Question:
What will I need once I get home?

I have surgery on the 5th of January. I am hoping that I will get a large response to this question. I would like to know what I should try to purchase before the surgery or immediately afterward. Did you have anything specific that you needed once you returned home? Thanks    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on December 26, 2004)

December 26, 2004
I personally needed a lot of pillows, broth, sherbet or anything you can tolerate that is soft and can use to take your post op prescriptions with and CHAPSTICK. The chapstick you may want as soon as you wake up. I made the mistake of buying too much baby food that is now just sitting in a cubbard awaiting my first born years from now. Be careful not to overstock. I think our taste buds change and some soft foods we can eat pre op may not work post op. For me it is applesauce, as of right now it is a definite no no.
   — davesband1

December 26, 2004
I'm just about 5 days post op (lap rny 12/22) and I'm so thankful that I have plenty of broth, popsicles and crystal light on hand. I wish that I would've tried more protein mixes because the one that I didn't try and had on hand I can't stand! My tastes haven't changed although I am still on a liquid diet. Make sure you've got pillows and hopefully a recliner to sleep in. And remember...each day gets a little better. Good luck!
   — lil_firestorm

December 26, 2004
The chapstick is a definite neccesity in the hospital. Get a variety of broths and crystal light because one flavor gets old fast. Do not light or have anyone light any strong candles or use smelly lotion. I can smell things that no one else seems to pick up on and scents that didnt bother me before do now. Make sure you have plenty of sweats/pajama pants and t-shirts. I am a week post-op and have not been able to bend very well to pull on jeans. My kids have helped me to put on shoes when it has been necessary to go outside. Along the smell issue, it may be difficult being around cooking food as well. If you have a ice crusher, it is a nice transition from the hospital to home.
   — hedosean

December 26, 2004
I agree about the CHAPSTICK. I didn't carry one to the hospital and they charged me $12.99 for a tiny jar of carmex. You know the one you get at WalMart for $.79. Take it with you. When you come home, a recliner is very helpful. I was at my mom's and borrowed one for the 2 weeks I was there. As far as food goes. Buy small amounts of Low Fat Cream Soups, Sugar Free/Fat Free Blue Bunny frozen yogart. You can get Sugar Free/Fat Free Ice Cream if you like. Get a variety of soups, crackers, juice (I found that Juicy Juice has the lowest sugar content). Take your time. After 3 weeks, i started eggs and I did well with "fried" eggs (in PAM), but I could not eat them scrambled or boiled. they have a good source of protein. Sugar Free puddings, skim milk. Hope this helps.
   — debi327

December 26, 2004
I agree with the other posters who said "don't buy too much." Some things that you love now will be intolerable after surgery. The things that I used most during the clear liquid stage were broth, both beef and chicken, sugar free popsicles, crystal light lemonade, sugar free kool-aid, decaf coffee, and herbal teas. A word of caution though..............none of the above tasted good. I just made myself drink the stuff because I knew I needed to. I had a clear protein drink made by Weider that was pretty tolerable but they don't make that anymore. You could probably find a protein powder that is as tasteless as possible, or one of the fruit flavored like the nectars, and mix that with crystal light in any flavor you can tolerate. You might have to mix it at a lower concentration than recommended initally until your tummy heals a bit. I do remember that the BEST thing I had during that entire two week timeframe was the chicken broth. I got it really hot and put lots of salt in it and it was wonderful. Just remember that it's going to be hit or miss with you for awhile. There's no way you can know now what you can tolerate or how your system will react so I'd just go with very basic stuff. Definitely don't stock up on baby food........that stuff is NASTY. No wonder kids spit some of it out! and I wouldn't invest in too many different kinds of protein supplements either since that stuff is expensive. My doctor told me in that early stage that the protein was important for healing so I should get in as much as I possibly could but the most important thing was to be sure I got plenty of liquid. I was only in the hospital overnight so I didn't even use anything that I took to the hospital with me except my lip treatment. I don't like chapstick but I do use the Vaseline brand lip therapy and it was definitely an essential. Congrats on your surgery and I do hope all goes well for you. Just know that the first three or four weeks can be very tough and you may be asking yourself why you ever did this BUT IT DOES GET BETTER and you're headed for a remarkable new lease on life. God bless
   — scbabe

December 27, 2004
The things that I used most as far as food goes were sugar free popsicles and sugar free jello. I ended up with complications and had to be opened up even after the laproscopic surgery. Extra 4 X 4 gause pads, athletic tape, so that it doesn't destroy your skin and regular large bandaids for the holes if you have laproscopic were also necessary. Please be sure that you have fenergrin, sorry about the spelling, liquid lortab and muscle relaxers, such as soma, if you have back problems, and a pill crusher, is an absolute must. I had a feeding tube because of the amount of meds that I still had to take, so there was a big need for the syringes that you use to put things into the gastric tube. These syringes wear out quickly and become hard to handle, so my husband went out and bought a bunch of them, they are cheap, about 1.25 each, so it was worth throwing them away and replacing them rather than fighting them. Be sure that your shower has a hand held attachment so that you can have a shower and if you tub will hold a shower chair, that would help also. Nothing feels better than a nice warm shower and clean hair when you are feeling like cruddd. I had complications and these are the things that I used the most. I know that some people don't have many problems and I wish that I would have been one of them, but it wasn't meant to be, but I had a walker to get around the first few days, but I pushed myself just beyond the comfort zone and My husband and family were there to help and encourage me. Your bible and prayers are also a really important thing to keep near. Just remember that when it gets tough, the most important thing to remember is that you have chosen this road because you are sick of the one you were going down and that this is one of the most important things that you will do for yourself. Don't get down, don't be sad and don't feel like it will never get better. It does. I am now down 100 pounds since my surgery 9-27-04 and still have a long way to go, but with will, family, friends and divine intervention I will make it all the way. If you need someone to talk to email me and I will be in touch and will do everything that I can to help you along the way. God Bless and good luck.
   — imdebbie

December 28, 2004
I am 12 days post-op and can tell you that sugar free pops and jello are a good bet. As far as protein, get Carnation Instant Breakfast - it has 12 grams of protein and you can get it in chocolate or vanilla. It doesn't have the yucky protein taste. I also got liquid protein in the flavor of punch from GNC. I do three tablespoons of the protein (21grams of protein) to 4 ounces of hawaian punch light (made with splenda) and 4 ounces of water and a bunch of crushed ice. This is really good and you can sip on it throughout the day. The ice will melt watering down the punch, you can either add more punch, protein or water to suit your needs. I know that this is helping me get in the protein I need every day. Good-Luck and hope to see you on the losing side.
   — chewmonster2003