Get Ready for Your WLS: Pre-Op Tips
June 8, 2022As you approach your surgery date, this is a perfect time to prepare a checklist to ease the transition of recovery from hospital to home. It is important to get ready for your WLS so that you are prepared.
Get Ready for Your WLS
In the two weeks leading up to surgery, take time to prepare your home with essentials. The best recommendation is to get ready for your WLS and to leave your home recovery ready.
What to Have Ready When You Return From The Hospital
When you return home from the hospital, you want to set up your home for an ideal recovery. Planning and preparing everything ahead can ease the stress while you are healing.
- Fluids: Fill your fridge with fluids such as protein shakes, water, non-carbonated/non-sugary beverages, and sugar-free popsicles.
- Groceries: Buy groceries one week before surgery and include items such as a variety of protein flavors, creamed soups, yogurts, and sugar-free puddings.
- Medications and vitamins: Have your post-op prescriptions, including pain medication and bariatric vitamins, stored in a safe place.
- Sleep: Make sure to have comfortable sleeping arrangements. Being sore can be normal for a few days. Coming home to clean sheets and comfortable pillows can help.
Checklist of Items to Bring to The Hospital
- Comfortable clothing: Loose fitted dress, cotton shirts, and underwear, robe, knee-high socks, slip-on shoes, or flip-flops. Leave all jewelry at home!
- Entertainment: Your phone, tablet, smart device charger, reading material
- Hygiene: Mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste, baby wipes, lip balm, deodorant, hairbrush, antimicrobial soaps
- Medical devices: CPAP/BIPAP and other medical devices
- Hearing aids
- Braces
- Sleep mask
- Earplugs
- FMLA paperwork
- Any Preoperative handouts provided prior to your surgery
- Fluid trackers: Will also be provided in the hospital
- Your Surgical Program's Bariatric Manual
- Sketchpad to take notes and have questions handy
Tips for Your Return Home
Travel home: Have someone available to pick you up from the hospital. You will not be discharged in public transportation.
Blood pressure: Have a blood pressure machine to monitor blood pressure and heart rate.
Time off: Make sure to plan time off from work to help with your recovery. A minimum of two weeks, possibly more considering jobs that are physically strenuous.
Your Care: For the first two weeks after surgery, have a loved one around to help you with your recovery such as your partner, best friend, or neighbor. After the first two weeks, it is best to have someone a call away if you need anything.
Child care and pet care: Coordinate child care or pet care, if needed.
Get Ready for Your WLS and Being Prepared
You can be prepared while you are waiting for your surgery. If you get ready for your WLS ahead of time, chances are that you'll be glad you did. If you have questions, give your surgeon's office a call. These are all steps that require time and preparation to help you ease the transition to recovery. Remember, you got this!
 | Krystal Martinez is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas at Austin. Her favorite part is being a part of a patient's life-changing journey! Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple offers quality, comprehensive care for patients suffering from weight and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Chief of Bariatric and General Surgery, Dr. David Provost, is recognized as one of the nation’s foremost weight loss surgeons. He pioneered the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in Texas, having first performed the procedure in 1999. |
