Hi folks,

I am booked in for FFS. I am staying at the Ambassador Suite in Antwerpen. I thought perhaps I could use the experience of people here to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Some of this is stuff I will have to bring and some I will have to get when I arrive in preparation. There are things that are obvious for any trip on there that I wont bother putting on, like toothbrush, etc.

So far on my list I have:

Straws from macdonalds (they are big) and I am having jaw surgery
smaller straws
adapter for electrical chargers
laptop
phone
audio books/music/films
food Blender
I would really like to bring a pestle and mortar but they are so heavy
concealer
comfy clothes
bottles for pre-prepared soups and smoothies

Suggested foods for faster healing of bones and skin:
Yoghurts
Honey

Soup (don't cook for too long) to include:
Hard cheese (for skin healing)
melted softer cheese (for bone healing)
Whole grain bread
Poppy seeds
Ground walnuts
Ground raw nuts and seeds
Broccoli
peppers

Smoothies made from:
oranges
Nectarines
Strawberries
Blueberries
Kiwi fruit
Grapefruit
water melon

Drinks:
Green tea


Thank you everyone! :-)

Kira x

I brought a soy bean shake with me which always helped me to recover. I ate normal healthy food after srs/ffs.

I made some fast walking after five days post op. Maybe you should bring some sports cloths woth you?

I found it comfortable to use a baby shampoo the weeks after surgery.

Lara

I already made my list. But I thought about two not so common things: a media center (a 15x20 cm flat box) loaded with 1 tb to plug at the hotel room's tv so that I can work towards finishing pending series and films... And a sex toy. I sadly need to keep my libido under control and I know that the moment I start to heal I'm going to need it.

Good and timely thread as I am already starting the packing thing for a trip to LA in early Nov.

Trying to cover got to haves and nice to haves is a bit of a challenge as I have no one there I know. I am arriving 1 day early to get some appropriate foods and also finding a few comfy clothes to lounge (wallow in abject agony?) for the first 5 days or so.

I too will be bringing several audio books my Ipod and perhaps pre load a few movies on the laptop to cut down on many carrying separate items.

The flight is booked as are the accommodations now it is just a matter of a month and a few days.

It will be tough being away from my partner as she can't swing the time off to accompany me but I suppose it will all be over with before I realize it. I will really miss being able to do some good hard exercise for a rather long time.

Be safe
Elaine   

Great thread, Kira. I'm getting FFS with Dr. Van de Ven at the end if this month (Ambassador Suite as well) so it's useful to have something like this about. : )

Hi Kira and friends

From my recent FFS experience...:

IF you're having jaw, chin, lip or trachea work done, you really need to go for soft soft liquid food.  You'll probably find it hard to chew even soft white bread, and swallowing solids - even said soft white bread - can be a bit of a challenge after trachea work.  The nuts and cheese are probably the worst things for chewing and getting stuck in your throat, so be careful!!  For the first two weeks I always kept water ready during meals because some foods just wouldn't go down without help. 

It took me close to a month before swallowing worked properly again, and there are still some foods (like crunchy seaweed) that I can't chew properly.  Jaw and chin work is very invasive and healing is slow.

MY advice is not to worry about specific foods, but to have vegetable and fruit purées made from good quality fresh ingredients.  Maybe add some chicken and purée that too.  Make these in advance and freeze them - for the first 5-8 days or so you're really not going to feel much like cooking, trust me. A blender is good, but you can leave the pestle and mortar at home  

Bring with some soluble vitamin/mineral complexes if you want to compensate your level of micronutrients.

And good luck with the surgery!!!

Julia

Quote from: Lara1969 on September 13, 2014, 03:08:32 AM
I found it comfortable to use a baby shampoo the weeks after surgery.

Good one. I started making a list too and added baby shampoo to it. Also leave-in-conditioner and hair-oil, but I'm not sure if that is okay to use shortly after ffs. I think I read somewhere that a hairdryer is necessary too (which I guess makes sense).

I also added diademe, hairclips, scrunchies, scar/sunglasses..

Vitamins and supplements, not sure which ones exactly yet. What was the one that reduces bruising?

I have to buy a blender and start looking for recipes for smoothies and purees and soups. Every time I think of a soft food that I like I should write it down. So far I have mashed potatoes and apple sauce lol.

Quote from: Yasmeen on October 06, 2014, 02:05:53 PM
Good one. I started making a list too and added baby shampoo to it. Also leave-in-conditioner and hair-oil, but I'm not sure if that is okay to use shortly after ffs. I think I read somewhere that a hairdryer is necessary too (which I guess makes sense).

I also added diademe, hairclips, scrunchies, scar/sunglasses..

Vitamins and supplements, not sure which ones exactly yet. What was the one that reduces bruising?

I have to buy a blender and start looking for recipes for smoothies and purees and soups. Every time I think of a soft food that I like I should write it down. So far I have mashed potatoes and apple sauce lol.

Hi Yasmeen

If they do brow bossing removal you will need to blow dry your hair very gently if you've got stitches in your hair.

I think the stuff that reduces bruising is a homeopathic remedy called arnica.

xxx
Julia

I will be arriving 2 days early in LA and plan on gathering a few items when I arrive. A leave behind blender is on that list. I like the tip about McDonalds straws, and many others. I think I will just get some baby shampoo on my shopping expedition rather than carry a bunch of extras for the TSA folks to paw through.

Any tips on the weather in LA in early Nov (shorts of pants)? I am from SW FL and we are just coming into the nice season. I will miss my bike rides while convalescing. Funny how walking is a killer on my knees and back and cycling (very aggressively) is my best exercise outlet. I have heard that keeping the BP down for a rather extended time is recommended and also no helmets for a while (for me no helmet, no ride). I am told to bring a knitted cap type of thing due to the hairline scar, perhaps a scarf may serve that duty too...

Acquired the requisite carry on bag and need to dig out some old scrubs and a couple button front shirts. Of course I am taking a laptop to issue some communiques back home, and also a small camera for before and after (and after and on and on). As I will be solo on this trip I have to think as a minimalist packing wise (do not want to have checked luggage) but not be cheap in needed items.

Hopefully the after care facility I will be in over night after surgery can assist on getting the surgical glop and dross from my hair as I am certain is will be messy.

I received a barrage of RX's to get filled and I need to see if my back pain meds are ok to avoid having lighter duty duplicates of my RX'es I have needed on and off for a long due to lower, mid back injuries and also neck issues.

I'd love to hear/read more from others on tips or items and a big thank you for the welcomes here on Susans.org.

Be safe and thanks again
Elaine