I had my RNY with a gall bladder removal on Aug 4th. FWIW, here are some of the things I found most helpful. And yes, everyone is different, but I found it useful when others on this list shared their experiences, so here are some things that made the process a little easier for me:

1. In packing my overnight bag I only brought a change of underwear for the next day. I wore a caftan thingy both to and from the hospital so it felt like moving in and out of a nightgown. Ladies, I just skipped the bra at that point.

2. Also in the bag, I brought a pack of pre-moistened wipes. I am allergic to alcohol so I didn't want to rely on regular hospitals wipes and I was so happy to have my familiar, cooling, cucumber scented wipes to freshen up afterwards and to use on my forehead to soothe.

3. I was glad I thought to ask the nurse for an extra pillow to hold on my stomach. Getting up and down, it helped to put pressure on my incisions and muscles and have them strain less.

4. Music and headphones were essential and over-the-head ones, as opposed to earbuds, were much easier for me to keep track of with all the getting up and down nurses moving me around.

5. Best move I made all day was in the pre-op, after I was all set up, and had been given some pills that were making me dopey. My SIL who had been with me up to that point was still there and trying to keep me calm and distracted, and I just asked her to leave so I could have time alone for prayer (and silence!)

All in all, things went smoothly for me, though the anesthesia really kicked my butt and it took me a long time to be able to get up and around. My first walk was at 4am when the took me to get weighed. It seemed kind of cruel at that point.

Finally, my spiritual practice includes "mindfulness" and I'm using this opportunity of relearning what it feels like to eat to really focus on the whole experience. It doesn't make my protein drinks taste better, but it changes my intention toward them when I say I blessing of thanks for the opportunity to nourish and heal my body.

Thank you for sharing this it is really helpful as I look to surgery in about a month

Thanks for sharing I am headed to the hospital in 8 days and the ear phones thing is a great idea, I am also packing own non slip socks they are thick and comfy

And its all good, I don't think I'm ovrrpreosring am I? This is my,only weight loss surgery, like to say,it is the last manor surgery but it is not. My left,shoulder is deteriorating, should have already been done,but,i wanted my Bariatric first, 3years up'down-side to side jerking,. Long story,short time. Maybe recover 6 weeks before,that. Then I have a lipoma on the inner surface left arm, just above elbow,fold. Was,like small walnut when I pointed it,out to orthopaedic surgeon, yeah ther one who,wants to do,his,tender,mercies on shoulder. Was almond size,then, now half tennis ball in only couple months. Hello? OCP also interested, General surgeon next? He recommened LOCAL, I am going to OSU for,my "slice and dice the abdomen" Wednesday, maybe ask someone at a Level One Hospital instead of my community hospital "band aid station" oh Columbus does not have much,use for county and community hospitals! And do I deserve "the very best" instead of "make do"?

And only my smartphone k,own what OVRRPREOSRING is*** it made the word,up itself, I keyed "over pre-preparing" myself!

Time alone post op is essential!

Here's a strange one: one thing I wish I learned before having the surgery was the ability to burp on command.

There is a technique to it, which I never mastered in high school, but it would have made things a lot easier for me immediately post-surgery.

As of now I'm still doing a lot of chest pounding, neck craning and wiggling around to get the burp to happen, whereas all my relatives were trying to teach me their burping skills in the hospital to help me out Willy Wonka-style.

Edited September 14, 20187 yr by John Kitsu