Question:
What should I bring for surgery?

Well I am scheduled to have my surgery Feb 9.2009. I just wanted to know what I should bring with me. I am an out of town patient so I will be spending a week away from home just in case there are complications. What did you bring?    — trinity P. (posted on January 26, 2009)


January 26, 2009
I have not had my surgery yet, so it is not from experience. I do not live where my surgery is either. Bring your medications. If you do not go home but are released from the hospital, then you will need it. If you are on a CPAP machine, then bring it. Bring lose non conforming clothes. I am having Lapband surgery, so I should be able to go home that same day. I am still bringing my CPAP machine just in case. If you get the RNY .. then you will probably go off the diabetes medicine immediately. Good luck with your surgery ..
   — texasweb

January 26, 2009
I was in the hospital for almost 5 days. This is what I brought: tennis shoes (for walking the ward - don't walk in your slippers, shin splits suck. A light bathroom for walking the halls. Undies and socks. Baby powder and some bath splash to freshen up. Brush & something to pull your hair back. I never watched TV. I did bring my cell phone. My iPod. A trashy magazine (gossip) and a word search. That is all I had the energy to do. I walked a lot - a super lot, I suggest getting up and getting moving. Tennis shoes and socks are the best things to remember. Good luck - see you on the loser side.
   — jammerz

January 26, 2009
ok. i had my open rny on jan 5. i brought pajamas, under garments, house shoes, all my toiletries, medicines. NOw, if you have a CPAP you will have to bring it. but other than that, the hospital has everything else. Good luck to you. Its the best thing ive ever done.
   — jackie L.

January 26, 2009
Lip balm...I see what every one else put on there...but lip balm is a life saver...lotion...an ipod to get your mind off of things might be good too...
   — sweetmarie1

January 26, 2009
my hospital provided all the anemities. But I still brought them to be on the safe side. Robe, nightgown, or pjs. loose clothes to wear. the first week i mainly stayed in the pjs. if you read a book or two. in the hospital i just let the tv drown out my brain. didn't have the desire to read and i couldn't keep my eyes focused for any length of time. i walked in my tennis shoes. if you are staying at a hotel after your surgery i would bring your protein powder, and plenty of water. bring some of the food that your doctors say that you can have. good luck
   — vonage vinvon

January 26, 2009
First of all, Best wishes, Congrates on your new way of eating and life. I always heard bring your own pillow, comfortable closthes, sweat pants, because you will be bloated from the surgery, books, hand held games, Weight loss books, good pair tenni shoes for walking for the extra days you are there, slippers, pajama or night gown. what ever you think you need for personal items, tooth brush,ect.
   — kmdladyluck

January 26, 2009
I would take loose fitting clothes, comfortable socks and shoes. Perhaps comfortable pjs. Of course, toiletries. Perhaps magazines, iPod or mp3 player, if you aren't a tv watcher. Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

January 26, 2009
What is CPAP?
   — trinity P.

January 26, 2009
I took a bunch of stuff and didn't use most of it. I brought loose PJ bottoms to wear when walking the halls. I didn't want to fool with a bathrobe, but that's just me. I took a book, but didn't read it--I slept a lot or watched/listened to TV. I use the hospital's no-slip socks to walk and they were great. I wore home what I wore to the hospital. I brought my CPAP, but didn't use it, as they had oxygen on me for the first 12-16 hours. I had lap-band surgery at 2:00 one day, stayed overnight, then was out by 5:00 the next day. The main thing I would say to bring is some type of lip balm, as that was one thing I did use and was a life-saver!
   — Linda J.

January 26, 2009
I am also from out of town. I was given a list of what to bring with my information package and did not use many of the items listed (ie pj, bathrobe). Brought my CPAP machine but was on oxygen for the first night, and nothing the second night. Brought my own pillow with a bold pattern pillowcase. Best move for comfort. Wore "Crocs" to walk to bathroom and all the walks down the hall for "exercise". They do not require any bending to put on. Toiletries I used when in the hospital for my two days - toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap Had to bring own kleenex Had my surgery in Toronto last week, depending on what hospital you go to I guess depends on what you need to bring. Wore same clothes when I went into the hospital back to the hotel after. At the hotel made sure I had loose fitting clothes to wear. Hope this helps Heidi
   — HeidiA

January 26, 2009
i had mine jan 8th i took a whole bag of crap i didnt even use! i took my hair brush, tooth brush, robe, slippers, extra underwear, tooth paste, lemme tell you i only used the robe the hospital provided me the rest they gave me everything tooth brush tooth paste slippers so maybe call the hospital ask them what are they gonna provide after you have your surgery trust me your not gonna wanna go around the room packing your stuff back up YOU WANNA GO HOME i had so much stuff by the timei left it was hard for me to get out the door <balloons bears and things> good luck
   — laydcherry

January 26, 2009
Cpap machine is for sleep apnea. I have lost 98 pounds and do not use mine anymore!
   — *****GIGS *******

January 27, 2009
I didn't see this listed. Eye Cover to Sleep and Ear Plugs. All the Machines can get noisy after awhile along with people walking up and down the halls. I took extra gas x just in case and I ended up using them. I got the cinnamon flavor thin strips. At the hospital if you get where you feel your mouth is getting dry get the lemon swabs they aren't ideal in taste but useful. I swabbed all around my mouth and down my throat. I took alot of stuff too that I didn't use because I was out of it most of the time. When I wasn't sleeping I was walking. I never turned the tv on. I heard some say whenever you get your pain meds go walk because it helps but the pains med knocked me out. You might try it in case it works for you. I did end up taking more home than I brought. The hospital provided socks with grips but I still put on crock like shoes. The halls were carpeted so that wasn't too big of a deal. What surgery are you having?
   — Corina C

January 27, 2009
I took most of the things already mentioned...did not want to read the book I took. The only thing I would add is Mentholatum or lip balm definitely for your lips and Neutrogena make-up remover wipes to freshen your face. They have a sort of moisturizer in them that doesn't leave your face dry; or baby wipes. Take your own lotion and kleenex. They'll be more comforting. I used their gowns.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 27, 2009
YES to LIP BALM, and SLEEP MASK AND EARPLUGS!! Hospitals are noisy and you have no privacy. The only way to get any sleep beyond drugs is to wear the sleep mask and the earplugs. I was too tired to read or do puzzles. I never even opened my magazines I brought. I forgot my ipod so I was stuck with just TV. I always travel with my own pillow and pillowcase. I brought some pretty pj's and robe to wear when I got sick of the ugly hospital gown -- but you can't wear your robe until they take out the IV and you're only going to be in the hospital for two nights, right? My slippers have tread on them so I didn't need shoes but shoes ARE a good idea for walking -- and believe me and everyone else -- you NEED to do as much walking as you possibly can. It helps with the gas and getting the anesthesia gas out of your lungs and it just makes you feel like a person again! Gas-X strips too!
   — Tina G.

January 27, 2009
Chap Stick, Other than that you should have sometime with the charge nurse and ask then.
   — Scott Ambrose




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