Surgery Tuesday. What did you bring?
Surgery on Tuesday! What did you bring with you for food after surgery and what did you bring for your hospital stay?
1st Referral: May 31 2012 Orientation: July 17th 2012 Denied at Psych appointment
3rd Referral: June 2016 Orientation: August 2016 Got pregnant and discharged
4th Referral: October 2017 Orientation: April 2018 Pre-op: July 16th Surgery: July 24th!
HW: 281 SW: 269 CW:235.1 GW: ~150-160
I brought 4 Premier Proteins with me that I started once I got to the full fluid stage. That's it on the food front.
I also brought my cell phone and charger as well as my ipad and ear plugs. Slippers and a housecoat too. I didn't bring my own nightgown, I just stayed in the hospital gowns. I brought my pillow! The pillows were horrible. You need underwear, a face cloth and towel and your own toiletries. I wore loose fitting clothes so that I was comfortable going home.
I had surgery in January and it was so hot in the room I finally had to have my sister bring me a fan from home. Don't know how the air conditioning is working these days but you may want a fan.
Referral - May 31/17; Orientation - June 15/17; First Appt Nurse - June 26/17; Bloodwork and ECG - June 27/17; Sleep Study - July 5/17; Dietician Appt - July 10/17; Counsellor Appt - July 10/17; Abdominal Ultrasound - July 10/17: Endoscopy/Colonoscopy - July 25/17; Second Dietician Appt - September 14/17; Internist Appt - October 2/17; Meet the Surgeon - November 21/17; Pre Surgery Nutrition Class - January 12/18; Surgery - January 16/18
For food after discharge, I brough****er, protein powder & SF flavouring, SF applesauce, and SF freezies (we had a hotel room with a fridge, and they're easy to transport unfrozen). Didn't eat the applesauce, but did sip away at a couple of protein shakes. I brought my shaker bottle for the shakes. Premier Protein ready to drink would have been way more convenient, but I'm allergic to cow whey.
The freezies were a lifesaver! I felt so bloated that drinking was uncomfortable, and my mouth was sooo dry from surgery...each freezie is 1/4 cup of fluid, so it's an easy and soothing way to get those liquids in.
Things I brought to the hospital that I actually used: bathrobe, slippers. Biotene mouthspray. My phone. Burt's Bees lip balm. Hairbrush. Toothbrush and toothpaste.
I wore comfy trackpants to the hospital, and wore the same pants and tee-shirt out. I had brought a change of underwear but ended up going "commando" after discharge for the ride from the hospital to the hotel.
Best wishes for your surgery next week!
Kara
Age: 43, Height: 5'8"
Highest Weight: 420; Opti Starting Weight: 395; Surgery Weight: 371;
Current Weight: 322.1; Goal Weight: 160
"Find things beautiful as much as you can, most people find too little beautiful."
-Vincent Van Gogh
I wish I would have brought more premier protein as I had to stay an extra day and had to drink the awful stuff they served. I wish I would have brought some herbal tea as they gave us decaffeinated black tea with no milk, which not how I usually drink it. I got really bored and should have brought something beside my phone.
Good luck
I had my surgery this past Monday at 1:30 PM and was discharged at noon Tuesday. I used my phone to text family that I was ok. Lip balm was a lifesaver. They did not give me any protein shakes, I started those when I arrived home. At the last moment, my daughter had suggested my 'bigger' pair of leggings and I was glad I did that as my belly was quite swollen. Clean underwear. I did not wear a bra home from the hospital. Since it is summer , I wore my flip flops to and from the hospital and used those as slippers going to and from the bathroom. I used the hospital nightgowns And bathrobe. I have long hair and wished I thought to get it into a French braid before surgery. I had a little cash so my sister, she was my driver, was able to pick up my prescriptions on the way home. I slept, a lot, at the hospital and for the remainder of Tuesday and Wednesday. You don't need much, you will be home soon! Take care , try to relax, you are on your way!!!
Necessities for me.. iPad, cell phone, my pillow, toothbrush and paste, couple pairs of undies and some ear plugs.
I wore my comfy clothes into the hospital and wore them home. Slip on shoes are a good idea as trying to bend over after surgery is painful. Your pillow will come in handy on your drive home- put it between you and the seatbelt trust me.
As for food I survived on what the hospital gave me. Ice water was my saviour as my mouth was so dry after surgery and the ice was easy as it just melts.
I had my hubby bring me a premiere protein for the drive home.
Stock your freezer with sugar free popsicles or freezies again trust me. I found it hard to sip sip sip I just didn't feel like it. Popsicles and freezies were my bff.
*hugs* and congratulations thus far in your journey!
Orientation- May 2017, Pre nutrition class- Aug 2017, Blood work- Aug 2017. RPN meeting- Sept 2017. Dietician and Psychiatrist Dec 2017. Internist- Dec 2017. Meet the Surgeon Feb 20th 2018. VSG surgery march 17, 2018 with Dr. Gmora