I am scheduled for October 22nd and I am nervous that I am not fully prepared and I’m not talking mentally or physically. I am meaning that I am
Not sure if I have everything I am needing for the first couple of weeks. Anyone want to provide me some tips or things I definitely will need the first couple of weeks post surgery?! Thank you in advance!!!

Life is filled with surprises and challenges... Be as flexible as possible.

You got this.

Worry most about the first week after surgery. That's when you'll need things on hand. It won't be much, as you most likely not be that hungry and liquids fill you up pretty easily. After you get past the soreness and can get around better see what you feel like eating/drinking and get those things. Again you'll probably be consuming so little you won't need much. You'll read all over older posts how people over did it with purchasing things (including myself) and wound up not needing or wanting them.

Instead of stocking up on lots of any one item, have a little bit of multiple kinds of things on hand. What you can tolerate will change. (People tell me that what tastes good to you will change after surgery, too, and while that has not been my experience yet, I'm still in my first week, pre-op, and may yet have that surprise drop on me. )

I found Jello filling during the liquid-only pre-op phase, so I assumed I wouldn't be able to eat it, post-op. I was super wrong: Jello was the only thing that didn't either make me feel sick or hurt my sternum, in the hospital and for the first day at home. Well, that and hot decaf black tea. So it turns out, it's hard to predict.

I do like the individual servings of Jello, because it's easier to know, with less effort, how much liquid to count it as.

I like the premade protein drinks better for the same reason. Also, the vanilla ones are good in tea. That's how I eased myself up to drinking a protein shake straight: put more and more into the hot tea I was already tolerating well.

Clean your house and do all your chores before going to hospital as you won’t feel like doing them the first week back home.

Have all of your dieticians guidelines on hand in the hospital to review and again when you come home.

Do a big shop of protein items and other items. Buy different flavours and kinds as you don’t know what you’ll be in the mood for.

If you have a significant other that will be pulling the slack for a week or two, leave him/her a list of things to do (and possibly how to do them ?)