. The pain meds were a blessing. I have a bad back (arthritis) to begin with and laying on that operating table for 2 hours really messed me up.

All I needed was clothes, chapstick, and a pillow (to hold over my stomach on the way home) phone/charger (also brought an extension cord which came in handy because of my back pain slept in recliner and needed the cord to reach my phone) anything else I packed I didn't use.

Oh...and a bath robe. You will have to walk the halls and the hospital robe is far from flattering :-)

I was just going to mention that! I had a shawl I wrapped around my butt when I walked but I wish I'd brought a robe. Also had a pack of wet ones to wash my hands and face. The other suggestions are great too. My lips got quite chapped.

Eye drops. I was so dehydrated my eyes stung. They couldn't give me anything without an order. I wound up using a saline iv flush.

Ipod or some sort of music devise, magazines, very loose comfy clothing for ride home, and definitely a pillow for ride home

I took my own meds (I do this instead of waiting for them to bring them) I take them when I need them..I took my own heating pad, gas x strips, chargers,ipad,phone,chap stick an everything else I usually takel I always over pack! but the heating pad, gas x strips an chap stix was my TOP priority..the heating pad really did help me. I put it on my chest after I got in room from PO...

anything else you might add you wish someone would have said

@@Joey Jackson

hey Tex

welcome welcome to the board

and you made your first post too

the rest will be a sinch

i wish someone had told me i wasn't going to wake up post op 105 lbs gone

it took almost one year for that accomplishment

but it was worth the wait

good luck with surgery

speedy recovery

kathy

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by proudgrammy

I wish someone had told me that the leak test was no big deal AT ALL, I was so afraid of it (that swallowing the relatively large amount of liquid all at once would hurt or make me sick) it was about 3/4 of an ounce and went down just fine.and was actually quite pleasant because I hadn't even had an ice chip in something like 27 hours.

Huge yes to the chap stick, heating pad, extension cord and phone charger, earbuds, a notepad, a favorite pillow from home, I also brought a small personal fan because I am always hot, that is going away quickly since surgery but I did use it the first two days and it felt lovely..

I was in and out within 6 hours so I didn't need to bring anything with me. I wish I had known how painful the gas pains would be when I woke up. My left shoulder and neck were killing me! Also, I wish I had taken two weeks off work instead of just one. Lastly, the drainage tube is sooo annoying but it didn't hurt a bit when they removed it. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the answers, it has been helpful

Eye drops, cell phone charger, ear plugs, (I had a horrible roommate), extension cord, gasex, chapstick, a robe if you like, but you can put a second hospital gown on backwards to cover ya butt. I also brought yoga pants and cozy socks. The hospital socks are rough! A small pillow to brace your belly for the ride home. Went home in the yoga pants. I was only in the hospital 24 hours. I def overpacked, but that's how I roll!

I took Chapstick (which is really important since you can't drink anything the day of surgery. Your lips get really dry!) I also took my phone, charger, house shoes, robe, toothbrush, tooth paste, hair brush, gas x strips, listerine strips, headphones, extra underclothes, sweats, baggy shirt, bathroom spray (after surgery your urine and stool smell really really bad), my favorite blanket, and one of my soft fluffy pillows. The hospital beds are horrible especially for me since I have chronic back pain so taking my own pillow and blanket help. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Definitely chap stick and eye drops. I don't really recall much of my time in hospital but definitely slip in shoes/slippers. I could not bend, so loose clothing and slip on shoes are a must especially with all the up and down and walking they make you do. good luck

Hey, @@Joey Jackson. Here's the stuff I wish someone had told me:

• That it hurts like hell when you first wake up! But the improvement starts almost immediately and after 2 weeks you'll feel pretty decent.
• That the first few trips around the floor are really hard, but after that walking actually starts to feel pretty good.
• That they would transition me from IV pain meds to pills during the night in the hospital. And yes, you can swallow a small pill.
• That the pain meds are only needed for 3 or 4 days.
• That Water is even more important than Protein during the first week or two.
• That if you don't get enough fluids, the constipation is gonna really suck!
• That you should have some kind of laxative or stool softener ready. (Miralax is pretty good.)
• That food and drink are going to get stuck at various points in your esophagus at various times in the first few weeks, and make weird noises going down. This is normal, and due to swelling, and it improves pretty quickly.
• That tons of fluids (eventually) are the best way to keep your skin elastic, which might help down the road.
• That tons of protein (eventually) plus Biotin is the best way to try and keep your hair.
• That Vitamin B-12 is a happy pill. (I prefer timed-release to sub-lingual.)
• That around week 3 after surgery, all weight loss may stop for 2-3 weeks! This is completely normal and here's why. good article
• That if I follow ALL the rules about what and when to eat and drink, never eat starches or sweets (or drink alcohol), and get regular exercise, I could lose 111 pounds and reach my goal weight in 7 1/2 months.
• And.... that if I did all of that, I would actually enjoy the journey... and I have!

Good luck! I wish you all the success in the world!!!

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by Rogofulm