List of supplies to have on hand would be nice....

My extended TT is scheduled for one week from this Friday and I have been trying to have every need in place. Anyone have a list of the most used supplies to have on hand? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Barbara

This is one of the "Tips" I have on my profile Blog.....hope it helps....

Congrats on your upcoming surgery....it will be here before you know it.

Here are some of the Pre and Post OP tips I can share.......(keep in mind I'm not a medical professional I'm only sharing my personal experiences).

PRE-OP
-Cook and freeze in individual pkgs meals.  THey will be easy to re-heat post op.  Thiings like Lasagna cut into indiv portions, meatballs, chilli, soups, meatloaf (cook and cut into indiv slices, wrap and freeze), pasta w/spinach, chicken breast (spice some with curry or italian dressing to make a variety), bake a couple of potatoes cut them half and wrap them....makes it easy to pull one 1/2 out to add to a meal.
-Get your hair cut, your nails done, etc...it will be a while before you can do it again.
-Move the things you use on a regular basis down from high shelves in the kitchen/bathroom so you can easily reach them
-Figure out if you can sleep in your bed with pillows propping you up or if you need to use a recliner.  If in a recliner put 1 or 2 fitted sheets over the recliner.  This will not only make it a little more comfortable on your skin but it will absorb any bodily fluid leaks
-Pay your bills (utility, mortgage, credit cards, etc) even if they are not due till the week after surgery....you just may not be able to get to the post office or to log on and take care of it.  Better to get it over with if you can.
-Go shopping and stock up on things you use a lot of (I filled the pantry with 3 weeks worth of things like protein powder, fiber cereal, oatmeal, prunes, etc...

Supplies you need.....
-A toilet riser for when you get home (#1 must have!)  You can get one at CVS for $25.   FYI - if you are staying at an after care facility call ahead to make sure they have a toilet seat riser for you in your room.
-Stool softners and laxatives.  You may need the laxative the first 2-3 days to get things moving...then you can use the softeners.
-5x9 gauze pads and regular or long sanitary pads.  I used the sanitary pads on my sides where the extra thickness helps tremendously!!
-A back scratcher...you might get very itchy from the pain meds and you won't be able to reach everywhere.
-Moisturizer for the rest of your body.  I don't know about you but I get very dry from the anesthesia.
-2 pairs loose pajamas with button down top or a button (or snap) down house dress.  (you'll want to have a change of clothes 'cause you'll probably get some blood and stains on the first pair...
-a lanyard or something to hang your drains from, especially when you shower( I used a sash type belt around the house and a piece of string in the shower)
-take a pen and notepad with you....it helps to keep track of things like drainage amounts, when you take pills, how you feel, questions you have for the Dr, etc etc
-Socks..........my feet hung off the recliner chair and out of the blanket and got COLD!
-Take some pre-mixed protein drinks and bars
- 3-5 MENS T-shirts (the tank top type...aka wife beater t-shirts).  You will want to use this under your binder otherwise the binder rubs your skin raw!  I put on the gauze/pads then pull the undershirt over them and them put the binder or compression garment on.  Feels so much better!
-I took a couple of sudoku puzzles and a book because I planned on staying 4 or 5 days in aftercare...I did do some puzzles on day 2 and 3.
-Some sort of sucking candy (sugar free or whatever you can have).  REALLY helps me to with the dry throat and sudden tickle that makes me cough.  OMG you do not want to cough after the Tummy Tuck!!!
-a camera.  If you are into documenting everything (like I am) you'll want to get some pictures...
-Your toiletries....shampoo (the place I was at did not have shampoo!), soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, chapstick, moisturizers (I tend to dry up after surgery...not sure if its the shock to the body, the anesthesia or the pain meds but I get drier than normal so I take lots of moisturizer). 

POST OP -
Swelling is expected.  How much varies with each individual but you can expect to swell some.  The good news is it is temporary!  It may last 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months even a year.......again it's different for everyone.
There are lots of things you can do to reduce the swelling....
Theses are things I'm doing to keep my swelling down and it is working, I have very little swelling (thank heavens).

-Avoid salt...especially hidden salt in canned food and pre-packaged frozen meals, luncheon meats, hotdogs, pickles, etc.
-Drink more water.....drink more than the normal 8 cups or more than the amount you normally drink.
-Drink 3-4 cups of plain green tea with a splash of lemon (I do this and it works)
-Elevate your legs as much as you can.  Instead of watching TV in the livingroom chair I lay down in bed and put my legs up on 2 pillows.  The key is getting the legs up higher than your heart.  Having your legs up in a recliner is not going to do much......they are not elevated enough....you need to get them up
-Use an ice pack. (after being on my feet for hours...like a 4 hour shopping marathon....I'm a little sore so I use an ice pack).
--Wear a compression garment (with legs that go at least to your knees).  This did the trick for me. When I started to swell in my thighs and butt after my Tummy Tuck I got into a compression garment and within 3 days most of the sweling was gone.  The few days I did not wear it for a couple hours I could see and feel more swelling.  I've been wearing the binder on top of my compression garment.  I'm 6 weeks out but still wearing them and it's keeping me flat!
-Walk, but not too much too soon.  Don't over do it like I did.  At week 5 post-op I jumped on the treadmill full speed and pulled a muscle.  Now I can't do anything!


Hope this helps a little....I'll post more as I learn more.

Best to you on your plastics journey.
Ruth

Thank you so much Ruth. This helps alot.

Hugs
Barbara

Thanks Ruth!  You are fountain of information!

Just gone through A LOT of surgeries and learned a lot so I want to share/pay it forward.  Glad it helps!  :-)

besides the toilet seat riser, I found the "freshette" a life saver.  go to freshette.com.  its a contraption that allowes you to urinate standing up.  kind of like a funnle with a tube for women.  The first few days, I don't know if I would have been able to sit down even on a riser, but that is because I also had my thighs done along with the lbl.
good luck.

 I doubt you will need the toilet riser because I know how tall you are. I tried one with my thighs and I am only two inches taller than you and it was worse with it. I would try to get something to pull yourself up with. I even used a walker for two days just to steady myself.

Great idea's! Thanks so much for all your answers, I knew I could  rely on my friends.

Hugs
Barbara

Honey.....Moosie1234 covered it ALL!!! Make stars by the wife beater shirts, colace, arnica and bromelain!!! And you are good to go! I slept in a recliner or on sofa for a month...I was pulled TIGHT!!! Good luck!!!

Thank you for your suggestion, I agree that Ruth has covered it all possibly. I have a recliner and a select comfort bed that is like a hospital bed. I think I am good to go.

Hugs
Barbara