Question:
Any last minute advice??
I go for my big day early this friday morning, wow just one more full day to go!!! Anyone have any last minute advice or things to bring or not to bring with you? Thanks for all your help!!! :) — Lynne W. (posted on September 10, 2003)
September 10, 2003
I am 5 weeks post-op, and the one thing that I could not have done without
was my lip balm/chap stick, you mouth is so dry, and the first day you only
get ice chips. You will need a baby spoon, toothbrush/toothpase, hairbrush,
and some moisturer, your skin gets so dry. I wore the hospital gowns, no
panties, and do not worry about wiping your bottom, the nurse will do that
for you if needed. The other things that were nice to have was a
backstracher, it helps to pick up dropped items, I dropped my noise piece
to my oxgen and I picked it up with my backstracher, and I used my small
fan and home bed pillow. Wear lose fitting clothes to the hospital, and
you can go home in the same clothes, I wore a lose fitting long dress.
— cindy
September 10, 2003
Congratulations, you are about to be a big time loser!!!
Take a pillow, a small fan, phone numbers, slippers, pads (even if it isn't
that time of the month) trust me, a lot of women start for some reason.
Sugar free popscicles, most hospitals don't keep these in stock.
Don't be nervous, I was surprised the surgery was not as painful as I
thought it would be. When you are laying on the table, about to be wheeled
in, I want you to take a cleansing breath, know that all the struggle to
get on the table is over. Know that God has given you this awesome
opportunity because he knows your pain from being obese. Then exhale and
smile to yourself. Life as you know it is going to change. ALL for the
better. You deserve to look and feel better and to live a healthier longer
life.
Write to me after your surgery. I am here for you.
2 months out, down 43 lbs.
GOD BLESS!
— Michele B.
September 10, 2003
Relax, because the rest of your life is going to change. I would advise
that you have everything you need for the first 20 days following your
surgery because you will not be able to drive, or will really want to go
anywhere at first. Days 2-6 you should be on clear liquids, have plenty of
beef or chicken broth, everything sugar-free(jello, popsicle's, cystal
light, kool-aid, lemonade), apple,grape or white grape juice dilated. Days
7-20 you should be on full liquids.
Good luck on you surgery on Friday. I am 18 months post-op and have
dropped 131 pounds. From a size 20-22 to a 5/6. I feel better each day,
so get ready to start receiving all the compliments you will be receiving.
This procedure is going to change your life.
— Anita D.
September 10, 2003
Hi, I am over 2 years post-op, this is my advice: BE TOTALLY HAPPY! You're
entire life is going to CHANGE! Don't be bitter about the people who
treated you badly when you were obese, they just don't understand, and they
won't understand when you loose the weight (kinda like Oprah--who's great,
but just doesn't get it). A mere year from now you won't even recognize the
person you were. Take pics. Keep it in mind, because somewhere around year
2 or 3, you're gonna start to gain weight (if you had an RNY), and you're
gonna learn you have a DISEASE. It's not your fault, you can controll it,
just like a diabetic. But after your 2 year honeymoon period, you're gonna
have to watch your calories. Whatever your "normal" calories are.
Mine are from 850-950. Just doing the math says I should be still loosing
weight. But I'm not, I gain if I don't stay within my calories. Why?
Because it's a DISEASE, and this is a TOOL, not a CURE. I wish you health,
happiness, and intelligence--to know that the next two years will be easy,
it's what happens after that which is hard. But, thank the Lord, you have
been given something to help you for the rest of your life. May God bless
you. Love,
— sandieguy
September 10, 2003
Though I agree with all of the items you should bring. You need to pack
your sense of humor too. There are going to be times when you feel nursing
staff isn't quite upto snuff but they're doing the best they can. I found
that if I joke with the nurses I got better care. Best of luck to you and
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.
— John B.
September 10, 2003
I would bring a journal to write in if you enjoy doing that and something
to read. I would leave at home your pride. If you need the nursing staff to
help you with cleaning yourself - ASK!!!
— Yolanda J.
September 10, 2003
Pack an extra dose of "patience" and a "smidgen of
understanding for the nursing staff". I was one of those that hide
behind the door when they handed out patience. It seemed like my doctor
(he's wonderful) and everyone I really needed something from would've been
late for their own funeral. The whole process was good, but frustrating
for me.
— Cathy S.
September 10, 2003
In addition to echoing the others about patience with the nursing staff, I
want to add: GET MOVING AS SOON AS YOU CAN. Get up and walk, move your
legs in bed (tighten and relax the big muscles in your thighs and calves),
make circles with your ankles, write the alphabet with your toes - anything
to get moving. Walking is by far the best thing to do. The more you get
up and stay out of bed, the quicker you will recover. Work through the
pain; take pain medication but don't let pain stop you from getting
yourself going!
Do have patience. My husband had a bad post-op case of OFS. (Old Fart
Syndrome)The staff couldn't do anyting fast enough ro suit him. The
residents and med students made rounds early and told him he would get his
catheter out. Two hours later he still had it in, and was bitching up a
storm. I told him they may have told him it was coming out today, but if
they hadn't written the order yet, it wasn't going to happen. (He did get
it out before lunch.)
GOOD LUCK and take care - you'll be a big loser soon!
— koogy
September 11, 2003
Last piece of advice, take pictures and measure everywhere tonight. These
will be the things that will help keep you motivated in the year to come
when you see how far you have come. Take a camera and take pictures at the
hospital. There will never be another moment like this one in your life.
Lynne, I wish you the very best. Ann in TX
— Ann B.
September 11, 2003
YOU WILL NEED SOME GOWMS BECAUSE AFTER THEY GET YOU WALKING YOU DON'T WANT
EVERYONE SEEING YOUR BUTT!!!LOL I BROUGHT THE MUU MUU TYPE SO I DIDN'T HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT A ROBE...HAIRBRUSH OTHER PERSONAL STUFF BUT IF YOU FORGET
ANYTHING THE HOSPITAL HAS TOOOTHBRUSH TOOTHPASTE LOTION SHAMPOO ETC...AS
FOR SOMETHING TO READ..YOU ARE ON SO MUCH MEDS ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS
SLEEP...GOOD LUCK
— BLSLIM77
September 11, 2003
LYNNE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER GREAT THINGS PEOPLE MENTIONED, I FELT
IT VERY RELAXING TO BRING MY PORTABLE CD PLAYER AND A RELAXING PEACEFULL
CD, I CHOSE NORAH JONES, THIS HELPED ME FALL ASLEEP AT NIGHT, OR BLOCK OUT
THE HOSPITAL NOISES, ALSO GREAT IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY ON A
PRIVATE ROOM!! ALSO JUST A REMINDER YOUR INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER PERSONAL
ITEMS SUCH AS TOOTHPASTE/BRUSH, CARMAX...AND HOSPITALS GREATLY OVERCHARGE
FOR THESE. BEST WISHES ON YOUR SURGERY AND GOOD LUCK FOR A SPEEDY
RECOVERY:)
— Jenni O.
September 11, 2003
How about a little shout out to you (RAH ! RAH ! RAH !)for making a
courageous decision to take control of your health! What a wonderful,
loving gift you have chosen to give to yourself, your family and friends!
Remember to take a slow deep breath every so often and really take in
everything that you are doing and what is going on around you. You are on
a miraculous journey and I wish you an uneventful surgery and a speedy
recovery! HUGS, HUGS, and more HUGS!
— Deborah F.
Click Here to Return