Michelle's Posts

Michelle - You've got tremendous patience! Although it's difficult to be rescheduled - twice, be glad you're not an emergency. Don't worry too much about leaving the bag at home - you've got a lot on your mind. The hospital provides pretty much everything you'll need. Borrow a robe, pj pants or shorts, and a phone charger from your daughter. I totally over packed and didn't need most of the stuff. Wishing you all the best, tomorrow. We'll be waiting to welcome you to recovery. ❤️

Oh Michelle—that's tough to get bumped like that, but I agree with Susan—better that you're not an emergency! I overpacked as well and sent all my clothes home minus my slippers—the hospital gown worked best for IV and other tubes I had to take everywhere with me, not to mention excess weight from fluid retention. The only things I really used were lozenges, hair ties, my phone and charger, and my own small bottle of shampoo/conditioner because the hospital "shampoo hat" made my hair waxy. Also tooth brush/paste, hairbrush and lip balm. Everything else they provided. I'll be praying for you! ❤️🩹🙏🏻

Best wishes for your upcoming ❤️🩹 surgery. Excellent question! I wore loose fitting jogging pants and pajamas and a size up in tee shirts with a wider neck (to get over my head without raising my arms) and zippered/snapped/buttoned jackets. Liked the Z Zella brand at Nordstrom Rack. I am not well-endowed and went without a bra for weeks - so consider wearing darker or thicker t-shirts. 😉 When I wanted to wear a bra, I purchased a bra extender on Amazon. Good excuse to go shopping!

Loose fitting is definitely better! I think I lost 15 pounds on my last day in the hospital (they weigh you constantly), just from getting rid of fluid. The IVs are constant, and they definitely err on the side of more fluid. So who knows how much you'll gain temporarily, but the short answer is a lot for those few days. Sweat pants/pajamas.

You gain some liquid weight, which you are usually given diuretics for (which make you pee it out). The liquid weight is because your heart is weak after surgery and liquid from your blood can back up into tissues. Usually this liquid weight is lost quickly, even while you are still in hospital. I remember having a tire of extra weight around my middle, which quickly was lost.