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Packing for Surgery



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Hi everyone! I am excited to say that I am having my surgery this upcoming Wednesday, and I am going to start getting everything prepared around the house tomorrow. Does anyone have any recommendations for packing for your hospital stay? I have never had any serious surgeries, so all of this is very new to me.

Thank you in advance for any help that you guys may be able to offer!

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Let's see -- I took Gas-X strips, PJs to wear under that awful hospital gown once I got to my room, comfy clothes to change into for the ride home, my childhood stuffed animal (that's real comfort there!), and my computer. They had cable, so I stayed sufficiently entertained when I couldn't sleep.

Good luck on Wednesday!

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Cell charger, lotion, Aquaphor (it's very dry in hospitals-used it for lip balm and hand cream), toothbrush/paste, small air freshener, earbuds/headphones, I wore an old maternity skirt under my hospital gown so I wouldn't have to worry about flashing everyone during my hall walks, extension cord, slippers. I also took a fruit and granola bar basket so the nurses could grab a snack whenever they came to my room just as a "thank you" for taking care of me.

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Cell phone charger, robe, socks, extra out fit ( and undies) to wear home. I ended up staying an extra day in the hospital. Soap , face wash, lotion, lip balm, deodorant tooth paste, hair brush and my own Protein shakes per my MD in case I didn't like the ones provided by the hospital. I took makeup because I always feel better when I make up my face and do my hair. I did that for the ride home.

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Bathrobe, toothbrush, charger, headphones, pen & paper, and a comfy-cozy pillow.

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Bathrobe (to do laps in without fear of flashing), slippers (I hate those socks with the strips on the bottom), EXTENSION CORD (because you don't know how far the outlet will be from your bed), headphones, toothbrush and tooth paste. I wore the same clothes home I wore in because I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am day of surgery. I brought my phone and my tablet (they use the same charger). You don't need much more. My team does not allow gas-x strips. Oh and my notebook from my team - I had to have that with me.

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I packed based upon suggested lists on support sites. I was in hospital 1 night. The only thing I used was my toothbrush, toothpaste and my favorite pillow. I made sure to use a colorful pillowcase so I could keep track of it.

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I was glad I brought:

Lip balm

gas-x strips (most hospitals don't have them or offer them but most nurses understand the need for them and pretend not to see them)

I wore comfy, soft, loose elastic waistband sweats, underwear, a bra, socks & shoes and a t-shirt to the hospital and wore the exact same clothes home (your feet may swell... bring larger shoes or a pair of slippers or flip flops just in case)

cell and charger (I also brought an extension cord so I could charge my phone more easily as most charge cords are pretty short)

Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, a hair brush and a hair tie

Also... before surgery, I had to shower with chlorhexedine soap the night before and the morning of surgery... to keep my hair from being a mess after being stuffed under the OR hair net thing and after being in a bed for long periods, I put my hair 2 braids and left it that way until I was discharged.

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
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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.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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    • CaseyP1011

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