Jump to:
Part 1 - Starting My Journey
Part 2 - Diet Changes and Preparing for Surgery
Part 3 - Preparing for My Hospital Stay
In just a few weeks, I will be admitted to the hospital to begin my pre-op process. I'm not particularly worried about the procedure itself—rather, I’m more concerned about life in the hospital!
For gastric sleeve surgery, my doctor requires patients to stay in the hospital for two weeks pre-op and one to two weeks post-op. This means I’ll be in the hospital for almost a month! Hospital rooms aren’t covered by insurance, so I opted for the free accommodations—a shared room.
I’m a very light sleeper and also a night owl, so I think adjusting will be difficult. Meals are served on a set schedule—breakfast is at 6 AM! Patients are expected to sleep by 9 PM, meaning the room must be dark and quiet. I don’t think that will be possible for me, so I’m planning to bring my PC and go to the lounge until I get tired. I will definitely be packing an eye mask and earplugs.
Another thing—I was told I’d need loose clothing and pajamas during my hospital stay. I tried some regular hospital pajamas (size 3L/4L), but they wouldn’t go over my thighs and hips. So, I purchased some loose house clothes and sports bras instead.
During this two-week stay, I’ll be on a controlled diet. It will start with calorie-controlled meals, and eventually, all meals will be replaced with liquid meal-replacement drinks. The doctor recommended SunnyHealth drinks, specifically the MicroDiet sets. I have to pay for my meal replacements, which are quite expensive—I’m not looking forward to that.
I applied for the high-cost medical certificate, which will cap my medical expenses based on my income. This has made the whole process much more affordable and accessible for me. However, that can't be applied to hospital accommodations or meals, so I need to pay extra for those things.
Here’s what I’ll be packing in my hospital bag:
My own pillow
Pajama tops and bottoms
Underwear, sports bras, socks
Slippers
Medication
iPad, PC, chargers
Toiletries (toothbrush, shampoo, face wash, lotion, etc.)
Honestly, I haven’t done very well in preparing to change my eating habits. In fact, I’ve gained a lot of weight over the past few months. I think I was stuck in the mentality that I soon wouldn’t be able to eat the junk food I enjoy, so I overate all my favorites before having to give them up. It's hard to think about not being able to eat the things that I enjoy, but at this point, I want to be healthy more than I want delicious food.
During my hospital stay, I’m not allowed to leave, but I can have visitors. However, I think I’ll be very lethargic and moody from the sudden change in my meals, routine, and lack of nicotine. So, it may be best if I don’t have visitors.
Overall, I’m looking forward to finally starting a monitored diet and lifestyle and getting the help that I need. Stats: 35, female
HW: 100KG
CW: 98KG (+4KG in 4 months)
GW: 58KG
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