The countdown is on!

 My surgery date is 2 weeks from Tuesday - I am simultaneously peeing my pants in excitement and fear.  I want to say that like 90% is excitement, but as someone who's never undergone surgery ever before - I am a nervous frigging nelly.

Who has some last minute tips for preparation?  Were there things that you wish you had done differently before you headed to the hospital?  What must-have items did you wish you had on hand as soon as you got home?  

That type of advice would be much appreciated!  Thanks everyone!

What I was glad to have set up:
1. I gave my house a good cleaning - especially my bedroom and the kitchen.
2. I stocked up on some basics: sf jello and pudding, applesauce, plain greek yogurt, unflavoured whey powder (I like the Kaizen brand I can buy at SaveOn), dog food (the bag is heavy!), laundry soap tabs (easier than the jug of liquid), toilet paper, chewable kids vitamins with iron, zinc lozenges, chewable cal-mag citrate (WalMart), chewable vitamin D, B12 liquid, protein H2O (Shoppers) Body Logix (Shoppers) and Pure Protein (SuperStore or WalMart) premade protein shakes, small bowls, plates, forks and spoons.

Things I could easily have done without:

Assorted protein shakes and powders. I hated most that I'd bought and ended up giving them away. Assorted Crystal Light. (Tasted AWFUL after surgery - Hawaiin Punch or well diluted real fruit juice went down way better)

What would have been nice to have ready:
Several litre tetra boxes of real (no sugar, not citrus) fruit juice.

Since dehydration is your biggest enemy for the first while, having a variety of no-sugar beverages on hand is really helpful. Some things you love now may taste terrible for the first while after surgery, so it helps to have alternatives ready.

I second the last minute cleaning, I had unsweetened yogurt, unsweetened apple sauce, sugar free popsicles and Crystal Light on hand (I liked it, although it really had to be watered down).  I didn't need much else at home.  I slept on the couch sitting up so I had lots of pillows and nice blankets close by.

Bring with you to the hospital: Chapstick, slippers and a pillow for your drive home (the bumps in the road REALLY hurt and the pillow allows you to put gentle pressure on your abdomen).  I brought magazines and a book but didn't even look at them, all I did was sleep and attempt to walk around.  Also, don't bring your phone or any valuables with you.

I'm sure I'll think of others!

Yup, get caught up on laundry!  Because you won't be doing much lifting.  Have a good book/magazine at home as well as some movies.  I had a can of beneprotein which I added to sf pudding, sf yogurt and ff cream soups.  Make sure you have some skim or 1% milk and some ff greek yogurt and sf popcicles.  I definately used crystal light and some herbal caffeine free tea.  Baby spoons helped me learn to eat slow.  Good luck!  You will do great!

Giselle

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!!