Surgery prep - what am I forgetting?

[FTMax]

Getting into the home stretch! This week at work is going to be crazy busy trying to get my assistant caught up on everything he needs to know, so I'm trying to get as much surgery-related stuff done as possible in the evenings and next weekend. Since I'm only staying in Baltimore overnight, I think my short packing list may be leading me to overlook other things. I'd really appreciate it if anyone could chime in and let me know if I'm forgetting anything crucial. So far:

-   Filled and packed prescriptions
-   Packed overnight bag
-   Set aside clothes/shoes for day of surgery
-   Made arrangements with roommates for taking care of my dog
-   Bought: hands-free leash for dog for after drains are out, baby wipes, aftercare supplies for nips/incisions, a bunch of button-up shirts, a reacher/grabber, straws

I know I need to:
-   Go grocery shopping and do about a week's worth of meal prep/freezing
-   Charge my 3DS, Kindle, Xbox/PS3 controllers
-   Clean up around the house and my room in particular
-   Do as much laundry as possible
-   Wrap up some last minute work stuff
-   Clean out/put gas in my car
-   Move some pillows/blankets downstairs to the couch and recliner
-   Load whatever movies/shows I want to watch on a flash drive that aren't on Netflix or On Demand
-   Download more books for Kindle
-   Shave my head/face the night before surgery
-   Buy: groceries for meals, juice

Is there anything major I'm overlooking? I have 2 roommates that work opposite shifts, so one of them will always be around, plus someone staying with me for most of the first week. I'd really like to get everything as organized and easy to navigate as possible for all of them.

[aleon515]

I read a lot but honestly did not read very much post-op. I think that one's concentration is not what you would think. I watched a LOT of movies and tv on Netflix. I recommend, if you can afford it, a Netflix account.  It's about $9 a month, i believe you have a one month free trial and can cancel at any time. Canceling is not automatic though.

--Jay

[FTMax]

I read a lot but honestly did not read very much post-op. I think that one's concentration is not what you would think. I watched a LOT of movies and tv on Netflix. I recommend, if you can afford it, a Netflix account.  It's about $9 a month, i believe you have a one month free trial and can cancel at any time. Canceling is not automatic though.

--Jay

Thanks Jay! I have Netflix, and also free On Demand from my cable provider. I'm planning to rip some DVDs onto a flash drive so I don't have to keep getting up if I want to change the movie.

[sam1234]

When I had my top surgery, the nurse put a wrist band on each wrist. There was a half ball that went between the tendons on the inside of the wrist and was a pressure point in controlling nausea after surgery. I think they sell those at drug stores now and they helped me. I loaned them to my mother when she and my dad flew to Europe and she thought they worked too. Just an extra idea if you are into holistic help.

sam1234

[MacG]

Great list. I'm prepping for my 4/28 date.
Some of the stuff on my list:
-Audio books from library
-Set up little TV and Playstation near bed (I'm setting myself up in our guest room so I don't get jostled by wife)
-fresh sheets/bedding night before
- medium and light weight zip-up hoodies, button up shirts, comfortable sleep pants and shorts
- Considering free trial of HBO Now
- plan super easy and ready to eat meals
- 2gallon thing of water in room (the kind with a spigot), and cups
- arrange toiletries so I don't have to reach up for them
- body scrubber on a stick

[Alexthecat]

Make soup. It was the best for me to eat after I got home.

[Konnor]

A few extra pillows will be invaluable for sleeping. It was very hard for me to get comfortable enough to sleep for the first few days, and extra pillows under my back and legs helped! Disposable plates/cups/silverware make things easy since you don't want to be doing dishes. And at the risk of TMI... Get constipation meds and start taking them right after surgery if you are taking the strong pain meds. I didn't take them until about 5 days postop, and it was NOT a fun few days afterwards! 

[FTMax]

And at the risk of TMI... Get constipation meds and start taking them right after surgery if you are taking the strong pain meds. I didn't take them until about 5 days postop, and it was NOT a fun few days afterwards! 

I have these! Forgot to list them. They're all packed up and ready to go. One of the nurses told me to take them as soon as I wake up the morning after to get everything working.

Thanks guys! I got a lot of stuff done today, so feeling pretty good about everything at the moment. I might grab some plasticware. I'm not a big fan of things that aren't reusable, but if it's only for a week or two, I can deal.

[King Malachite]

It look likes you and everyone else has went over the main things.  I don't really have anything else to add at the moment, but here's a good link that someone gave me that might help.  You probably know most of the things in there, but I did find a few surprising things I didn't think of.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmettp/things-you-may-not-know-you-need-for-your-ftm-ches-dcoa#.hegwqQgmZ

[aleon515]

Actually started taking Miralax a couple days before surgery, very helpful. It is not dangerous, more of a stool softener, but MUCH more effective than Colace.

Good idea on the Neftlix, just watched on my iPad. I ended up watching mostly TV, not sure why that was (Orange is the New Black all of them, etc.)

--Jay

[MacG]

Post-op now, I'd add gel style deodorant. This made it easy for my wife to apply to my pits, then easy for me to apply myself.
And scentless baby wipes. For before I was ready to shower.

[anibioman]

Straws so you won't accidentally pour water down your chest. Bunch of clean towels for when your allowed to shower again. Mirilax and stool softener pills if you take the prescription pain meds. If you don't it isn't really needed. Maybe disposable plates and silverware so your roommates won't have to do your dishes.

Button down shirts, lots of them. Sneakers easy to slip on. I found that sweat pants are harder to pull up than jeans. I switched to jeans pretty soon after surgery. Plain old undershirt style tank tops. They were recommended by surgeon to wear under the compression vest. Keeps fluids and creams off of the vest. Under armor or similar compression shirts. To wear after the vest they'll help keep scars flat and swelling down, another thing recommended by my surgeon.

[AleksiJason]

u dont need button down shirts

i took old t-shirts and cut them up the middle...much more comfortable

also shave your pits and chest hair if u have any

[MacG]

Ask surgeon before shaving areas close to surgical site. Some don't want you to do that.

T-shirt material is the best! I happened to have a button down t-shirt and it was my favorite thing to wear.

[Arch]

Make sure the toilet paper in all bathrooms is easily accessible BEFORE you need to use the toilet. I had a toilet paper holder in an inconvenient location in my old bathroom, and I'm so glad I thought to keep a roll on the counter instead.

[AleksiJason]

if its button down its not a t-shirt dude

[Arch]

if its button down its not a t-shirt dude

I think he meant a button-up t-shirt, or at least a button-up shirt made of the same type of fabric. A slip of the keyboard.

[MacG]

It's a button up shirt made from t-shirt material.  Let me know if you need a photo or something, aleksijason.

[AleksiJason]

ok sure pic would be cool...cause t-shirts have a certain feel...most t-shirts are 100% cotton, but button up shirts are usually cotton too but have a different texture and are thicker

[MacG]

It has a collar so it's more like a polo. But it's incredibly soft and comfortable. The fabric is like the soft tshirt a I have. So I imagine your suggestion of cutting a tshirt is a great one.
I'm about to be discharged from my two night hospital stay here, so I look weird.