Question:
What do I need to get before surgery?

My surgery is in 19 days and I need help on what to get for afterwards and what I need to take to the hospital with me!! I have researched and my mind is blank!!!    — Tammy B. (posted on February 28, 2002)

February 28, 2002
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=S999834870 Check out Brenda's site!!!! She has lots of good ideas! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR SURGERY!
   — Allie A.

February 28, 2002
At the top of this webpage, click on "library"...it will take you to different topics. Find the topic that applies to preparing for surgery and click on it. There will be a ton of information containing questions and answers that people have posted on that topic. Let me know if you have any problems finding it :)
   — Kelly M.

February 28, 2002
If I had to do this all over again, this would be my list: beef & chicken broth, SF & FF popsicles, juices w/no added sugar, SF kool aid, crystal light, SF jello (these foods for the clear liquid phase), vitamins, tongs (you'll need these for wiping BOTH ways for awhile), pads (you'll probably start your period if you still have one), kleenex (for the crying jags), a recliner to sleep in (if you don't have one try borrowing one for a couple of weeks), someone to come in daily and help out around the house for a week or so, a firm pillow to hang on to while you cough, and a real good outlook (things sometimes don't look so rosy right after surgery). As for what you might need at the hospital... well, they had everything I needed there, all I needed was myself :) Some folks would say take a personal CD player or a good book, but believe me, you will be sleeping most of the time, I never opened my book & fell asleep in the middle of 'go fish' with my hubby ('go fish' was the only card game I had the brains to play at the time, lol)! Congratulations on your surgery! I'll say a little prayer for you!
   — DonnaCarol

February 28, 2002
If I had to do this all over again, this would be my list: beef & chicken broth, SF & FF popsicles, juices w/no added sugar, SF kool aid, crystal light, SF jello (these foods for the clear liquid phase), vitamins, tongs (you'll need these for wiping BOTH ways for awhile), pads (you'll probably start your period if you still have one), kleenex (for the crying jags), a recliner to sleep in (if you don't have one try borrowing one for a couple of weeks), someone to come in daily and help out around the house for a week or so, a firm pillow to hang on to while you cough, and a real good outlook (things sometimes don't look so rosy right after surgery). As for what you might need at the hospital... well, they had everything I needed there, all I needed was myself :) Some folks would say take a personal CD player or a good book, but believe me, you will be sleeping most of the time, I never opened my book & fell asleep in the middle of 'go fish' with my hubby ('go fish' was the only card game I had the brains to play at the time, lol)! Congratulations on your surgery! I'll say a little prayer for you!
   — DonnaCarol

February 28, 2002
tammy i am going to send u my 'newbie post op list' that i share with my angelettes. it is basically my own post op experiences & tidbits of info from different sources. if anyone else wants a copy just email me.
   — sheryl titone

June 30, 2003
LIST OF STUFF FOR HOSPITAL AND HOME Comfort clothes to wear home Slip on slippers or mules that you don’t have to tie Dog bone pillow ( It's sort of triangular and looks like a dog bone. It fits so comfortably behind the neck) clock CD's and a player antiseptic wipes, premoistened toilet paper wipes, Cottonelle Pads Changes of undies some money for a tv or phone. soft sports type bra blow-dryer body pillow it makes getting up and down from bed shower stuff talc Corn Starch few pairs of silky or slippery shorts Bali brand pajamas with pants shampoo and conditioner dry shampoo deodorant mirror cloth headband for hair out of face Hair clips, head bands, anything to keep your hair off of your face. pictures of family phone card phone numbers tongs or new wooden spoon... wrap toilet paper around it to take care of personal needs and for back scratching and leg scratching Favorite blanket Water bottle Own pillow personal fan Chapstick or Carmex puzzle book, magazines/books/Bible, hand held computer games pen and paper, journal make-up lotion for feet (they got really dry) oil of olay face pre-moistened face cloths Hint: hospital gowns: You can put two on, one backwards, for when you take your walks. Men's A-line tees in XX-large, X-tall. Put them on under your belly binder and it helps with the rubbing of the skin o your sides. Bring your own plastic cup for ice chips Bath & Body Works Home Spray to keep room smelling sweet Wet Wipes for my face and hands Antibacterial hand & face soap that you don't need water with nightgown, robe, slippers, brush toiletries glasses/contacts any prescription meds panties Home Needs: water protein drink clear stuff ready-made or home-made clear broth, decaf coffee and tea, sugar-free jell-o (make some the night before you go in, put some Saran Wrap on top), crystal light or fruit-2-O, some cottage cheese, maybe some peanut butter, and maybe some baby food. Also creamed soups - whatever solids are in them can easily be avoided, or pureed in the blender before you heat them up utensils: a baby spoon, a shrimp fork, a shot glass. The tiny utensils will help you take small mouthfuls, and the shot glass will help remind you about how big is an ounce. If you already have a sports bottle for your water, you might consider having a second one so you can fill it up and let it get cool while you using the first one. Pillows for under your legs for sleep box of clorox wipes in bathroom lubriderm severly sensitive cream for the toilet paper to help your bottom toothbrush and paste in all the bathrooms/kitchen for a quick rinse Recliner Neosporin (or similar) ointment to put onto your incisions sterile pads to place on the wounds under your binder SUGARFREE POPSICLES. Each one provides you one ounce of fluid Mini-Mixer/Blender Sno-Cone maker and sugarfree syrups Books: The doctor's guide to weight loss surgery favorite chair a box of tissues an empty bag for trash scissors paper pen phone sugar free hard candy pillow and blanket next to the bed something for support for getting up i.e., dining room chair borrow walkers, canes toilet risers and even those pincher things to grab stuff in case it fall. Make sure the kitchen is stocked with all the sugar free and fat free foods you will need...soups, drink mixes, popsicles, jello, pudding, hot cocoa, cottage cheese, eggs etc one full week of meals frozen for your family a toilet riser Diary while in hospital and preop: Write down long term goals, measurements, how you felt post op. Write about your experience, diet, stages of weight loss and emotions.botu how I felt pre op. After the hospital I wrote about my exoerience and I periodically wrote about my diet, stages of weight loss and my emotions Get your House in Order before you go to hospital Make sure that all the laundry was done, and that the house was spotless, cleaned and vaccuumed. I installed a hand held shower to my shower head to ease in taking a shower. I froze meals for my family buy a blender buy lots of little, single serving foods sugar free jellos, applesauce, bananas, and bonbel cheeses low fat cream soups, a box of mashed pots and sugar free jello pudding (among a few other things) SF chewable vitamins.
   — PeggyH