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What to bring to hospital?



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I'm having surgery on Thursday and it just occurred to me that I need to bring a bag to the hospital. And I hate packing. It gives me insane anxiety.

When I had my daughter, six years ago, I packed totally wrong for the hospital. I was told to pack clothes that I wore when I was around 6 months pregnant. What a joke! I literally lost 9 pounds after giving birth, pretty much exactly enough to account for the weight of the baby plus the placenta. And my feet were so swollen when I got out that I had to wear a pair of slippers home because none of my shoes fit.

I remember some people on my mom board saying they put makeup in their hospital bags, but I honestly don't care what I look like when I'm recovering. In my pre-op class they said NOT to bring meds, that they would give us anything we take regularly, plus anything we need for any pain or discomfort.

When I gave birth they had me in hospital gowns the whole time. I only got dressed to go home. Is it the same way with bariatric surgery? If so, I really only need a baggy shirt, leggings, undergarments, socks and slippers, right? Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, I guess. What else?

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It really depends on how long you are staying in for but the things I took and used were:

Change of clothes for going home (baggy dress as I couldnt stand anything round my tummy)

Toiletries/hair brush

GasX strips

Lip balm (dont use Vasaline if you are on oxygen after the surgery!!)

Mobile and charger

Ipad/kindle and charger

Some magazines

3 nightdresses (I stayed in 5 nights)

For the drive home, my husband brought a pillow so I could put the seat belt round it.

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@@anonmom

I meant to add best wishes for the surgery and speedy recovery !!

I will save you a seat on the losers bench ;)

Kate

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My surgery was on Nov. 30, and I took a bunch of stuff and didn't end up needing any of it. If I had it to do over again, all I would take would be:

Clothes that are easy to put off and take on for the trip to and from the hospital. (Sweat pants and a t-shirt)

Toothbrush and toothpaste (some funky breath after the surgery)

Cell phone and charger.

I brought my ipad, books, magazines and all sorts of other stuff to kill time and ended up not even touching any of it. Even the cell phone I only used to make sure my ride was on it's way. Even deodorant ended up being useless as I only really needed it when I left the hospital, and I ended up taking a long shower when I got home anyway.

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Hmm, I already bought the gas X strips, but was planning on leaving them here. Did they let you use them in the hospital?

My surgery is at 2:30 pm, so I was told I might have to stay 2 nights since not everyone is ready to go in the morning after an afternoon surgery, but I didn't know there were insurances that let you stay 5 nights!

I'm thinking I will keep it pretty simple. Obviously I need my phone and charger, but I agree that there should be no need for a bunch of stuff to keep myself occupied. I'm sure I'll sleep more than normal due to the pain meds.

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P.s. doint forget to bring a pillow for your ride home to put under your stomach and thay going to get you up walking with in for hour after surgery you are going to be fine I will be praying for you God bless you

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J120AZ using the BariatricPal App

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Hmm, I already bought the gas X strips, but was planning on leaving them here. Did they let you use them in the hospital?

My surgery is at 2:30 pm, so I was told I might have to stay 2 nights since not everyone is ready to go in the morning after an afternoon surgery, but I didn't know there were insurances that let you stay 5 nights!

I'm thinking I will keep it pretty simple. Obviously I need my phone and charger, but I agree that there should be no need for a bunch of stuff to keep myself occupied. I'm sure I'll sleep more than normal due to the pain meds.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

I am in England and went private, I could have stayed up to 7 nights if I didn't have any issues but wanted to go home sooner.

Kate

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I'm bringing gas x, lip stuff, and some biotene spray. I've been told the dry mouth is terrible!

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I'm having surgery on Thursday and it just occurred to me that I need to bring a bag to the hospital. And I hate packing. It gives me insane anxiety.

When I had my daughter, six years ago, I packed totally wrong for the hospital. I was told to pack clothes that I wore when I was around 6 months pregnant. What a joke! I literally lost 9 pounds after giving birth, pretty much exactly enough to account for the weight of the baby plus the placenta. And my feet were so swollen when I got out that I had to wear a pair of slippers home because none of my shoes fit.

I remember some people on my mom board saying they put makeup in their hospital bags, but I honestly don't care what I look like when I'm recovering. In my pre-op class they said NOT to bring meds, that they would give us anything we take regularly, plus anything we need for any pain or discomfort.

When I gave birth they had me in hospital gowns the whole time. I only got dressed to go home. Is it the same way with bariatric surgery? If so, I really only need a baggy shirt, leggings, undergarments, socks and slippers, right? Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, I guess. What else?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

Some nice thick slipper socks. Hospitals are cold so those would help with that and also prevent you from slipping when they have you walk. Those hospital socks suck. (imo) I also brought a robe and wore over my hospital gown when walking. Luckily the IV is long enough for your sleeves and won't cause issues (for me anyway).

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I'm having surgery on Thursday and it just occurred to me that I need to bring a bag to the hospital. And I hate packing. It gives me insane anxiety.

When I had my daughter, six years ago, I packed totally wrong for the hospital. I was told to pack clothes that I wore when I was around 6 months pregnant. What a joke! I literally lost 9 pounds after giving birth, pretty much exactly enough to account for the weight of the baby plus the placenta. And my feet were so swollen when I got out that I had to wear a pair of slippers home because none of my shoes fit.

I remember some people on my mom board saying they put makeup in their hospital bags, but I honestly don't care what I look like when I'm recovering. In my pre-op class they said NOT to bring meds, that they would give us anything we take regularly, plus anything we need for any pain or discomfort.

When I gave birth they had me in hospital gowns the whole time. I only got dressed to go home. Is it the same way with bariatric surgery? If so, I really only need a baggy shirt, leggings, undergarments, socks and slippers, right? Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, I guess. What else?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

I packed too much.... thinking i was travelling for a week on holiday lol.

My packing should of only contained.. 2 nights stay

1 pair of pjs and a light dressing gown ( you'll be walking the ward) ....

I pair of thongs or slippers

Couple of pairs of knickers

Bras or crop top

Something to wear home ( or just the stuff you wore in)

Toothbrush n Paste n toiletries ( remember it's only 2 nights )

Phone charger

Magazine maybe

Bugger all...

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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Sounds like everyone has got you covered. I also brought an extension cord. Good luck to you!!

Sent from my Y538 using the BariatricPal App

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If you take any specialty medicine bring it also.

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My bag includes the following:

Kindle & charger

Phone & charger

Toothbrush & paste

Gas-x strips

Deodorant

Brush

hair tie

Clothes to go home in

Case for my glasses

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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