Does anyone have a shopping list of items I will need at home when I return from the hospital?

Obesityhelp.com has a good list. I saw lists posted here. If you can dig through the layers of pre-op postings you may be able to find the thread.

SHOPPING LISTS AND HINTS-FULL liquid DIET PHASE

First 14 - days after surgery

Hints:

Start very slowly - be patient with your new pouch.

Remember to treat it like an infant stomach.

Take very small amounts of liquid at a time otherwise you may vomit or feel very uncomfortable if you try to gulp instead of taking small sips

The "survival " tips for the first few days after surgery are - fluids first, Multivitamin & mineral supplement (and Vitamin B1 if needed), then Protein.

You may not feel hungry or even thirsty or you may even feel nauseous, but to prevent dehydration, sip, sip, sip - (suck on ice, sugar-free fruit popsicles or sugar-free jello).

If a particular drink or food causes nausea or vomiting when you advance to the next diet pase, always go back to the clear liquid diet phase for a day or two to rest your stomach. Then slowly advance to the next diet phase. If you vomit more than once a day, call your bariatric specialist for medical attention.

Shopping List:

Vitamins and minerals

protein supplements

Water bottle or sipping container

strainer or blender

nonfat or 1% cow's milk

lactaid, soy or rice milk if you are lactose intolerant

non- or low-fat, artificially sweetened smooth yogurts (no chunks of fruit,nuts or cereal)

low fat creamed Soups, strained first

broth or miso Soup, strained

Cream of Wheat

Water Low calorie, non-carbonated drinks that contain less than 10 calories per serving: Crystal light, Diet Snapple, Sugar-free Kool-aid, etc.

Diluted 100% fruit juice (limit to 6-oz/day)

Sugar-free Jell-O or sugar -free pudding

sugar-free popsicles

Nutrasweet or Splenda

Decaffeinated tea or coffee

AVOID all carbonated caffeinated and alcoholic beverages

The shopping list posted above has helpful items. I bought a lot of stuff to prepare but found that there were a couple of items that were especially helpful as follows:

* Bandaging supplies to clean and cover your incision areas. You will not need big bandages for most of your incisions. The port area may have an incision a couple of inches across. I used antibacterial standard bandaids for my three smallest incisions.

* Antibacterial cream as recommended by your physician for wound care.

* Protein supplement - some of them don't taste good and some are downright terrible. I used Isopure pre-mixed drinks which were a little pricey but I could have them in the Clear liquids phase. I found that before I started taking them, I was exausted and run down. They helped me to feel normal again.

* Gas-X strips that dissolve on your tounge. I don't think I could have gotten by comfortably without them, gas is pretty intense after the surgery.

* Anti-nausea meds - your doctor might give you a prescription but perhaps you should ask. I did not ask and did not get a prescription and found that drinking Water made me continuously nauseous. I found Nauzene chewables which were over the counter at Wal-Mart and worked well.

* broth was mentioned above, but I just wanted to say that I ended up ingesting a lot of this and ended up needing larger containers of it.

Good luck with your surgery.

total agree on the GAS X do not leave home without it.

I pulled this list off a different thread. Hope it helps! '

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(I have a daughter and wife that helped here)

6.88

regarding pain killers etc, i have been told to get chewable vitamins and mineral supplement, do i need to get chewable pain killers? also every one is talking about gas-x, does anyone know where to get this from in the UK? finally, saw someone had posted heat pads, would a hot water bottle do? so many questions, and what seems like such a short ammount of time, even though its still ust under 4 weeks away!

A grabber to put things up.

Bandage suppiles, like large bandaids and stuff to cover your incesions once the tape starts falling off.

regarding pain killers etc, i have been told to get chewable Vitamins and mineral supplement, do i need to get chewable pain killers? also every one is talking about gas-x, does anyone know where to get this from in the UK? finally, saw someone had posted heat pads, would a hot Water bottle do? so many questions, and what seems like such a short ammount of time, even though its still ust under 4 weeks away!

I would check with your local pharmacies for Gas-X but I really don't know if they have it or something similar in the UK.

You will get a prescription for pain killers most likely. Afterwards, usually they tell you to take tylenol. I was told that it was ok to take it in pill form but I must drink a full glass of water afterwards. You can also get liquid tylenol as well. Just make sure that whatever over the counter pain killer you get is on the list of approved pain killers per your doctor. Most are not approved because they have ingredients that can irritate your stomach which is bad for bandsters.

A hot water bottle should work the same as a heating pad. I never used nor needed one post surgery. It wasn't necessary for me but everyone is different.