By: A Lap Band Patient

Here are some tips by a lap band patient who traveled for surgery. 

1.  Why stay in a hotel?  I chose to stay in a hotel for two days after my discharge for several reasons:

• I would be close to my doctor and hospital (a 200+ mile round trip) should there be any problems.
• I had a follow up Upper GI scheduled in that geographic area.
• I needed to attend an instructional seminar in that area later that week targeted for all those who had surgery that week.
• It would be more comfortable and cost effective than driving back and forth and back and forth.

What I hadn't considered was the peace and quiet I would have.  No phones, no doorbells, no unfolded laundry, no hungry pets or dusty furniture, and most importantly, no excuse not to rest and reflect!  In retrospect, I'd recommend a day or two in a hotel regardless of your surgeon's proximity! 

2.  Hotel Amenities:  The hotel was one of those mini-suites with a separate bedroom which turned out to be the perfect arrangement for me and my wonderful caretaker boyfriend.  We each had our own space with its own bed (although his was a foldout couch) and television.  It also had a full-sized refrigerator (no need to bend!), a microwave, in room bathroom and wifi internet access.  Breakfast was provided in the hotel, handy for my boyfriend, and he even brought me back some apple juice.  The halls and pool area were great for short walks when I needed it.  It was within walking distance of a convenience store should we need anything at all.

3.  Liquids:  I ended up packing a small subset of liquids from Sandi's list "What to Have on Hand Before Lap Band Surgery" into a cooler.  On the way to the hospital, we bought gas for the truck and ice chips for the cooler and for me to suck on after surgery.  I froze drinking water in 8 and 16 oz bottles in advance.  I brought bouillon cubes and Crystal Light individual packs to mix into the 16oz bottles.

4.  Non-foods:  I brought some very small 1 oz.  to 4 oz.  containers with lids.  I used these for premade jello, for premeasured liquid pain medicine doses to keep on the nightstand and to use when measuring liquids.  I brought a medicine measuring spoon.  I arranged a three day supply of my vitamins and non-liquid meds into one of those compartmental pill boxes labeled with each day of the week.  I brought a lap desk so I could create a flat surface anywhere on the bed, rather than stretching and navigating over to the nightstand for medicine or ice chips.  I brought an uplifting magazine, book of short stories and, of course, my laptop and diet tracking journals. 

5.  My Tote Bag and Pillow:  In addition to the usual contents of my purse, a tote bag went with me wherever I went.  It contained my water bottle, a dose or two of my liquid pain med in its small covered shot-glass-sized container, my anti-nausea pills, a plastic or paper bag in case I needed to yield to my nausea.  It also contained an empty folder where I kept a small calendar and put all those papers everyone was always handing me -- hotel receipts, hospital consent forms, etc.  A pillow from home stayed in the truck for buffering any road bumps and the seat belt. 

I hope others considering staying in a hotel find this information helpful.  What I had at first thought would be a major inconvenience, turned out to be a major convenience!

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