Tips and Helpful Tools for after surgery?

[kellzeppelin 4]

Hello, I will be having my bypass next month. I am trying to prepare everything that I need and wondering if anyone has helpful tips, tricks, tools? Thank u.

[Cervidae 2,389]

Congrats! I had my RNY last monday. Here's a short list of the things that have been enormously helpful to me in this past week of recovery:

- Gas-X Thin Strips. They dissolve on the tongue and almost instantly relieve tummy gas that can be downright painful. Heaven sent!

- A 64 oz. Water jug from Wal-Mart, with measurements on the side. This is a super easy way to monitor how much Water you are getting throughout your day, and 64 oz. is the recommended minimum. Very helpful.

- Baby or aloe wipes. These are very important! In the first couple of days after surgery in the hospital, you are going to feel pretty gross. Just the simple act of wiping down your face, neck, arms, etc. with a refreshing wipe can make you feel infinitely better. After you come home, showering may still be a bit difficult, so you can hold it off a little longer by keeping yourself clean with these.

- A body pillow. I'm sure you can guess why this helps a lot. I had a ton of pain on my left side from the gas pumped into me and the fact that most of the work during surgery is done on the left. A body pillow helps sooo much, whether sitting or trying to sleep.

- I would highly recommend you sleep in a recliner or propped up on a couch with your feet up. Some people are able to lay in their beds a few days after surgery but I certainly can't, and I know a lot of others who couldn't either. It's just very uncomfortable and can be painful if you twist around too much. I sleep on my recliner with a couple pillows propping up my legs to take any pressure off my lower back. Super comfy.

- A small Blender Bottle or shaker cup that has a top and measurements on the side. I use this multiple times a day for my shakes and to mix cream Soup with low fat milk prior to straining it. Sometimes a spoon just doesn't cut it.

- A loofa or sponge on a stick! Again, moving around in the shower is gonna be a bit difficult for a while. A nice, easy wash of the back and harder-to-reach places can be heavenly.

If you have any questions about anything, don't hesitate to message me! I always like to help.

[James Marusek 5,244]

You may need a pill crusher and splitter because after surgery your ability to swallow will be severely limited.

If you are going to use Protein powders to make Protein shakes, I recommend a Ninja blender with a single serving cup.

Walk, walk and then walk. It helps with the recovery process.

When you sleep a pillow between your legs helps.

Your taste buds may change after surgery, so when it comes to selecting food or Protein Shakes, it might be best to wait until after surgery.

[kellzeppelin 4]

Thank u everyone!

[kellzeppelin 4]

What about tools like baby spoons, 2 tbs. scoops, small bowls and plates? R u guys using anything like that?

[Cervidae 2,389]

If you think you may have trouble taking small sips/bites then those things would be very useful for you. Personally, I thought taking tiny sips was going to be way harder than it is. It helps if you really pay attention to your body. You'll know pretty much instantly if you swallow a sip that is too big, and you'll adjust accordingly. But again, there's nothing wrong with feeling like you might need that little extra help, if you feel you need it go ahead and use it if it will give yo usome peace of mind.

[kellzeppelin 4]

Thank u ????

[Cheri_j 117]

My NUT suggested the baby spoons. I love them.

All above are great suggestions.

One thing I bought was one of those coffee mug warmers. Since I have to make my meal last 30 minutes, these are great for keeping my food warm. I dislike cold food.< /p>