Need pre-op list

[Kinderbee 0]

I remember seeing a list of things to have (buy) before surgery. Can someone help me with that? Thanks! My banding is April 2nd. Can't wait!

[faithmd 14]

You'll find it in LapBand FAQs and References:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-faqs-f73.html

[faithmd 14]

And here's a list I made for myself (I gathered it from digging through posts here and on other sites):

Pre-op to do:

Insurance approval

• Mark stomach/abdomen using Sharpie with “Lap Band” and where waistband/bra sit so surgeon knows.
  
• Pics just before surgery, clothed and nekkid (choose one outfit to wear for each picture along journey-maybe buy couple sizes of same items)
  

• Check with Pharmacy if your medications are “crushable” (able to be crushed without causing problem with effectiveness).

• Get rid of all the foods in the house you are not able to eat, before you go to the hospital.

• Buy all the groceries you will need for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

• Catch up on your laundry and housecleaning.

• Make arrangements for someone else to prepare family meals – You may not feel like cooking for some time.

• Buy a Magic Bullet/blender
  
• Buy a scale (food and weight)
  

Shopping list:Checklist

FOOD

For Fluid stage:

• Bottled Water – plain or flavored, some like Propel or Fruit20

• Popsicles (sugar-free as needed)

• Crystal Light

• Crystal Light “On the GO” in different flavors - add to bottled water

• Jello (sugar-free)

• Gatorade

• Bouillon or chicken/beef/veggie broths

• Protein Boullion (Better Than Boullion-“BTB” @Krogers with Knorr soups)
  

• Ensure, Boost, Glucerna - or whatever Protein Drink the Dietitian asked you to drink based on your history*

• Protein Powder for shakes*

• Frozen fruits for Protein shakes

• Clear Soups

• Decaf tea

Baby juices, esp apple/prune

• Hot cocoa mix (sugar-free)

Egg drop soup

• Silk soy milk
  
• Butterball broth
  

For creamy stage:

• Cream of Wheat

• Creamy soups (Campbell’s Gold soups are really good)

• Applesauce

Baby food (Target and Walmart have best prices)

• Yogurt - Dannon Lite N' Fit

• "Imagine" Soups - in cartons (Potato Leek, Butternut, Squash, Corn, Creamy Tomato....and more. They are considerably lower in sodium than Campbell’s soups.)

• Soup-at-Hand soups

• Small pudding cups (sugar- and fat-free) - Take a spoonful to get meds to slide down easier

•Sugar-free gum (ask your doctor)

•Sugar-free breath mints (Ask your doctor)

*Make sure to taste each item before you buy them in bulk

For Mushies stage:

• Ricotta cheese with marinara sauce (baked)
  
• Check recipes forum on LBT
  

DRUGSTORE

• liquid medications

Tylenol (adult strength) (Walmart best price)

Pain medications-get surgeon to write for before your surgery!

Gas-X Strips! (Target and Walmart best prices)

Milk of Magnesia or colace for Constipation from drugs

You will want these meds right away when you come home. It can be very difficult to find them in a liquid form. Check with the pharmacy beforehand to see if they stock them or how far in advance you will need to order them. At your preop visit (or earlier if needed), ask the doctor for prescriptions so that you will have them ready when you return home.

• chewable vitamins

• Stool softener

• Antihistamine cream (Do not put directly on incision), neosporin

• Heating pad

• Flexible ice pack

• Pill cutter and pill crusher

Sippy cup

• Gauze pads 4x4
  

• Non-irritating tape, such as paper tape

• Kitchen timer – for 15 minute sip intervals for the first few days

• Blender (magic bullet is only 225watt, Back To Basics Personl Blender Express at Walmart.com is 350W)

• Wet Wipes or “adult baby wipes” like Cottonelle

• Toilet tongs (long barbeque tongs) – Use if you are just too sore after the surgery to reach around and wipe your “behind”.

Just wrap the wipes around the end to get an additional few inches so you don’t have to contort yourself.

• Medicine cups
  
• Nioxin or other hair shampoo
  
• Foodsaver (tilia, etc…)
  

OTHER THINGS TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE

• A few books or movies

• Comfy clothes, such as loose-waisted shorts

• Slip-on shoes

• Squishy pillow for car ride -to cushion seatbuilt

• For women, a sports bra – “doc said no underwire for a few days”

• Small cocktail forks and tiny spoons; small plates and bowls, try children’s size stuff
  
• Get some 3-40z rubbermaid containers