What do you take to the hospital?

I was wondering if anyone has heard what is good to take to the hospital. Do you stick to their gowns or can you wear something else? Also, what is best to go home in? I'm thinking loose clothing. I've also heard that girls should take pads...this may sound ignorant, but is that just in case you start, or does the surgery make you bleed? Also, I have sleep apnea and am wondering if you have to wear your CPAP while you're in the hospital. I'm really curious if I should be doing things to prepare. I'm trying to get off of drinking carbonated diet sodas but I really don't know if I need to do anything else. Suggestions anyone?

HI,First thing, you will need to bring your cpac machine. Very important. Most hospitals want you to wear their gowns. Slippers, brush, comb, toothbrush and etc. Book, some can read others dont really care to. Pads, some say their period seems to start for some strange reason. I plan to wear home a silky soft loose type gown/dress. Will be soft and will not bind tummy. Chapstick is a good idea, lips and mouth will be dry. Perhaps a robe for walking or you can always wear two gowns, top one open in front. Take pillow to hold over tummy on ride home. CD player with earphones and nice relaxing music. I am taking a list of my meds, contact info, insurance card and info hospital might ask. PCP phone number and address, as well as fax. Address book with phone numbers. You may not need all of these items, so pick and choice what you might want. Change for TV, some hospital charge by day.Hope this is a help. Marla

Very informative Marla. Thanks for all the info.. it sure helped me Angelina

You are most welcome. Marla

Thank you Marla, You helped me also.

You are welcome. I know I forgot something, but perhaps someone else has the answer. Marla

(I suggest you review this list with your doctor and buy very small amounts) Groceries a. Sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast b. Myoplex Carb Sense / Atkin's Shakes / Carb Solutions c. Water d. Herb Tea (non-caffeinated) e. Fat free canned chicken or beef broth f. Soup (stay with the simple ingredient ones) g. creamed soups (be careful with tomato soup- lots of sugar) h. bouillon (you'll want to water this down as the salt will knock your socks off!) i. rice or soy milk (nonfat) (only if lactose intolerant) j. sugar free Jell-O k. Mashed potatoes (you can thin this with chicken broth) l. Smooth, no sugar added yogurts m. Gatorade (again, may have too much sugar) n. Sugar free Kool-aid / Sugar free Tang / Crystal Lite / Diet Tea Mix (no sugar) o. Fruit juices cut half with water -- non-pulp grape, apple, Cranberry, etc. p. applesauce (check the label for sugar content!) Mott's No Sugar Added Natural q. sugar free popsicles r. Hot cereal (oatmeal, rice, grits, cream of wheat etc.) s. Baking potatoes (this will probably be ok around 3 weeks post op) u. Fresh fruit (can be pureed) Health Store or Drug store (again I stress this point, REVIEW THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR!) a. Protein supplements (e.g.: Designer Whey or Carb Solutions or b. Citrate of Magnesia (your doctor may require this to "clean you out' before surgery) c. Liquid pain reliever (liquid Tylenol) d. Liquid, Chewable, Spray or Powder Multivitamin (Flintstones or Bugs Bunny) e. Vitamin E Oil (if you put it on your scar, it will heal faster and not look as bad) or Mederma f. Zinc to prevent hair loss (common side effect but in my opinion, nothing helps with the hair loss. HAIR LOSS HAPPENS) g. Calcium citrate h. Chewable or liquid Iron i. Chewable or spray Ginseng to improve the smell of passing gas j. Chewable, sublingual or liquid B-12 k. pill crusher Department Store a. Antibacterial soap b. Ice cube trays for freezing right size portions of the puree stuff c. Blender - I think one of those hand held ones are wonderful d. Zip lock bags (to store frozen ice cubes) e. Shot glass for measuring or those little cups you get salad dressing in f. Play tea set (helps portion control) g. camera (gotta have those before and after images. Be sure to take your measurements too!) h. seafood fork and baby spoons (helps you take smaller bites) i. a journal to keep your pictures in, and to chart your weight loss. Stuff for Hospital a. Clip on fan for bedside b. toothbrush/toothpaste (should be supplied by the hospital) c. deodorant (should be supplied by the hospital) d. Lotion (should be supplied by the hospital) e. Moisturizing lip gloss (be careful with these as they are petroleum based and flammable, if you are on oxygen this may not be a good idea, check first!) f. powder (should be supplied by the hospital) g. shampoo & conditioner(should be supplied by the hospital) h. hair brush i. hair clips, rubber bands, bandana or hat (you won't be able to wash your hair so whatever it takes to get it out of the way) j. nightgowns (could be difficult to use with the IV's you will have so you may just decide to use the hospital designer gowns k. robe l. slippers m. comfy pillows n. watch or travel clock o walkman p. stuffed animal to brace against your tummy (hey, it works for some people) q. make up r. writing paper (pre-address the envelopes!) s. Books, magazines, cross-stitch, puzzles, etc. t. Stomach Binder (if they don't provide it, check with your surgeon.) u. Comfortable clothes to go home in. v. list of phone numbers (you may be bored to tears and want to talk!) w. chances are, if you are of menstruating age, that you will get your period in the hospital. So be prepared! Take panties, pads, tampax etc. They will have pads, but nothing for you to put them in, no pins, belts etc. x. Fabreeze or some air freshener, a scented candle After Hospital a. Shower Chair (if you think you will need it) b. A recliner (very few can sleep in a bed at first ) c. lots and lots of support! Hope this helps.....

My response to the list for the food and supplement parts, is this: Go with the list you receive from your doctor / dietician. Do not use any lists of supplements, medications, foods, etc that you find here or other places. You should always follow your doctor / dietician's instructions FIRST. Every surgical practice is different. Every Dietician is different. Unfortunately for us, there is alot of gray area. You should take the reccomendations of your doctor / dietician as written in stone for your first few weeks. Then venture out and try new products. For example, my dietician says absolutely no Gatorade / Powerade / fruit juice etc. Her rule is it has to be less than 3 grams of sugar per serving. now your dietician may say 5 or less. Also, on what to bring to the hospital, according to my surgical team, there will be no time for reading or puzzles. The hospital staff will have their paitents up and walking the floor 4 hrs after surgery. Here is my personal plan of attack! Night before: Give Drivers License to hubby to keep in his wallet. he has an insurance card and the credit card to pay the hospital fee. I will not be carrying a purse. Pack "travel kit" , I personally only use certain brands of personal hygene items. I want to have my own shampoo, deodorant, etc. Mine is in a nice kit that hangs so I can hang it up in the bathroom. Slippers, socks, panties, lounging bra, and my duster (old grany housecoat thing with snaps down the front) are going in a duffle bag. Hubby will bring it to my room when I am placed there. My surgeon said that as soon as I feel like it, I can take a shower and as soon as I get up I can change into my own nightgown. I cannot wear a bra or panties until either late that night or next am. There is a heart monitor I have to wear and the damn catheriter. As soon as both of those are gone, I'm wearing my lounging bra and regular panties. I personally dont like going without either. But everyone is different! Leland Lap RNY 08/04/04

Leland I wasn't really looking for any responses....lol! did you see what my very first statement was. (I suggest you review this list with your Doctor and buy very small amounts) I would hope that everyone would follow their doctors orders/advice and plan of actions and not the message boards. These were merely suggestions.....and folks can either accept them or reject them. We are all different!!! Good luck with your "personal attack plan"

Incredibly helpful. THANK YOU! ~Angela