hospital check list....

HI all... I am having my revision from band to bypass tomorrow morning at 7:45 am.... does anyone have a checklist that I should have when I go to the hospital or even what i should have when I get home??  thanks in advance for your help

I'm sure someone has something put together. It's been so long I can't remember. Lots of stuff to drink  when you get home. Good luck.

At the hospital the only I thing I really used was my chapstick. I was sooo dry! Feminine pads just in case an untimely visitor arrives. A pillow for your tummy for the ride home.
At home make sure you have lots of liquids. Sugar free popsicles and sugar free jello. Lots of protein samples. Everything tasted funny to me for the first couple of months. I didnt have much gas pains but I know some swear by the gasx strips. Also something for constipation, I was allowed to use milk magnesia.

Good luck!

Maria

I didn't use anything at the hospital until the last day when I combed my hair.  At home, Comfee clothes or PJ with a loose waist, or gowns.  Hopefully your Dr gave you a list of approved liquids, proteins, etc and you have those.  The only thing that tasted right to me was water.  Everything else had too much flavor, salty, sweet, etc.
Hope you have a great surgery and a boring recovery.

for the hospital I bought chapstick, a book, slippers for walking the halls and a robe.  I wore home what I went to the hospital in.  I also brought extra undies and pads just in case the tom happened.    That really is all you need.  After surgery I could have popsicles, and broth and protein shakes.

I had to take my CPAP machine because I had sleep apnea and they put it on me right after surgery and I slept with it at night.

I took chap stick, robe, slippers, underwear.  I wore loose fitting clothes to the hospital and wore the same thing home.  I did take my shampoo, toothpaste and personal things like that because I took a shower as soon as I could - made me feel so much better.

At home it depends on what your surgeon puts you on - some are on liquids.  I was on puree from when I left the hospital.  I had my magic bullet to puree my foods and had a good assortment of things.  I had dry non-fat milk to make double protein milk and diet swiss miss hot chocolate to help with my protein.  We had to go to a nutrition class and they gave us pretty good guidelines on different things we could and could not have.  Sugar free popsicles, water, crystal lite mixes were some of the liquid things I used.

Good luck and let us hear from you when you feel can.

Linda

You may want to bring your ipod or something similar.  You would have thought I was an athlete preparing for a race during in the pre-op waiting room.  Lots of chatter and stuff made me anxious, so I could tune out.  Ironically, every time I put in my earphones, they called me in for the next pre stage!

That's a great point - I really didn't want to hear all the chatter around me, either.  Tuning out is super helpful.  That's why I had The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with me, and asked to be taken to my waiting bed early, where it was quieter.  I needed to get my game face on pre-surgery.

It's too late for any of my recommendations (which are probably completely silly, but I'm going to list them here anyway for other pre-ops.)

Rosa's Hospital Recommendations

You'll note that I'm leaving out some pretty key essentials.  That's because the hospital gave me everything I needed.  The following are just things I was glad to have.

1.  I'm a strong advocate of hair removal prior to surgeries.  Not for any medical reason, I just think it's a good idea when we're indisposed...

2.  I'm also an advocate of wearing our own nightgowns.  My hospital was ok with that, though not all would be, I imagine.  I wear nightgowns with shelf-bras built in - it used to feel soooo uncomfortable to have the girls roaming free, so to speak (it's not an issue anymore, thankfully.)  As soon as I had the energy to change, I moved into that nightgown and it felt great. (I picked up a couple of cheap maxi-dresses from K-mart that did the trick.)  I wore them all of the time at home, too, and it felt wonderful.  

3.  I was glad to have a great page-turning book.  I'd also brought a work book with me.  That was a mistake - I didn't touch it!

 For the hospital:

1) Wear a loose fitting outfit there and wear the same one back home
2) Bring slip on shoes to wear home. You won't want to bend over to tie them
3) Bring chapstick
4) a robe
5) a pillow for the ride home

The hospital will have everything else you may need!

For at home:

1) Broth
2) Sugar free popsicles
3) a protein drink you like
4) a blender for pureeing things - or a food processor
5) a notebook for recording when you take your pain meds and how much you have had to drink
  This is really important - it's easy to forget what time you took your pain meds when you are on them and you are so exhausted. 
6) Sugar free jello
7) sugar free pudding

That's all I can think of for now. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Hugs, 

Ear plugs and an eye mask are a must!!