Had surgery? Please give advice..

Just wanted to know if you guys who have already had surgery have any advice for those of us who are getting ready to have it? Are there things you wished you had done, questions you wished you would have asked, or are there things you actually asked or did that you felt made it easier or better for you? Things you wished you had taken to the hospital with you or something you did take that helped? ANY advice would be welcome...... Mo Delta

Well I'm newly post op so I can probably only help a little. I had my surgery on Wednesday. I regret not doing the last meal thing that so many people do. I would have liked one more Mcdonalds big mac and fries!! I played it very safe so that I could have surgery lap, but wish I'd had one last nice splurge! hee! I took waaaay too much to the hospital. All I ever wore were the hospital gowns til the day I left. I never once took out my pajamas, housecoat or slippers. I walked around in my slip on shoes when I went for walks. I could barely read my magazines - but they were great when I came home. Most of the time I slept or walked! I'm glad I did my breathing exercises religiously before I left because it was quite hard to do them in the hospital but it was like second nature to me. I wish I would have gotten more protein samples to try beforehand. The ones I bought that I bought "blindly", I really don't like. IT IS HARD TO DRINK AND EAT AFTER SURGERY -not physically but it's hard to get all the requirements in. Expect that. I was NOT good at practicing the sipping of water beforehand. You need to do that and make sure that you get in your 8 glasses of water or milk or crystal light - whatever! That's the biggest piece of advice!!!!!!!!!! I wish I hadn't stocked up on so much broth because I really do hate the stuff - but I'll probably use it for stirfries or something for hubby anyway so I'm sure it will be put to good use. So far, I have NO taste changes post surgery at least with the stuff that I'm eating now! LOL! Any one that wishes to email me and ask questions, feel free or you can read about my recent surgery on my profile. Dawn :wave

Well I'm newly post op so I can probably only help a little. I had my surgery on Wednesday. I regret not doing the last meal thing that so many people do. I would have liked one more Mcdonalds big mac and fries!! I played it very safe so that I could have surgery lap, but wish I'd had one last nice splurge! hee! I took waaaay too much to the hospital. All I ever wore were the hospital gowns til the day I left. I never once took out my pajamas, housecoat or slippers. I walked around in my slip on shoes when I went for walks. I could barely read my magazines - but they were great when I came home. Most of the time I slept or walked! I'm glad I did my breathing exercises religiously before I left because it was quite hard to do them in the hospital but it was like second nature to me. I wish I would have gotten more protein samples to try beforehand. The ones I bought that I bought "blindly", I really don't like. IT IS HARD TO DRINK AND EAT AFTER SURGERY -not physically but it's hard to get all the requirements in. Expect that. I was NOT good at practicing the sipping of water beforehand. You need to do that and make sure that you get in your 8 glasses of water or milk or crystal light - whatever! That's the biggest piece of advice!!!!!!!!!! I wish I hadn't stocked up on so much broth because I really do hate the stuff - but I'll probably use it for stirfries or something for hubby anyway so I'm sure it will be put to good use. So far, I have NO taste changes post surgery at least with the stuff that I'm eating now! LOL! Any one that wishes to email me and ask questions, feel free or you can read about my recent surgery on my profile. Dawn

what breathing exercises, Dawn? never heard of that. I have been practicing the sipping and eating slowly. Really hard to retrain yourself. How often did you drink protein and then wait how long and drink water? I am taking chapstick, pillow, short sleeved robe, slipper with non-skid bottoms, my iPod, 1 magazine, my toothbrush/paste, hair scrunchie, deodorant, lotion and a picture of my babies. ShelleyAnne