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I didn't use 90% of what I brought.

The pain meds make you so sleepy and you don't care about anything. I walked around in the hospital gown and hospital socks - even though I brought my own stuff!

The only things i used were Chapstick and my phone/charger. The nurses gave me the little sponges on a stick for dry mouth which I wound up liking so much more than the Biotene, (which I thought made too much saliva that i had to swallow).

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I didn't use 90% of what I brought.

The pain meds make you so sleepy and you don't care about anything. I walked around in the hospital gown and hospital socks - even though I brought my own stuff!

The only things i used were Chapstick and my phone/charger. The nurses gave me the little sponges on a stick for dry mouth which I wound up liking so much more than the Biotene, (which I thought made too much saliva that i had to swallow).

Ohhh good point on the biotene. Hadn't thought of that!

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Hi PhillyAj. I wasn't allowed any liquids at all, not even ice chips. I wasn't thirsty because the IV kept me hydrated but my mouth felt gross. I was allowed to dip the little sponges in enough Water to wet them and then i could scrub the inside of my mouth.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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deeveg-thanks. how long does it take ur stomach to heal?

Sent from my iPhone

I guess everyone heals at a different rate. My stomach was swollen for about the first week. On about day 7 or 8, i was able to get more fluids in so I could tell the inflammation had gone down. I think it is about 6 -8 weeks until it is considered healed. And even after that, my PA told me to avoid hard to process foods (like raw vegetables) for a few more weeks.

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Extension cord AND phone charger

Chapstick and Vaseline

My hairbrush and elastics

A change of comfy clothes (sports bra, undies, lost yoga pants)

Paper with my numbers on it so my friend could call my family and my living will.

Slip on shoes (that I wore in)

I also wore in my hoodie.

As soon as I could I got out of that gown and into a sports bra and T-shirt, soft pants. I had some leakage from my steristrips which stained my shirt-but still better that a gown!

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Shampoo was the one thing I didn't bring that I needed. I had to stay an extra day since I couldn't get enough liquids down. I was able to shower, but the hospital shampoo was horrible. Mostly slept.

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I packed almost nothing, but I am a guy. I took my phone, and relied on Mrs LittleBill to take care of anything else.

I was in less than 24 hours. When it was time for me to leave, she showed up with some clean underpants for me, shoes, and a few other similar items. I made it out the door and back home with a minimalist approach.

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I echo Little Bill. Go minimalist. IT's hard to move around in your bed anyway. I do recommend gas-x strips and lip balm..and maybe a hairbrush. Phone charger. That's all you need. Less to mess with.

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