Got a Surgery Date!!! How to prep

Super excited - talked to the nurse this morning and I have my surgery booked for Sept 15th. Feels so real now.

For those of you on the other side...are there anythings you wish you did before surgery? Or things you didn't need? Packing items, recovery plans - any details would be wonderful.

THANKS

Congrats SKT! You are on the way and so close now!!

Packing items for hospital - I took baby wipes to just keep clean, chapstick as hospitals are usually really dry, few electronics e.g phone and tablet - I was sleeping alot but I did read a little on my tablet. I didn't need to pack a lot of clothes as I stayed in the hospital gowns the whole time. I did use my own housecoat for walking the hallways. Before surgery they usually provide you with a list of things to bring to the hospital and when to stop taking meds before surgery.

I wouldn't go out and stock up on much of anything in bulk in case you don't like the taste of something after surgery. I bought a huge tub of protein powder that was "unflavored" and it was on sale - unflavored doesn't mean it doesn't have a taste - it tasted awful LOL. Big waste of money for me. Taste buds do change after surgery

Thank you! This is really helpful.

Congratulations! That is exciting news.

I brought clean underwear and socks, all of the normal toiletries plus some dry shampoo, a hair tie to put my hair in a pony tail after surgery, and some dry mouth spray that was invaluable to me (I'm sorry I can't think of the name). I brought gasX on advice of people here but wasn't allowed to use it. Others are allowed to use it so I think it varies; I was at St. Joe's in Toronto.

My surgery was first thing in the morning so I just wore the same outfit home from the hospital after as I'd only had it on for an hour pre-op. I wore their hospital gowns the whole time I was there, and a second one backwards as a robe for when I walked and it worked fine. The hospital was super hot and the gowns were nice and cool, and big, too. They had special ones that fit bariatric patients.

I brought my laptop and phone, a book, and used all 3 quite a lot. I didn't sleep well in the hospital as my roommate had a visitor the first night and they talked all night long, so I jus****ched Supernatural on Netflix. Then the second night I had a different roommate who had an upset stomach all night so I didn't get much sleep either because she kept waking me up to call the nurse (she was elderly and very sweet).

Prior to surgery, I bought: new bathroom scales, a kitchen scale to measure food, new measuring cups, tiny tupperware containers to hold food, a mug warmer plate to keep my food warm, a sectioned toddler plate (on advice of Sudbury dietician...which I've never used), some protein powder (that I ended up hating), and premier protein (which thankfully I liked).

I use everything except for the toddler plate all the time and love my mug warmer. It holds my little glass meal bowls perfectly and keeps any food or drink hot, which is wonderful.

Thank you!

I never find the hospital gowns to fit ...so thank you for the info!!!!

Congrats and your info is invaluable --- will be searching for a mug warmer!

Congrats ! So exciting !

This is great! All the best to you.

Barb

Definitely don't stock up on too much ... you really overestimate how much you can consume. And taste buds/tolerances change. Sugar free jello was a lifesaver during Optifast and I wasn't able to tolerate it after surgery for some reason (still doesn't sit well a year later!).

For the hospital, the wifi didn't work well for me. I brought my iPod and listened to music ... great way to drown out all the noise. Some people recommend ear plugs. I also brought my own PJs (loose) and housecoat and slippers. And pillows ... made the bed comfier and the ride home easier. I brought a book and magazines but was too groggy to really read much.

I brought GasX too but didn't need it. Wipes are handy.

How exciting!!! Who will be doing your surgery? Which doctor? Did they let you know?

Congrats!