Re: what to bring to hospital?

July 1, 2005

Hi Tammy,

Congrats on your date! Almost here! You muxt be excited!

I just had my surgery a couple days ago and I can tell you I brought

too much with me and I packed really light too.

I wore to the hospital what I wore home, so you don't have to pack a

change of clothing. They give you non skid socks to wear, even though

I brought my own.

I did want and need my snuggly blankie and toothbrush. lip balm was a

MUST that first day as well. Other than that, you just don't care what

you look like,you are too busy making sure your pouch is working

right.

If you have longer hair, you might want to bring something to put your

hair in ponytails? I had a rat's nest going on the back of my head by

the time I put my hair in a pony tail to leave. that was painful

brushing through. I brought a book to read, yeah right. Oh be sure to

ask to have your door closed when the nurse leaves the room. That way

you can actually sleep better. It sounded like 5 0'clock commute

traffic was coming through my room all day long until my door was

closed.

Good luck and have a safe surgery!

Kay

> Hi I am having my surgery a week from Tuesday on the 12th and I was

> wondering what you guys suggest I bring? Thanks

> Tammy

July 1, 2005

Hi Tammy,

Congrats on your date! Almost here! You muxt be excited!

I just had my surgery a couple days ago and I can tell you I brought

too much with me and I packed really light too.

I wore to the hospital what I wore home, so you don't have to pack a

change of clothing. They give you non skid socks to wear, even though

I brought my own.

I did want and need my snuggly blankie and toothbrush. lip balm was a

MUST that first day as well. Other than that, you just don't care what

you look like,you are too busy making sure your pouch is working

right.

If you have longer hair, you might want to bring something to put your

hair in ponytails? I had a rat's nest going on the back of my head by

the time I put my hair in a pony tail to leave. that was painful

brushing through. I brought a book to read, yeah right. Oh be sure to

ask to have your door closed when the nurse leaves the room. That way

you can actually sleep better. It sounded like 5 0'clock commute

traffic was coming through my room all day long until my door was

closed.

Good luck and have a safe surgery!

Kay

> Hi I am having my surgery a week from Tuesday on the 12th and I was

> wondering what you guys suggest I bring? Thanks

> Tammy

July 1, 2005

Tammy wrote:

>Hi I am having my surgery a week from Tuesday on the 12th and I was

>wondering what you guys suggest I bring? Thanks

>

Your Kaiser card, and a Chapstick. I'm almost not kidding there. I was

supposed to be at the hospital early in the morning, so knew I'd only be

wearing my clothes for an hour, or two at most. So I didn't even bother

with a change of clothes. I wore a loose dress, no bra, yes undies, and

slip-on shoes. I did bring things like a couple of books, but my brain

was so mushified by the drugs (LOVED the little pain button) that a

repeat of a decorating show on Discovery channel was about all my brain

could process. At one point a volunteer came by with a magazine cart. I

think I selected an Oprah mag, but remember nothing about it. Do bring a

phone list, and paper and writing instrument in case you want to do a

bit of jotting about your thoughts or feelings in the middle of the

night. My scrawls were HYSTERICAL later.

I also recommend bringing a cheapie back scratcher, in case you have

problems reaching with the toilet paper. Remember, even if your surgery

is lap, your tummy will be sore, and a lot of folks have problems

reaching. You can use the fingers of the back scratcher to hold the

tissue, if necessary. That having been said, my surgery was open, and I

didn't have any problems. But it's probably better to have and not need

than need and not have!

Don't bother with gown, robe, slippers, makeup, etc. When I did my

walkies (in the hospital gown with the air conditioning in back), I just

taped the back gap closed and went for it. I figure no one expects you

to look like a model while you're in the hospital recovering from

surgery. That only happens in soap operas!

The other factor is that you might end up having to CARRY whatever you

bring, so don't weigh yourself down with a bunch of stuff.

Oh, one last thing. Have an extra pillow in the car to press against

your tummy when the car goes over a bump, or around a curve. Keep the

pillow handy at all times for the first few days.

That help?

--

Eleanor Oster

eleanor@... (personal address)

www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

San , CA

Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

~5'9 " tall

05/09/2003 319 Orientation

07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

Current 150-155 Goal until plastics?

July 1, 2005