Question:
My surgery is in exactly one month - what do I need?!

What should I be stocking up on? Vitamins? Foods? Stuff for the hospital? Help!    — Goldilauxx B. (posted on December 16, 2001)

December 16, 2001
HI CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING SUCH A WONDERFULL STEP TO GETTING HEALTHY.NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION YOU CAN EAT SUGAR FREE JELLO LOW FAT COTTAGE CHEESE ,FAT FREE SUGAR FREE YOGART, VANILLA IS WHAT I ATE IT CAN'T HAVE CHUNKS OF FRUIT IT NEEDS TO BE PLAIN. BROTH CHICKEN AND BEEF MY DR SAID I COULD USE CHICKEN NOODLE VEG BEEF BUT DRAIN IT JUST THE BROTH DECAF ICE TEA 100 PERCENT JUICE DELUTED, SKIM MILK OR 1 PERCENT I DRANK CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST MAKE SURE ITS SUGAR FREE PLUS I ADDED CARNATION LOWFAT POWDERED MILK YOU WILL NEED VITAMNS I TAKE FLINTSTONES. FOR THE HOSPITAL I TOOK MY BRUSH COMB I BOUGHT THAT DRY SHAMPOO FROM SALLEYS I CAN'T STAND MY HAIR TO BE DIRTY I TOOK HAND SANITIZER A CAN OF LYSOL GERMS ARE AWFULL IN THE HOSPITAL .I WAS GLAD I HAD MY LYSOL MY ROOMATE HAD DIAHERA SHE WAS VERY SICKLY .OF COURSE YOUR TOILETRIES ,LOTION SHOWER GEL ,DEODORANT .I HOPE THAT I HAVE HELPED YOU IF I CAN HELP MORE LATER ON DON'T HESITATE TO WRITE. GOOD LUCK
   — Julie B.

December 16, 2001
You shuld buy a book, they are a great reference source both pre op and post op. Barb Thompson a member here has a excellent one that covers all these issues. Congrats, you are about to have the best life, once your a post op!
   — bob-haller

December 16, 2001
For the HOSPITAL: Chapstick and a little fan. Very loose fitting outfit for going home. POST-OP: Satin sheets helped me slide in and out of bed easier. Loose clothes/slip on shoes. No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast for protein. Small dishes and a baby spoon. Help with kids and/or daily chores and TLC.
   — Sharon M.

December 17, 2001
Congratulations! Here's what I would suggest you get in advance: Sublingual B12 (Trader Joe's stores carry their own brand on this, it's great because it dissolves in seconds, but Twin Lab also has a pretty decent one); Calcium Citrate: I like the chewable Twin Labs Calcium Citrate tablets because they're easy to deal with immediately post-op, also Citracal Liquitabs (they're effervescent, kinda weird but good). Protein: I actually wouldn't recommend the Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breafast because there's not a heck of a lot of protein in it. Metrx (extreme chocolate flavor is my favorite), Designer Protein and other choices are good. Allow yourself 300 calories to get in about 40 grams of protein (this from my nutritionist, who is awesome). You also will need to take iron if your premenopausal. Spring Valley 65 mgs. is good (you can get it in Walmart in a box). Sugar-Free Tang is good to have on hand to take the iron with, because vitamin C helps people absorb iron better. As far as anything else: easy stuff like peanutbutter and saltines, cottage cheese (I don't like it but some people do!), hummus, sugar-free yogurt and no-sugar-added applesauce is good. Also fat-free refried beans and low-fat cheese is good (you can melt the cheese on it) and part-skim ricotta cheese. Make sure you have a good sip bottle, which you'll want to keep with you at all times. Have good measuring spoons. Small dishes (to make it look like more!) Good books to read! Best of luck! Here's to a healthier New Year!
   — Mary Ellen W.