Prepping home for post-op -thighplasty/lower body - suggestions?

Now that I've finally got insurance approval, I've got a short time to prepare my apartment for post-op recuperation. 

Besides a motorized lift recliner to sleep in, which I've already got a bead on to rent, what other types of things did you use, or would you suggest?  Medical equipment or just plain practical suggestions - all are welcome!

Ok... so I haven't had any plastic surgery... but someday I hope that I will! Someone once posted information about a "female urinal" and I thought "I WILL get that after have lower body work done. Here is a link to it: http://www.amazon.com/CloseoutZone-P-Ez-Travel-Urinal/dp/B00 4ANM6C8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384520644&sr=8-3&keywords=fe male+urinal

I mean.. think about it... I bet it's going to be incredibly difficult to sit on the toilet.... this might seem crazy, but I bet it would be helpful? Who knows! I"ve never used one! lol

My three favorite items were the lift chair, potty chair and walker.  I would not have wanted to live without any of those items.  I got benadryl for the itching and to help me sleep with my pain pills, which was a God send and I used a pair of shoe strings tied around my neck to hold my drains in and out of the shower.  I had two sets so that one was always dry.  I use the Marena Group chest to thigh Compression garment.  It was so great that I ordered another one so I could have one always clean.  I lived in these for 9 weeks.  I still sometimes wear them in the evening if I am going out just to help with excess swelling (if I have done alot that day, I still swell at 7 months out).  If you get these, I would think you will need the ones that go to the ankle.  I did not have my inner thighs done just the outer lift only.  You need to up your protein around 100 to 150 grams now before surgery and then after to aid in healing your body after surgery.  I did not have any healing issues with my surgery.  I kept frozen pineapple chucks in the freezer to help reduce some of the swelling and I took the Arnica and Brommalein pills to help with swelling and bruising.  My bruising was minimal.  If you get compression garments, get some sleeveless men's cotton under shirts to wear under them.  This will help with the itching and save the garments from lots of stains.  I prepared 2 weeks of meals and froze them for my family but I did not have much of an appetite the first week or so.  I mostly lived off of protein bars and crackers with my meds.  Drank a lot of unsweetened tea.  Stop your vitamins two weeks before surgery and start them back after a few days from surgery.  This is all that I can think of at the moment but I am sure someone else will chime in on what they used too.  I hope you have a successful surgery and a quick healing time.

Why did you stop your vitamins?

some of them can thin the blood. it's best to stop to help reduce the chance of excess bleeding.  :)

My PS said that some of the vitamins would thin my blood just like Katie said below.  You definitely want to be able to clot after surgery or you would bleed to death.

I only had a thigh lift, but would agree on the lift chair.  I only had a recliner and it was difficult trying to get the foot rest up and down.  After the first few tries, I ended up leaving the foot rest up and pushing myself up by my arms and "climb" out by swinging my legs over the side. (Don't think that would  work having a LBL)  I was requested to keep my feet elevated when I was sitting, so I had cushions that I would put my feet on that kept them at the same level as my head when I was reclined.   Since my 91 year old mom lives with me, I already had one of those elevated potty chairs that fits over the toilet.  That did not really help me when I needed to pee.  I ended up using a big red solo cup in lieu of a female urinal.  Just be sure you have good muscles to stop the flow, or you could end up overflowing (not fun!).   I love the idea of wearing cotton under shirts under the compression garment.  I did wear underpants under mine, but shirts would be helpful.  I also held my drains up with a lanyard.

The only other items I can recommend are a box of baby wipes (helped keeping you clean after any bathroom encounter), and Benadryl for any itching.

Best of Luck on your PS Journey!

JoAnne