Re: Surgery on March 30th - do I have everything I need?

[Guest guest]

Good luck with your surgery... you must be more than ready to have it

over with... esp since it was postponed so many times!! Wow! YOu

sound very well prepared regarding food. The zipnsqueeze head wrap is

great, but you may want a couple extra packs. I found they didn't say

hot or cold for really long and kept recycling through them. Another

set would have been helpful. I'd also add movies... I wasn't up to

doing anything more than staring at the TV screen at times.

Reading/drawing would have been too much for me. I rented a bunch of

movies ahead of time. I'd also add along with the lip balm type

things... Qtips. I went through 500 in a little over a week!!! After

being intubated in the nose and having the sinus cavities cut through

as part of the upper surgery AND not being able to blow my nose,

those q-tips were indispensable, along with puffs tissues! I went

through a bunch of old towels the first week or so as well from

drooling and eating very messily at first so they were helpful to

have on hand. Also, a smaller stand-up mirror has been invaluable. I

have a lot of numbness so it's hard to tell if I'm getting my

food/drink into my mouth without the mirror!! Saline nasal spray was

also helpful, but as it turned out I was provided with that at the

hospital. That's all I can think of for now to supplement your list!!

Good luck and let us know how everything goes, or if you have any

more questions!! Katja

>

> Hi! After being postponed 5 times, I am finally having both upper

> and lower jaw surgery to correct an open bite, crossbite, and to

> widen my upper jaw. Since I don't know how quickly or smoothly the

> healing process will be, I am trying my best to prepare for any

> situation. Below is a list of items I've gotten for during my

> recovery. If any of you who have undergone this type of surgery

> could let me know if I am well-prepared, or suggest things to get,

I

> would greatly appreciate it. (I'm a 15-year-old vegetarian, if that

> matters.)

>

> Food:

> - Pre-blended soups

> - Regular soups

> - Applesauce

> - Various types of baby food

> - V8 " For Bone Health " (thought that would be good for bone healing)

> - Protein powder (chocolate & regular)

> - Boost & other energy/meal drinks

> - Instant oatmeal

> - Soymilk

> - Yogurt

> - Keifer (that yogurt-like drink that has a ton of antioxidants)

> - Fresh fruit & vegtables (to be juiced)

> - Flaxseed & Whole grain cereals (to be blended)

> - Vegetable broth

>

> Things to do: (since idk how tired/lazy I'm gonna be)

> - Puzzle Books (word search, crossword, thinking puzzles, etc.)

> - Novels

> - Magazines

> - Art supplies (drawing always makes time pass quickly)

> - Video games

> - CDs

> - Internet (i may finally have time to list a bunch of stuff on

> ebay! )

>

> Misc.:

> - Arnica

> - Zip n Squeeze bags

> - Zip n Squeeze head wrap

> - Lip healing balm

> - Liquid vitamins

>

>

>

> Thanks. <3