I've Got a Date

Thanks for letting me read all the wonderful posts. I received my surgery date (12/6/04) and I am really excited. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for what to take to the hospital or to prepare for my surgery, please let me know. Thanks!! Pam B

every surgeon has different things they may want you to do to prep yourself for surgery. you will need to check with your doc. as for what to take to the hospital, this is what i took: all my surgery info, music to listen to, a good book or magazines to look at, a favorite night gown, some lip balm (your lips get dried out easily in the hospital) a notebook to take notes if you need to so you do forget what they told you in the hospital. if you use a cpap or bipap machine take it with you. but tell your family to leave it in the car untill you are in a room. slippers that are nonslipable. and a housecoat. hope this helps. and be prepared for when you come home. have your food already at home. like your jello, popcyclics, broths, and protein mix for the next week after your home. you may not feel like going out till the following week. ok. take care and congrads on your date. i will be praying for you. jennifer in akron.

Congratulations! My surgery is 11-16-04 and I have been gathering my things together for the hospital stay. I made a list of phone numbers of friends and family to take incase I can't remember them and I still need to pick up some slippers and as my niece keeps reminding me...A really good lip balm.

congraulation!!!!!!! My surgery date is Dec. 6th also.

Pam, Congrats on your date. As to what to take to the hospital, I would take the following: Chap stick Fan Reading material Slippers Hair scrunchy Toiletries I wore their nightgown backwards. To help you prepare, I am recommending a support group. I have one in Cincinnati, this Friday night at 7PM. For more information go to imnotfatanymore.com. Have a great day, Sandy Pierce

Congratulations, Pam! I'm almost two weeks post-op now and I can tell you i needed nothing at the hospital - the less you have to schlep out of there, the better. I went shopping the day before and filled a tote bag up with magazines, a new deck of cards, etc for my family who would be waiting, and asked one of them to carry it to the hospital and back. I will say (and I know this won't be a popular response) that I think the best thing I did to get ready was consistently exercise 5-6 times a week. It significantly increased my endurance, which has helped in my recovery a lot. If you exercise already, don't give up, and if you don't, just a 10 minute walk every day for the next month will really help. Anything we can do to lessen the risks of the surgery. Congratulations again - I'll be thinking good thoughts for you on the 6th!