What do I need to bring to the hospital?

[NMSACE24]

Hi All-
Getting sleeved on Thurs, 2/27. Down 21.6 lbs after 11 days on my pre-op liquid diet. I need to prep for the actual hospital stay. What should I bring and what's an absolute necessity? Thanks so much!!

[natex14]

Good for you getting over 20 pounds out of the way.

I am not a big chapstick guy, but I used it all the time, I think it's the dry air in the hospital. I brought a ton of other stuff, from my laptop to ipads, but I didn't touch them. I didn't even bother with my phone, I just let my wife respond to texts. Everyone will be different. If I had to pack again, I would still bring my laptop and ipads.

[MELR]

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I hear gasX strips....wow, I bet you're excited. Welcome.

[Tara2]

Hello, I will be bringing comfy pants and a comfy zip up sweatshirt, pj pants, chap stick, tooth brush, and my Ipod to tune out the nurses, LOl! I have had my gallbladder out so I know what the pain will feel like, the incisions are small with a slightly larger one near or in the bellybutton. The thing that was the most uncomfortable was the air they put into you during surgery, the air will travel up and into you shoulder area, It goes away in a few days, Just remember to walk, walk walk, even if you feel like crap, you will feel worse if you just lay around. I hope this info helps! Good Luck!

Tara

[natex14]

One thing I will add is that I put an icy hot on the back of my shoulder a few days out from surgery. That really helped that shoulder pain. The gas really is the worst part.

[olperkins]

Slippers because they will make you walk, reading material while waiting for surgery, toiletries, and comfy clothes to wear for on the way home. You can take your own robe if you want.

[speedracer]

Ipad, ipod, earphones, a few magazines, toothbrush, long socks, long underwear and a big smile. Some brought a robe too.

[drisner]

Clean underwear, sweat pants/pajama pants, clean socks and slippers or flip-flops. They'll want you to walk after your surgery and the crappy, "no-slip" socks they give you become very uncomfortable after walking for a while.

I found that my eyes were wigging out after the surgery, so I couldn't really watch much TV nor read a lot. I listened to audiobooks & podcasts on my smartphone quite a bit. I would suggest bringing something you can do the same with.

If you have a smartphone, Audible.com is a good place for audiobooks and you can get a free book from them just for signing up if you're not already a member. You can cancel before the 30-day trial is up and still keep the book and never pay for anything. There is also podiobooks.com that has free audiobooks you can download as podcasts.

If you haven't gotten into podcasts, you should check them out. Lots of good content out there. iPhone & Windows Phone have podcast clients built in. Android requires you to get a podcast client. Beyond Pod is a good one if Android is what you have (there are others that are good too).

Best of luck!

[BBLovesBB]

i have not been sleeved yet, but i've had laproscopic surgery through belly button before. The gas and wobbly feeling is what i remember most. If you are traveling for surgery, like i am , bring chapstick, gasX strips, your own pillow, slippers, robe, ipod, magazine, empty water bottle, and slip on sneakers such as Sketchers for walking, walking, walking the gas out.

[woodi618]

They will make you walk a lot, unless you want to moon everyone with those open back gowns a pair of comfortable shorts would be a good idea. I could not bring in valuables, my wife had to bring my cell phone and tablet once I was in the room. Any thing else you will need, including chap stick they will furnish if you ask, gas was not a problem for me, but acid reflex was, the treatments the pros give will work far better than any home remedy you bring. The staff that I had at the hospital was asking if I was in pain or discomfort constantly. I had no pain and very little discomfort.

[Dyson]

A comfy pair of walking shoes, and a robe

[Marvinator]

IPad and toiletries for me.

[denise.jordan39]

Not sleeved yet, but I've been hospitalized a lot. I have the same routine. All jewelry comes off including wedding ring. I wear a loose t-shirt, no bra, only panties and loose sweatpants with slippers and socks. Everything else I think I may need goes in a bag that stays in the car until I'm settled in my room. It makes it easier for everyone.

[Little Verbena]

I agree with Nathan, definitely take some chapstick... or even better, Burt's Bees lip balm. I also had my kindle and phone but didn't use them. They had me hopped up on happy juice and that is not conducive to being able to read. having them was more of a hassle because I was worried about them disappearing. I bought Gas-X but never needed/used them. I mostly walked and slept while in the hospital. that was it.

I would take,
soft, stretch band pants/sweats. ones that are slightly baggy are perfect as you may be swollen right after surgery.
Easy to button up shirt
Slippers
Burt's Bees lip balm
Note pad to write down questions for the doctor / nurses. (you are guaranteed to forget them if you don't write them down)
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Toiletries
Maybe a book that you can pretend to read
An optimistic attitude.

Best of luck to you.

[KWKIKI]

Will I have to take out my contacts? I can't take off my rings, no way, they are coming off until I lose at least 40 lbs,