Don't over shop before surgery!

[Wheetsin 714]

I had a big long response to this, and then the direct issues hit with the board and I had to delete it.

THe list is a good thing because it's comprehensive. No one should take it as a "buy lots of this" rule. Most everyone has used something on the list.

The things that were most beneficial for me post-op were:

• Had hubby move a recliner from his home theater room to the great room (where I was staying). I lived in that recliner for 2 days, would have been lost without it.
  
• Had hubby bring down a laptop tray, which not only housed my laptop but gave me a reachable place to keep the phone, remotes, food/drink, medication, etc.
  
• "Koosh" type pillow. I brought it to the hospital and used it to support my abdomen on the drive home, and in the car for the next 3 - 4 days. I also used it at home to help support when I had to cough or sneeze.
  
• Knit "house dresses" - not sure what you'd call them really. Empire waist with a tie in the back. Cheap, comfortable, and best of all didn't require any bending or real moving to get in and out of, I just had to lift my arms. It also hung loose, away from my incisions, which was very nice.
  
• Calamine lotion and Bendaryll cream. Incisions get *itchy* and these two things brought my only relief.
  
• Liquid Tylenol, once I no longer needed the Lortab elixir.

That's about it, and most of it was for convenience.

Gas-x will do nothing for surgical gas, BUT if you happen to be a gassy person, it may help with gastrointenstinal gas post-op. Post-op gas is usually CO2 pumped into your abdomen - long story short - until you look pregnant to separate what's inside of you so s/he can see and access without stuff laying all over other stuff. Not the same thing as digestive gas. Digestive gas is confined to your gastrointestinal tract. Surgery gas is "free floating" in your abdomen (hence why it can migrate into other areas of your body, while gastrointestinal gas stays within the tract). Taking a pill that stays inside of your gastrointestinal tract, and only works on the gas in it, isn't going to do much to disspate or relieve gas in, say, your shoulder or collar bone area.

[PATCHELTON 0]

I am waiting for a surgery date, and I copied a list from one of these threads. I have most of the stuff either bought or it was already there. My sister who had gastric bypass laughed when I told her about toilet tongs, said it didn't occur to her and she never really needed them. I have Protein Drinks (Permalean donated by my sister, plus stuff I bought), sugar free popsicles and Jello, chicken broth, and a few things for the mushy stage. Because of what I read here I think I will hold off buying any more until after surgery. I may have enough to get through two surgeries LOL!

[010308 0]

For carpal tunnel surgery, the tongs would have been a great idea. For the lap band.... I definitely didn't need them, especially after the first day.

It's amazing how fast you're up and around after this surgery... my personal opinion is only purchase things you KNOW you will need immediately after surgery... the rest can wait until the next day when you're up and around.

The list that's posted for items to purchase is a great reminder of things you might forget about.

ps... what a cute furbaby.

[pearlygirl 1]

I'm laughing about the toilet tongs and thinking....God, wouldn't it be terrible if the tp slipped off or moved over...OUCH!!!