Preparing for Surgery: The Weeks Leading Up

Surgery Survival Kit

In addition to all the mental preparation that went into surgery, getting a "Surgery Survival Kit" ready helped me feel prepared for the procedure and recovery ahead.

This may be a good thing to share with your loved ones if they want to help out, but aren't sure how. 

Things I bought and ended up loving

• Front closure sports bras
• My favorite style and fit was this bra from Victoria's Secret, I got it in a couple of colors- there is a front clasp and a zipper and they are very comfortable to sleep in
• Showerhead with long detachable arm
• This was seriously a game-changer for showering independently. We purchased the one with the longest detachable arm we could find, which allowed me to take plenty of time on my hair to make sure all the soap was out and that plenty of water had run over my incision site.
• Chiari surgery prep Amazon list (includes all the items listed below)
• Baby shampoo
• Docs won't want you using any products on your head except baby shampoo after your procedure, I think this one actually made my hair cleaner than the one I used pre-surgery.
• Button-up pajama sets
• Not having to pull a shirt over my head after showering was so awesome, I lived in these in recovery.
• Cough drops
• I got a little bit of a cough at the hospital and a couple times in recovery, so having these to minimize the amount of coughing I was doing was a huge help.
• Disinfecting wipes
• From someone who works in a hospital, they can be super dirty. Have your loved ones wipe down pretty much any surface they can find as soon as you get to your room: bed rails, bed controller, nurse call button, tray, doorknobs, light switches, etc. The added peace of mind that I was minimizing my exposure to infections while in the hospital was huge for me.
• Disposable mini travel toothbrushes
• These were perfect when I was in the hospital and couldn't open my mouth wide enough to use a regular toothbrush (yes this really happened). I also vomited a few times in recovery and having these on hand to quickly refresh my mouth was amazing.
• Dove soap bar
• When showering in recovery, I kept my product use to a minimum, especially around my neck and shoulders, so this was the soap I used.
• Earplugs
• Hospitals are loud. If I didn't have these, there would have been no way I slept through a single night- definitely a necessity.
• Face and body wipes
• I wasn't cleared to shower until POD 3, so while I was in the hospital, I wiped down my face and body every day before reapplying my deodorant which made me feel so much fresher.
• Hand sanitizer
• Again, hospitals are dirty. Any time I got up to go on a walk, or before I ate meals or touched my face, I would make sure to clean my hands.
• Heating pad
• When my back felt a little stiff, laying my heating pad on the couch and pressing against it felt great. 
• MiraLAX
• I haven't needed this yet (thank goodness) but it has been really nice to have on hand just in case I struggle with a bowel movement (you do not want to be straining at this time).
• Long phone charger
• It can be tough to find a free outlet in some hospital rooms, so having a super long charger (mine was 10ft) was a great way to keep my phone at my bedside at all times.
• Long plastic straws
• These were great at keeping me very hydrated without having to tilt my head back a bunch or open my mouth super wide.
• Sleep mask with ear loops (not the kind with the band that goes behind your head)
• Probably the most important purchase for me on the whole list. When I was in the hospital I got overstimulated very easily with all the meds, lights, and questions, so this was the perfect way to shut all that out. Since I've been home and recovering, the sleep mask has also been a game-changer to catch a few extra hours of sleep and combat light sensitivity. 
• Shower chair
• If you have a "roll-in shower" at your house, definitely set your chair up there. If not, I'd still recommend finding a shower chair that fits your shower setup so you can take your time getting clean without running the risk of falling, especially when you first get home. Even at 3+ weeks post-op I'm still loving my chair.
• Vaseline
• My lips got so dry when I was in the hospital, especially POD 0 when I was NPO. Ask a nurse or loved one to put on a glove and apply some Vaseline to your lips if this happens to you, it felt awesome for me.
• Wedge pillow
• I have noticed that I'm in the most pain when my head is flat, so using my wedge pillow to sleep every night has made me so much more comfortable. Especially on nights when I'm experiencing nausea, the added elevation helps.
• Yoga socks
• Mainly during the first few days after my procedure, with a lot of the floors in my home not being carpeted, I was very worried about slipping. Having grips on the bottom of my socks was a great way to feel more confident moving around the house.

Things I bought and ended up returning

• Circular neck pillow
• I wasn't sure if I'd be leaving the hospital in a neck brace or if I'd want something for the drive home that was similar to support my neck. A normal rectangular pillow was far more comfortable for me, I didn't like the sensation of having something that close to my incision site for a while.
• Extra pillowcases
• I thought I would need these in case I bled or leaked from my incision site onto my pillows which luckily never happened. But I did wash my pillowcase every few days to keep it fresh.
• Scrunchies
• In the weeks following my procedure, I just parted my hair down the middle to make sure my incision site wasn't being messed with. I realized putting my hair up (whether in a bun/low ponytail or in pigtails on the sides) actually felt more uncomfortable than just having it down.

Packing & Traveling

I kept everything I purchased from Amazon in one big box that we brought to the hotel before surgery. I also packed lots of baggy pants, only tops with buttons, zippers, and front closures, and made sure that the rest of my "recovery clothes" were front and center in my closet for when I got home. After all the work they put in back there, I loved not having to pull anything over my head for weeks.

We weren't sure how long we'd be gone for my procedure, so we booked a hotel for 12 nights that was on the hospital's medical campus and had a forgiving cancellation policy if we left before the end of our original booking. My family only ended up staying for 7 nights at the hotel because we wanted to get home and get comfortable as soon as possible after discharge from the hospital. 

My pre-op appointments were on the Monday before my surgery (which was on Wednesday), so we drove up on Sunday. I enjoyed having a couple of days to be a little distracted and have fun before my surgery. 

Groceries & Meals

Disclaimer: I am definitely not a dietician, these are just my favorite things to eat while in recovery:

• Apples (sliced of course)
• Cashews
• Coca Cola and Ginger Ale
• Something carbonated and caffeinated that can also settle your stomach
• Cheese sticks
• Chobani zero sugar shakes (Mixed Berry is my favorite)
• 
  Great way to get in 10g of protein
• Jello with fruit in it (Dole Mixed Fruit in Black Cherry jello was my favorite)
• Saltine crackers
• I ate a crazy amount of saltines, great for when I was feeling nauseous or snacky
• Soup
• Great for whenever I was feeling nauseous and/or wanted a quick meal
• Strawberries (also sliced)
  

Meals

Delivery was, of course, a staple (you should not be cooking at this time), but since I was lucky enough to be home with my dad, he also cooked for me. Two of my favorite meals of his were:

Salmon and broccoli: I'm not a seafood girl at all, but this salmon is one of my absolute favorite go-to meals (super easy to throw in the oven and great for some omega-3 fatty acids). Then we'd do a bag of Steamfresh Broccoli and top it off with some seasoning (I'm a sriracha powder, Lawry's season salt, and a little shredded cheese kind of gal).

Salad: I love mine with lots of Romaine lettuce and spinach to get some leafy greens, avocado for some healthy fats,  yellow/orange pepper, onion, chicken breast, a bunch of spices, and whatever dressing you like (our go-to combo was Lite Northern Italian, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a drizzle of ranch).

Glossary

NPO: Latin abbreviation meaning "nothing by mouth," a patient will not eat or drink anything during this time

POD: abbreviation for "post-operative day"- in the hospital, we count the day of the procedure as POD 0, the day after as POD 1, and so on and so forth