Can anyone tell me........

I just want to make sure that Bob and I will have everything we need for the hospital stay... I got the usual necessities ( soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.) is there anything else that we should bring with us. Thank You........

Chapstick - very dry lips after surgery. Other than that my hospital supplied me w/ everything. Good luck and have a speedy recovery.

Chris, Best of luck with your surgery. I will be praying for you. I was in Pennsylvania hospital and only took a robe and a book. They gave me everything else. The only hint that I can share with you is if you take any medications bring them along. I take Ambien to sleep and the hospital didn't have it (go figure, huge hospital no Ambien). I have also read of others who only wanted to sleep on their own pillow. Good luck to you. Jeanne

Christine Bring socks, you will want nice warm feet during surgery, Please let us know how it went, I will be thinking about you on the 31st...Best of luck to you both...Sharon G

Hi Christine: You will not need shampoo as you will not be taking a shower. I showered the morning of surgery and went home by noon the next day. You will be hooked up to an IV so taking a shower will be difficult. There are no showers in the room either, you have to go down the hall, so I wouldn't count on taking one. The nurse will give you a sponge bath and wash your back, it will be heaven! I brought chapstick, handcream, facial cleanser and moisturizer, toothbpaste and toothbrush. That's all you will need. I brought reading material but never had time to read. I brought my cell phone but had my husband keep it till I got to the room and then I put it under my pillow in the room. When you get to the hospital they will put your clothing into a plastic bag and you will wear a hospital gown. After your sponge bath ask for a new hospital gown to sleep in. If you put your hair up, bring clips or a band. I brought a tiny bag of stuff and that was it. You will not need much and whatever you forget, they will give you! Make yourself a pot of chicken soup for your clear liquid fast. The canned broth will not cut it, especially on the first day! Good luck and call me if you have any further questions.

Chapstick and some moisturizer is TOPS on my list--- You are so dry - They gave me a stick with a Sponge that I could use to the Wipe my Lips I lucky me ended up in ICU overnight (sleep apena) and the ICU ward is so damn damn noisy. If I had not had my IPOD with me, I would not have had a blink of sleep that night. It sounds like a lot, but it will be a distant memory soon enough!! Hope to see you at the Toms River Meeting!! Best of Luck Chris

Hey Christine, If you or Bob have Sleep apneia, bring your CPAP. Travel light, I just brought slippers, cell phone (vibrator mode),charger, chap stick,sweats,socks, and my butt. If there is anything I can help you with, I work in M.R.M.C. hospital for my full time job. just give me a call at 908-668-2707. You are in excellent hands, Dr. J.B., his staff, and the O.R. team were so comforting to me, I'm so glad I went there for my surgery. Best, John

Hello, I just came from surgery and mind you it was not bad at all. I brought the best heating pad I could find works excellent on the gas. I also had my sons portable fan for the hot flashes. Helped me a lot.... I did bring a soap dispenser it made it easier, chap stick for my lips, lotion for my dry hands. Best wishes.

Hi Christine and Bob Make sure you have a list of folks that you give to the hospital for your call or visitor list... people who are on your family list. I had my surgery in Iowa... so things may be different in New Jersey... but I had a list of people that were family... it was these folks only that had calls put through. My surgery was a little different, I was in the hospital for a week ... so this might be different here.. I do not know. Also ask what you can have after surgery. I didnt ask.. so I had 1/2 juice and water for a couple days... when I could have had a frozen popsickle or broth... just a thought. I have tracked your progress toward surgery and I am very excited for both of you. If these items I mentioned dont hold true.. my apologies... I am speaking as to my experience (again from an Iowa hospital where I had my RNY laproscopic surgery). Ask lots of questions. Be encouraged... it is LIFE changing.. and it will thrill you the speed which things improve AFTER surgery. After the surgery.. the hardest part (the waiting) is OVER. Trust me... been there... done that.... read the book... saw the movie... (movie was betta). I am down 250 pounds at 25 months, I still lose about five pounds a month... I dont have diabetes... I dont have sleep apnea... I can walk and exercise... I can do so many things.. you will have **a HA ** moments.... that thrill and excite you. Hang in there and DONT FORGET TO COME POST when you can here on the board... come tell us how you are when you can?? we will continue to hold up up in prayer and keep you BOTH in our thoughts. PS a couple of good paperback books... for each of you... might be an idea.... you might not have time to read them but sometimes .... especially after relieving pain... if you cant sleep and you just are sitting there watching the clock go round.... It helped me to have a couple novels to lose myself in : )) Godspeed.. to both of you Take care.. hugs Timmy Ray

Many blessings to you on this journey you are about to go on together! One thing that was a LIFE saver was a back scratcher! You can't bend well after surgery, and when you have an itch, that hand on a stick was just the thing a women needs (haha! - minds out of the gutter boys). Definitely chapstick. And bottled water. Sounds silly but the hospital I had my surgery at, Morristown Memorial, ran out of bottled water in the middle of the night, yet wanted me to drink water constantly. So they gave me tap water and it was DISGUSTING! I can't drink tap water on a good day, forget right out of surgery! So definitely bring bottled water just in case! I brought my own pillow - which was comforting. Fuzzy soft socks. Contact lense solution/glasses. HTH! Jennifer