Getting Banded Soon!!!

I stole this list:

LAP BAND SURGERY SHOPPING LIST

NON-food ITEMS:

BBQ or Toilet tongs, for a good reach in the r.r. 4.98

Heating pad(12inx24in) 16.88

Flexible ice pack (hot/cold 12inx16in) 14.44

A few books or movies(your choice, I spent about 70.00us) xx.xx

Squishy pillow for car ride for seatbelt (shoulder pad) 16.88

Make sure you have a good blender 19.97

Kitchen timer (first few days, sip every 15 mins)(analog) 2.88

Kitchen timer (digital – better for travelling) 3.47

Pedo-meter(depending on the one you get – don’t forget to adjust to your stride) 4.88

PHARMACEUTICALS:

liquid Tylenol/Motrin (Check early in case pharmacy needs to order in advance) 4.98

Chewable or liquid gas-x(I got strips, you will pay more than shown here) 3.60

Gauze Pads 4x4 6.57

Paper/bandage tape 2.57

Wet Wipes 2.64

Pill crusher 3.89

Chewable Vitamins 8.97

Hospital Medicine cups (I got 3oz/88ml cups – 100ct) 1.48

Cough Drops(Halls big box) 6.88

Stool Softener (Dr. asked me not to get this, if needed talk to him) xx.xx

Moist and nice tasting Lip Balm(got chapstick – cherry – 2for deal) 0.88

FOOD ITEMS:

Protein shakes(these vary from 22 – 55 dollars depending on quality and quantity) xx.xx

Plenty of water(bottled Water for me 3cases 16oz. bottles 10.00) 10.00

broth or stuff to make broth(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.98

sugar free popsicles 2.66

Sugar free Jello 0.50

Sugar free breath mints (chewable) 1.33

Crystal Light "On the GO" assorted flavors(I don’t like CL so I got store brand/price per box) 2.50

Bouillon(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.07

Cream of Wheat 2.92

Creamy Soups 0.66

Applesauce 1.82

FAT FREE yogurt 1.76

Soup-at-Hand - soups - for creamy stage(on sale) 1.25

pudding cups (SF/FF) - helps w/ taking meds(got instant, more flavors, price per box) 0.50

Sugar free hot cocoa 1.87

Decaf tea(got regular, decaf is a little more in cost) 2.12

CLOTHES POST-OP:

Loose fitting, easily removable(one size larger than I wear, sweats, top and bottom) 15.88

Buttons downs or pullover(sale rack found $5.00 per, one size larger) 5.00

Thong shoes/slip-on so no bending and tying(make sure they are a good pair) 12.88

Sports Bra! Sutures will be hurt by under wires(not sure where they shop?) 6.88

All these prices are from Wal-mart and I used my receipt for 4Oct07 to get most of the prices.

I did try to give explanations where I could and those are in braces, i.e. - ().

Good luck and remember, your positive attitude and positive resolve got you this far. You can get through this, be positive.

Thank you soooo much... I'm getting banded on Wednesday and this is just what I needed for my shopping trip this weekend...

I have a gift card for Macy's, so I'm going to buy the Magic Bullet Blender! I hear it's a life saver for this surgery!

Hope2BHealthy - You're absolutely right... great suggestions from you too!

Thanks a Bunch!

Thank you for the list. The BBQ tongs scared me too.. I will just have to deal w/ pain. I will grab them for being able pick up things. I am worried that my bed is high and I drive a jeep, the pain i will deal with getting in and out. I brought some of the things on the list, the heating/cooling pad/ tums/ etc. But I am a little scared since I live alone.. I'm being banded in 2 days...

I've been sleeping in the recliner so I wouldn't have such a time getting in and out of bed. I think by tomorrow I'll be good to sleep in bed. As far as the bed and jeep being high... I would think that would be better! I have a grand prix and a tahoe and even with gas being $3.50 a gallon, we drive the tahoe right now bc it's easier to get out of by just stepping down.. not having to pull yourself up. Good luck!!!

Hope2bhealthy,

Please note there are some of us who do have difficulty with bathroom hygiene because of our weight pre-op. It's embarrassing and horrible, but this is where our weight has gotten us. I am 36 with short, short arms so you can guess what it is like with a lot of extra fat. Because I already struggle in this area, I was actually quite relieved to hear about the the toilet tongs, but I found a better product online and ordered it after reading casscity's great list.

