Things to buy or do before surgery

One week from today is my gastric bypass.  What are things I should buy, have or do before going into surgery to make recovery at home smoother.

Well congrats to you!!!  I'm sure you're both nervous  and extremely excited!!! I can only speak from my own experience, so please take what you want from this and leave the rest!!!

Prior to my surgery i bought ALOT of "stuff", especially protien drink knowing i'd be on liquids for a few weeks.  I ended up returning most of it after my recovery!  After the surgery your tastes will really change and thing you thought were great prior to your RNY, you won't be able to tolerate afterwards.  If i were to do this again, i would only buy a few things. 
#1 on my list is GNC 100% Whey Protien (UNFLAVORED).  I mixed it with chicken soup since i couldn't tolerate anything even a little bit sweet. (yes, i strained out the noodles... hubby ate LOTS of noodles for weeks!)

Sugar free hard candy & some sugar free gum
Sugar free popcicles. (not the "no sugar added, just the sugar free)

a timer... you'll have to eat/drink every 15 minutes... it kept me on track.

a "Jigger"  Like you measure liquor with.  You'll be drinking one ounce at a time.

a thermos or thermal cup.  You can keep things warm/cold and not have to heat things up every 15 minutes.

That's all i would purchase prior to RNY... You can add things later as you get a feel for what your tastes will be.

Good luck with your RNY... keep your OH friends posted on how you're feeling!

SUGAR FREE POPSICLES...i wouldn't bother with  protein...what you like now, you  may not like afterwards!

Congrats and best wishes to you!  I had lapband on 11.19.10 in Raleigh and I felt really good just 2 days later.  Post op day 8 today and still zero hunger. I am walking 30min daily till cleared for more activity, and I've lost 13lb in this 8days.  Some things I found most helpful once I got home:

Heating pad (invaluable for shoulder/back pain due to CO2)
Campbell's chic noodle soup Healthy Choice (strained, more flavor than broth)
liquid Tylenol
Phillips Milk of magnesia
sublingual D3, B12, and Biotin
Chewable vitamins, fiber and calcium
thermometer (keep eye for fever)
gauze pads and steri tape (if incision catches on clothing)
Baby Magic bath soap (makes me feel good!)
ice pack, mushy kind (feels good on incision area)
premade jellos (I'm lazy)
pill crusher
baby spoons
Oceanspray WhiteCran Peach individual bottles of juice
Apple juice, ind. bottles
good decaf tea, I like Twinings English Breakfast
Peppermint tea, very soothing when I'm queasy
Journal, I just got a nice writing book, I designed page layout myself
Books or mags to read!  (I got some good fiction, but also Jean McMillan's On The Bandwagon, Susan Maria Leach's book and Dr Duc Vuong's book)
Whatever protein drinks you will need (I am using Pure unflavored powder and Carnation Instant breakfast s/f)
Applesauce s/f
cottage cheese (I was moved to this 1-2wks early due to nausea, helped 1000%percent!)
Activia yogurts
extra bed pillows for a few nights

The things that were the most helpful to me after my surgery were:

a small fan (it drowned out the hospital noise)
my own blanket
my own pillow
chap stick (my lips were soooo dry after the surgery and I couldn't drink anything)

Really, the pillow and blanket were lifelines. They made me feel at home. I sooo wanted to get out of the hospital. I was itchy all over from the anesthesia (they say it's a side effect) and the blanket helped soothe me. They were finally able to give me some meds for the itchiness and it went away.

Make sure that you're up and walking as soon as you feel able. I was only in 1 night and I attribute that to walking early.

Good luck! You're gonna do great!