Surgery supply list

With all the fall surgeries coming up I'd like to share my own surgery supply list. Most of these items, if not all, have been mentioned numerous times in other peoples' lists but I'd like to provide my own for completion's sake (I've been wanting to do this for months!) and to reiterate which items I found the most helpful.

Surgery essentials:

• jaw bra
• Definitely a must-have! I got mine from the hospital. It secured with velcro and had plastic-lined pockets to hold ice cubes or small ice packs
• small scissors
• If you're banded shut, keep these close at all times in order to quickly cut the elastics if you're choking and can't breathe. The hospital staff even kept a pair by my bed in case of emergencies. Thankfully I never had to use them
• humidifier
• I had two going at once during the first couple of nights home
• recliner chair
• It's recommended that you sleep upright for at least the first week after surgery to limit swelling and to help with breathing. A recliner was the only way I could make this work
• vaseline/lip balm
• Essential since you can't lick your lips or rub them together! I found that my lips fared better if I varied the types of lip balm I used rather than sticking to just one type
• saline rinse
• 1 tsp salt to 2 cups warm water 
• I made a new batch every day and kept it in a jug by the sink
• Q-tips
• For cleaning out the gunk in your nose and keeping it clear. I liked to dip them in saline solution first so that they didn't dry out the inside of my nose
• high-powered blender
• If you're banded shut, food has to be liquified enough to suck through your teeth!
• feeding syringes (60 ml)
• Got these from the hospital. Make sure you have at least two: one for food and water, and one for saline rinse, though a separate water syringe is also nice to have. Extras are good to have on hand in case one breaks or gets stuck, which is inevitable
• sippy cups
• For when you get sick of syringes
• baby spoons
• For when you're finally allowed to open your mouth!
• medicine syringe (10 ml)
• Small syringe that I got at the pharmacy with my post-op meds. Easier to keep the dosage accurate and keeps medication and food separate
• children's (liquid) Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin
• For when the heavy duty pain killers are no longer needed. Bubblegum flavor was my favorite!
• liquid vitamin B supplement
• Supposed to help with nerve regeneration
• high protein ready-to-drink liquids
• Quick and easy for when you're starving (eg. high protein Ensure, Boost, Bolthouse Farms)
• face cloths
• Used for staying clean when eating and/or drooling. Paper towel is rough on the skin and you'd use a lot of it
• baby toothbrush
• Smaller than a regular toothbrush and has softer bristles so it won't irritate your gums which you probably won't be able to feel
• heating pad
• Feels good on tight jaw muscles and helps to reduce swelling once ice is no longer effective
• notepad and pen
• Trying to talk hurts your face, and chances are no one's going to understand your mumbling anyway