Surgery Checklist (with pics!)
Well since my surgery is just days away and a lot of people (including myself) always wonder what you may need to have to prepare yourself, I decided to put together a checklist.
Toiletries: Pretty much everyone I have asked say that drs/hospitals normally let you take a shower a couple hours after you can stand, or usually as soon as you feel ready. (I found all of these items at Target for $1.50 or less)
Lotion: Everyone has been asking about stretch marks and skin condition after surgery. I found this really awesome lotion about 4 years ago when my neice was a baby. See, she used to get hives, and her skin would dry out to the point of cracking b/c she was allergic to milk (we didnt know) but this lotion kept her buttered and soft, and I have been using it ever since then on my skin its amazing. For this tub-you can find at walmart its the generic of Eucrin-$5!
Measuring Your Intake: My surgeon, nurses, friends/post op patients, tell me it is extrememly important to measure everything at first while you are adjusting to your new stomach. This is something I want to make sure I follow to a "T"! Here are a few things I picked up along the way. (each item under $3 at Walmart or Target)
Timing is EVERYTHING!: Everyone knows when you eat and drink at the same time, it pretty much flushes through. I will probably have a problem with remembering not to drink with meals. I decided to get a timer so that I can eat and not flush everything out! (Found this for $3 at Walmart)
Feeling out of place?: I watched quite a few videos on youtube and I agree....Its hard to feel normal when your eating tiny amounts of food sitting with your family. I found these great little helpers! The plates and bowls are actually for appetizer's and sauces the little bowls hold about 2 ozs of food....(maybe I havent tested that yet). I also found sippy cups....(apparently, if you are used to gulping water, you need this...possibly) my boyfriend was with me while I was shopping for these, and teasing me the entire time because I would have to drink out of a sippy cup. I actually found some that look like coffee cups! (they are pink and purple....but hell....at least Im not sucking out of what looks like a nipple!) Now, these particular brand are Playtex and about $6. The tupperware bowls are pretty much for making things in bulk and able to have something I can grab and go! I dont like the idea of putting my food in an ice tray....(I have a cat who thinks its cute to jump in the freezer whenever its open) $4 at Target.
I did get several other items:
Pjs, slipper socks, Rx, vitamins, etc. I actually found a little box to keep everything in for the heck of it...I like to be super organized. All the samples I got for vitamins fit very nicely in the box, along with the protein tube things....
I also have been hording food in the pantry, I hit walmart up everytime I get the chance for my fav liquid food. (Im not to happy about the chicken broth thing cause, well for lack of a better phrase, it tastes like ass...so I got chicken noodle...and Ill 86 the chicken and noodle.) Jello will be an all time fav-Im sure. And the all to famous....Crystal Light! (everything from walmart about $3 or less.)
Hope this has helped! If you have any other suggestions that I might need to get before I would really appreciate the input.
Thanks for taking the time to share your list with us, pictures and all.
P.S. My 4 year old daughter has those sippy cups. Guess I can check those off the list, lol.
