Packing Up

Get ready for some consistent postings because we are back and while not recovered we are in a state to post. The surgery did not go as planned but we will get into that more in the postings to come. Right now we are going to start with packing.

For me packing is fun. I have OCD and I love making lists and organizing things. Three day before we were ready to go I was done packing my carry on, however our checked suit case was a little harder because Ally likes to procrastinate and leave everything to the last minute. Her to do list is a million miles long and she is running around like a chicken with her head cut off, meanwhile I am probably not helping because I just keep reminding her of everything that still needs to be done. Usually we are each responsible for our own bags but because we are sharing a suit case this time we agreed to pack everything by a certain time the night before. It did eventually get done.

This last month has had us on the internet looking for any ideas of what neither of us has thought to pack. We searched multiple websites and blogs, even posting the question in forums. Between the both of us we hadn’t missed much.

When you go with Bariatric Specialty their package includes a stay at the hotel the day before your surgery and two nights after your stay in the hospital. Those stays include two bottles of water a day, three cups of chicken broth, and a couple of popsicles. Ally and I were worried that we wouldn’t like the chicken broth and since it’s all we are allowed/can eat, we decided to take some boxes of chicken broth with us.

In the days before the flight we had been having problems making ourselves even have the chicken broth or drink anything and were worried that we were going to get dehydrated as well. This led to the decision to bring bottles of water and some sports drinks. So in total we brought two cartons of chicken broth, four sports drinks, and four bottles of water.

As for clothes we each had what we wore on the plane, three pairs of pajamas, a jacket, our under things and an extra outfit. We figured with the right pajama bottoms after the surgery when we were walking around we could just throw a jacket over the top and walk around like that. Since we were not brining a “companion” to travel with us we were worried about the weight of the luggage and how we were going to handle it.

I packed most of my clothes in my carry on along with, travel documents (and copies of them), copies of our emails with the coordinator, pens, paper, and a couple of books and magazines. Ally likes to have lots to do so she packed everything I did and more. She also included earphones, a pillow (which we highly recommend having for your stomach on the way back), and other goodies that she never got to.

Some things that we stress for you to include are, lip balm, a pillow, gauze and tape, slip on shoes, and some American one dollar bills for tipping.

Notes:

1.      If you are bringing chicken broth you are going to have to declare it at customs.

2.      Don’t pack any liquids in your carry on. There are limited amounts you can bring and it is just easier to put them in your checked luggage.

3.      Make copies of your passport and driver’s license to take with you and keep them in place separate from the originals. This covers you in case of theft.

Lots more to come.

 

XOXO, Evie & Ally