Weight Loss Surgery Emergency Essentials
March 12, 2013Disaster preparedness is important no matter where you live. As a new weight loss surgery (WLS) post-op, disaster preparedness requires more planning and preparation. In addition to the basic necessities of a good first aid kit and other supplies, you also need to have a stash of weight loss surgery emergency essentials.
Blogger Fattiverse contacted ObesityHelp on our Facebook page regarding her experience as a weight loss surgery post-op during Super Storm Sandy. From Fattiverse's post and my own experience with a natural disaster, I wanted to provide a list of emergency essentials so that post-ops can be better prepared. It is common to feel vulnerable when a disaster occurs. As post-ops with compromised conditions and resources (such as closed grocery stores), being prepared is important.
General Emergency Preparedness:
The American Red Cross is an excellent resource to review before an emergency strikes. To be prepared ahead of time will give you and your family peace of mind. The American Red Cross recommends that you create a kit of basics that you and your family will need. In addition to the basics, the American Red Cross recommends a first aid kit to be among your emergency essentials.
The American Red Cross has an app for use with mobile devices such as iPhone and Android. The app contains information for disasters such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, wildfire, and general first aid, along with assistance in locating a shelter in your area.
Weight Loss Surgery Emergency Essentials:
The items you'll need for your weight loss surgery emergency essentials depends on the length of time you have been a post-op. For post-ops that had their surgery 30-60 days ago, your essentials will be different than a post-op that had their surgery a year or more ago. When you create your emergency essentials, use your surgeon's nutritional protocol first and foremost as your guide.
Without taking into account any personal surgical difficulties or complications, below are some suggested items for you to consider when packing your own bag of emergency essentials. Customize your own list to include items that you tolerate well and would allow you healthy nutrition for a few days.
List of Weight Loss Surgery Emergency Essentials for New Post-Ops:
- Protein supplements that do not require milk
(water based/non-perishable ready-to-drink, no sugar added) - Clear broth or bouillon (cube and powder to mix in water, canned)
- Baby food jars of protein (turkey, chicken, beef) with no added sugar-based additives
- Canned vegetable soup (soft vegetables, no sugar-based additives)
- Natural no sugar added applesauce
- Supply of multiple days worth of vitamins
- Can opener (if using any canned products)
List of Weight Loss Surgery Emergency Essentials for Early Post-Ops (on solid foods):
- Canned tuna, chicken or beef (check the ingredients for sugar additives)
- Fat-free refried beans
- Canned fruits (no sugar added, no syrup, packed in its own juice)
- Canned vegetables (soft, easily digestible)
- Any of the items suggested for new post-ops (above)
- Supply of multiple days worth of vitamins
- Can opener
List of Weight Loss Surgery Emergency Essentials for Post-Ops (1+ years):
- Beef, chicken, turkey or ham jerky (make sure to keep fresh supply)
- Peanut butter with whole wheat, high-fiber crackers
- Cans of bean or lentil soup
- Cans of beans
- Any of the items suggested for new and early post-ops (above)
- Supply of multiple days worth of vitamins
- Can opener
Before a disaster, review what you eat and what non-perishable items you could add to your essentials pack. If you are in the early post-op stage, prepare another essentials pack to plan for the future as you progress as a longer term post-op.
Schedule your calendar to review your emergency essentials to keep the food items fresh. Freshness of items is essential to avoid stale or old grocery items that could cause problems such as food getting stuck or making you sick.
Disaster preparedness is essential for everyone but even more so if you're a weight loss surgery post-op. Through your own preparedness, you reduce the impact of a disaster so you're able to regroup and recover, and help your family and others in your community.
Let's compile lists together. Please add below any other items that you consider weight loss surgery emergency essentials.
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