And I also wanted to add that I am sure you have the best intentions, but your email was a bit of a downer. Having a "list" gives those of us waiting for surgery something to do; it validates the importance of what we are doing; and it feels empowering to take care of ourselves by getting the things we need. I do believe that many of the items are important - especially if anyone is, like me, going to Mexico.

I appreciate your perspective but I needed to stick up for the list and yes, even the toilet tongs :smile2:

Wishing you success,

Angela

i'd have to say i agree with Plain. there are some essentials, like getting some tylenol and some gas x (the strips taste like crap, but the cherry flavored chewables are really not bad at all). but bbq tongs to wipe your butt with? first, you wont likely be wiping your butt for several days, because you won't be crapping. second, i had absolutely no probs wiping my own butt, thank you. and a kitchen timer to remember to take a sip every 15 minutes? i guess if you need a kitchen timer anyway... A seat belt shoulder pad isn't necessary, b/c you'll likely have the seat laying down anyway. just bring a pillow from home if you want one. don't know why you'd need wet wipes. probably won't need cough drops at all (i didn't), and a little bag will be enough if you do, unless you just like to buy in bulk. like morgan said, definitely don't need stool softener (if you haven't crapped yet after a few days, don't take stool softener. the diarrhea will come without it). the Soup at hand cambell's Soups are actually a really good suggestion. they are already liquid, and a nice size. creamy tomato is wonderful! i wouldn't go out and buy sweats that are a size larger. you just need whatever you have at home. pajamas or sweats or gym shorts and a tshirt. if you don't have any of these things, then maybe you should get something. but not a size bigger (unless you believe that super tight clothes are your size). the slippers are a good idea. also, something that isn't on your list is one of those grabby hands things for picking stuff up. that would have been very helpful. i guess you could use the bbq tongs for that, but not if you've been wiping your butt with them (which you won't need to). also, you're probably going to be sleeping alot in the first few days, so there's not a real need to go out an buy a lot of movies or books. you'll try to watch a movie and just fall asleep anyway from the pain meds. so rent a couple, or just watch what you have at home. (unless you just really want to buy some movies, then by all means, go ahead.)

sorry for tearing down your list like this, because it was great for you to put it together for everyone. there are some things on there that i wish that i had thought of before my surgery. then again, going to the store to get them got me out of the house. a lot of the items are unnecessary, though, and there isn't any point in going out and spending money on it if you don't need to. and if there is something that you didn't get that you really would like to have, you can always send out your helper.

Someone asked about tums. They will work for heartburn but not for gas.

Simethicone the main ingredient in GasX breaks down gas bubbles in your system. My daughter was colliky(sp?) when she was tiny and her doc perscribed simethicone drops for her that helped.

I don't personally see how gasx would help anyhow since the gas isn't in your digestive system, its in your abdomen where they blow gas into it so the surgeon can see and work. Anyhow we keep gasx in the house already. The chewables aren't to bad. Haven't tried the strips.

Oh and on the tongs issue. Being supersized I know how this is. But you know what helped more then tongs.. A toilet seat riser. Used to make the toilet seat higher for those having issues getting up and down. (cost like 50$ though) My In Laws had one of these (cause mom had a knee replaced) and then eventually replaced it with a actual disability toilet (like 8 in higher then a average). And I found I didn't need a reaching device. Which was SOOOOOOOOOOO nice. lol

I work for a medical supply company. Believe it or not, in catalogues that I order from, they do sell "tongs" for this purpose! They have some other things too, but I just wanted the one who made the suggestion to know, that they're not too far off base at all! :biggrin2:

what do you really feel like after surgery? why do you need a squishy pillow for the car? when do you start feeling better again?

Dont spend tons of money

In 2006 I had a hysterectomy and bought all the items recommended on a similar forum. The shopping cost quite a bit of money, I think around a couple of hundred dollars. When I had my lapband in 2007 I took a more conservative approach, but still ended up spending money on things I didnt use or didnt really need (pill crusher, magic bullet).

My suggestion to those pre op, is to take a look at the list, and if you have some of those items already, put them all together in a box or container, so you dont have to hunt for them after surgery.

If there is anything else you feel you need, you can ask someone to get them for you post-op, or you can wait 72 hours until you are driving yourself again.

I was self pay (16K), so those dollars I spent, could have been better used to pay off my surgery debt.

This is not meant to be contrary to the OP, just something to think about for those on a budget.

Angela,

I am going to mexico alone to be banded by Dr. Zapata on May 22nd. Please tell me how it goes. I will be thinking of you and saying a prayer.

Sandy

The list is being printed as I write...thanks a bunch!!

:thumbup: