Surgery - what do I need?

[Jeni 0]

Hello everyone! I am scheduled to have surgery on January 17th and I am wondering if anyone has any advice for me on what to bring along with me that would help. I already know I'm going to bring Gas X strips but what else is helpful? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jeni

[mary1094 0]

bring you most comfortable sweat pants and shirt...also

slip on shoes/slippers make sure the shirt is ok enough so

you do not have to wear a bra under it...Good Luck

[vballmom 0]

I packed alot of stuff, but only used my chapstick and robe. They gave me slipper sox and a gown to wear. You might want to bring a hair brush because my hair was looking messy for the ride home. Oh ya definitely bring a pillow for the ride home to help with your stomach area when you go over bumps. Best Wishes

[kimmi5207 0]

A pillow for the ride home. To keep the seatbelt from resting on your incisions.

Have a heating pad at home for afterwards. I didn't feel the incisions the first or 2nd day but on the 3rd day, I felt them and I just put a covered heating pad over it and the heat was soothing. Also is good for gas pains.

[010308 0]

I stayed in a hotel the evening of my surgery and the one thing I forgot was something to drink. I ended up paying $9.20 for a glass of milk, 2 cups of tea and a cup of coffee (for my friend) at the hotel restaurant. My friend was buying bottled Water for me so who the heck knows how much she ended up spending on that! You may not be planning a stay in a hotel, but you might want to consider some bottled Water for the hospital... or bringing a gallon from home if you don't mind tap. I was very very thirsty after surgery and the water in the facility where I had surgery was AWFUL!

One note... I asked the nurse if gas-x would help eliminate gas caused by the doctor using air during the surgery and I was told that it would not help because gas-x is only effective on gas created in the stomach/bowels (natural gas :-).

I am not well endowed and was able to wear a bra home because the incision was below my bra line.

I took the most comfortable clothes I could find and wore slippers. I would not recommend slippers, but instead would suggest slip on shoes because slippers (even the ones with a walking sole) do not protect well enough when it rains.

Make sure you pick up your pain meds before the surgery, your doctor should give you a script for this so you can have them ready. I also bought liquid Tylenol.

[citygirl4616 2]

I had my surgery on 1/10. The 2 things I used the most was my lip balm (I kept it right by my bedside, and reapplied constantly), and my hairbrush. My hair was a mess, and I was glad to be able to brush it. The hospital supplied me booties and a robe. Gas-X has not been helpful to me at all. I bought a magazine which came in handy when I couldn't sleep. Also, I brough a toothbrush and toothpaste, but didn't need it b/c the hospital supplied me with them.

[SuzanneG 1]

I brought toiletries, pajamas (I always like to have my own on as soon as they let me), robe, slippers and lip balm. I never used the robe as my PJs were warm and comfy. Oh, and a good book - really helped to pass the time.

I found that my sweat pants really dug into my incision, so I actually found jeans (which had gotten loose due to the preop diet) were better, although I do unbutton them and fold down that part. Why on earth did 4 of my 5 incisions have to be directly across my natural waist where all of my pants come to? For the first time in my life, I wished for low rise. LOL