Tips and tricks in hospital
So i am post op day 3, and i thought i would write down a few things that i loved having and found really helpful
What to pack:
- Loose, light, and comfy housecoat
- Easy to slip on slippers
- Dry mouth spray
- Chap stick
- Bring your own pillow and blanket
- Pack a couple pairs of underwear and maybe just one pair or loose fitting clothes.
- Your own bariatric multivit as the one at the hospital tastes terrible
Tips:
- Get up and out walking within hours of getting to your room.
- Walk to the blanket warmer and put the warm blanket on your abdomen-it feels amazing
- Sip on fluids all the time.
- Try to avoid the heavy pain meds, they cause nausea, your gut to slow down, and grogginess which all stop you from walking and drinking which are soooo key.
- Make sure to take your Tylenol right before leaving the hospital as the ride home could be very uncomfortable
A few other things I've learned since leaving the hospital:
- Liquid Tylenol can cause dumping syndrome immediately post op so listen to your gut if it sounds off (i spent the first day at home in the bathroom)
- A heating pad at home makes a world of difference in terms of pain and cramps
- Buy a pill crusher and splitter
- I bought an ice machine and it made a world of difference in getting my water in.
Orientation: May 5. Consult with Dr: May 27. Dietician: June 2, 16, July 7. Physical: June 23. Meet with trainer: July 7. Sleep test: July 7. Nutrition class: July 26. Referral to surgeon: Sept 14. Meet the surgeon: Oct 3. Optifast: Oct 3 Surgery date: Oct 20 2017
HW:360 SW:350 CW:200 GW:180 (met original goal of 200!)
You can buy a pill crusher at Shopper's. They will probably be with hanging with pill divider sets near the pharmacy desk. Ask the pharmacist to show you where.
Barb
Referred May 2016, Orientation July 4, 2016, Pre-Nutrition Class March 31, 2017, Nurse April 10, 2017, Blood work/ECG April 13, 2017, Ultra-sound April 27, 2017, Psychologist May 30, 2017, Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy June 5, 2017, Internist June 13, 2017, Dietician June 14, 2017, 2nd Round of blood work August 2, 2017, Surgeon September 6, 2017, Surgery September 12, 2017 - St. Joe's Hamilton - No Opti
Height 5"4" HW 231 SW222 CW141
PreOp-9 lbs M1-20lbs M2-11lbs M3-13lbs M4-7lbs M5-8lbs M6-7lbs M7-5lbs M8-5lbs M9-2lbs M10-0lbs M11 - 0lbs M12 - 0lbs
Number 1 and Number 3 Tips are crucial. I swear walking and water are the two things that made for an easy recovery for me. I am still walking every day and drinking a ton of water. I am feeling great with no complications whatsoever.
Barb
Referred May 2016, Orientation July 4, 2016, Pre-Nutrition Class March 31, 2017, Nurse April 10, 2017, Blood work/ECG April 13, 2017, Ultra-sound April 27, 2017, Psychologist May 30, 2017, Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy June 5, 2017, Internist June 13, 2017, Dietician June 14, 2017, 2nd Round of blood work August 2, 2017, Surgeon September 6, 2017, Surgery September 12, 2017 - St. Joe's Hamilton - No Opti
Height 5"4" HW 231 SW222 CW141
PreOp-9 lbs M1-20lbs M2-11lbs M3-13lbs M4-7lbs M5-8lbs M6-7lbs M7-5lbs M8-5lbs M9-2lbs M10-0lbs M11 - 0lbs M12 - 0lbs
on 10/24/17 5:37 am
Thanks jeanniechelsea - I signed my consents yesterday and should be called shortly with a date so buying pill crushers etc help keep my mind focused instead of worried! lol
referred Jan 2016 intake May 2016 left programme returned June 2017 final pre-sx class Oct 2017 surgeon appt Oct 2017
Opti Wt Nov 4/17 226 lbs BMI 45 Sx Wt 212 lbs RNY surgery Nov 23/17 M1 -18 M2-9 M3-10 M4-8 M5-6 M6-7 M7-6 M8-3 M9-1(so far) Down to within one pound of my goal and 99 lbs down from my highest weight. I was not a fast loser but who cares as long as you get there! I know the newbies check the trackers and the signatures so although I kind of lost track of how the rest of the weight came off, you should know that it was not fast and furious but it was slow and steady!
current BMI 24.7 that, my friends, is NORMAL!!! Strong is the new pretty!
These are excellent tips.
My suggestion is an eye mask and ear plugs. I was lucky to have a private room but not everyone does and I still needed them.
Referral - 05/16, Orientation @ HRH - 19/08/16, Surgeon - 06/04/17, NUT/SW/RN - 26/6/17 VSG - 11/10/17 Pre-Op - 27 lbs M1: 22 lbs M2: 14 lbs M3: 11 lbs M4: 13 lbs M5: 9 lbs M6: 9 lbs M7: 7 lbs