Question:
What do I need at home for this surgery?

I have been a member of this site for a year now, and feel stupid asking this, but what do I need to have at home, before I leave to have this surgery, and afterwards? I'm talking about foods, clothing, and just anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!    — Laydie K. (posted on May 1, 2003)

May 1, 2003
I was going to be posting this question tonite also. My date is May 7th, so this is my weekend to prepare, this includes "groceries" to have ready for when I come home. I am also looking for advice on tasty, not too expensive protein products - I have lots of hair and dont want to lose any! Any advice?
   — Lisa S.

May 1, 2003
I don't know what diet your doctor sends you home on...I was on full liquids so I had sf jello, sf pudding, cream of chicken soup, broth, split pea soup, apple juice, grape juice, sf carnation instant breakfast, some different samples of protein powders (though I didn't tolerate much in the way of them in the beginning) and sf popsicles, popsicles and more popsicles. For clothing, I liked very baggy shirts and sweats but at night I liked a big floppy nightgown. Plenty of pillows helped me get comfortable in bed (I couldn't lay flat for a few weeks and I slept in a recliner and on the overstuffed sofa for the first couple of days but I missed my bed and so I found that a mountain of pillows, in varying firmnesses but definitely pliable feather pillows on up, helped a great deal). I put both extra comforters and a fan in my room because I ran hot and cold. I bought a food processor attachment for my blender and used it fairly early on (with my surgeon, we go onto soft foods at 10 days) or a small food processor would work too (I wouldn't spend big bucks on one). I also needed peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment to put on my incision and I also used some antiscar lotion on them (don't remember which one). Buy children's chewable multivitamins and something for chapped lips. I also used Zicam nasal gel and plenty of Vitamin C to ward off colds when I was preop and you might want to think about this for postop (coughing is miserable when you are early preop). I can't think of much else but if I do, I'll post it.
   — susanje

May 1, 2003
extra pillows to help make you more comforable.
   — barbara A.

May 2, 2003
I am 1 week post-op so my memory is very fresh. The BEST thing I took to the hospital with me was a $2 back-scratcher I got at the Bath and Spa area at WalMart. Besides scratching my itchy back and legs (from the inflated air "socks") it extended my reach on the bedside table. The BEST thing I have a home is a long handled reacher-grabber. It really helps get things you drop off the floor with ease and can keep you from getting up too often just for the remote, a tissue, etc. Both items gave me a higher degree of independence. My surgeon keeps us on a two week clear-liquid, non-acetic (no orange, lemon or lime flavors) diet. So I stocked up on broth, SF jello (red flavors only), SF popsicles, SF non-carbonated waters and drinks like Crystal Light. SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE and I know most of it is only "water" but it still counts in my book! I was 295 on my scale at discharge last Saturday and 6 days later I'm at 265. GOOD LUCK TO YOU! Shadow ^j^
   — Shadow51

May 2, 2003
Something I didn't see mentioned, fresh batteries in your remote control AND a cordless phone or one that is near you. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 4, 2003
The best thing I had at home was a recliner. I slept in it for 2 weeks. It was wonderful. Shelley
   — Shelley.