Finding the discipline.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4522143/Finding-the-discipline/#37450162

This is a thread someone started on www.obesityhelp.com, a website I've used a lot over the past year-year 1/2.. I joined it before I ever even mentioned surgery to my parents for the first time.

The question was "How do you find the discipline to do what you need to do when I never had the discipline to do it in the first place ??? You know losing weight, exercising, etc.....how do you find it AFTER surgery???"

You can read my response to it on that thread. Everyone should be able to view it, with or without an account.

But-- I wanted to talk about this for a minute.

How do YOU specifically find the motivation/determination to keep going? To make lifestyle changes? With or without changes? If you have already, what helped you make those changes? If you haven't, what are you waiting for? What do you think it will take? Do you not know?

Personally, I've dealt with this my whole life.. But I don't think I really started to take it seriously, until I started having serious issues.. I couldn't bathe without feeling like my heart was going to beat through my chest and I was going to pass out.. i would have to stop my shower and sit down on the side of the bath tub or the toilet seat for a few minutes to cool off and rest before I continued.. No one really saw that side of it.. I hid it pretty well.. But I would get claustrophobic really easily.. I would have to leave concerts early.. I had no control over my body.. I wasn't on the right medications and I didn't have the right doctors on my side for the longest time...

My mom is an RN (Registered Nurse.) ... She was basically out of my life for about 3 months, in 2010. From the end of August to the end of October I didn't see her once.. When she came back and saw how much my body had changed in just that short amount of time she spoke to a doctor friend of hers.. Who gave her a list of things to research.. She gave the list to me and I researched.. On that list was "Polycysitic Ovarian Syndrome" "Hypothyroidism" and "Cushings Disease/Syndrome." .... I looked them all up.. and I had never been to an Endocrinologist. It's always been GI doctors that worked with me.. 

Well I saw a Gynecologist who diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on the pill.. And it was in this time I started researching weight loss surgery..

Then I saw a Endocrinologist.. He tested me for Cushings and Hypothyroidism.. Sure enough, Hypothyroidism. No cushings. That is extremely rare, especially in children/adolescents.. But I was tested. and I still had Insulin Resistance. Well I went to a different Endocrine.. And found out I was full blown Type 2 diabetic... And basically the health I was at.. I was told I'd be lucky to make it to 35.. part of my heart was already enlarged and clearly I was never able to lose weight before.. Only maintain, and gain.. What was going to change this time?

It was right then and there I knew surgery needed to be discussed.. I had brought it up with a family doctor once.. Who didn't support the idea. but the endocrinologist even brought it up without me saying anything, and sent a referral that day to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

I knew this was my last shot. And I was going to make it work. I finally had the right doctors, the right diagnosis', the right medications... and I was having WLS. a tool to help me lose and keep the weight off... I don't want to die before I'm 35. And I don't want to die the same way i watched my grandmother die, when I was 12 years old. Heart Disease, Cardiomyopothy, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, PCOS, already had a kidney removed, on dialysis, etc.... The list never ended. And i was already headed down that road at 15...

A death sentence was the reality check I needed to get my life in order... and it worked.

I'm still in the losing phase. But I'm healthier than I've been in a long time. I'm at a lower weight than I was 2 1/2-3 years ago..  And I'm feeling so much better... I can shower no problem. I jogged a mile the other day.. Something I haven't done (even just walking..) since I was 13...It's insane,.. and I know I made the right decision. (Again, you can read more on the thread I posted above.)

But my question is.. Even without surgery, why does it take people (myself included) so long to make lifestyle changes? even people who don't have the genetic component.. people who may not even have any medical problem... Eating healthy and exercise is good for everyone. Why are people so.. stuck in their ways? Why is everyone so afraid of change?

Why do things have to be this way? Why cant an entire family make changes to better themselves, instead of just one person? I know the answer to this. In my opinion anyway. I have my thoughts on all of these questions. But I'm keeping them to myself. These are just a few of my thoughts, to get your mind going.. It's really something to think about and consider before looking into WLS.. or even starting a new diet, or seeing a new doctor.. Nothing will work if you don't have enough motivation/determination.

I could go into the whole food can be a real addiction discussion.. or people are raised a certain way.. you can't teach an old dog new tricks, whatever.... But really.. with enough determination, I'd like to think anything can be done..

Now people just need to find the discipline/determination/motivation/inspiration to accomplish what they want/need to accomplish. What will it take to do that or get to that point?



Have a great day. <3
-Ashley
www.facebook.com/justashley1637
ashleyellen1637@aol.com

An interesting thought...

So, even thought i've lost 87lbs in the past year.. (about 52lbs since surgery..) It still hasn't really registered wtih me yet.... i still feel really fat (I know in pictures i look better... and at certain angles my legs look totally normal... when you can't see all the skin that i'll need to have removed.. lol), overweight, unhealthy, whatever. I don't see much of a difference in myself,.

I was carrying a milk jug today.. 1 gallon.  and one gallon of orange juice,.. just taking them into the house, from the car. they're about 8lbs a piece, i believe.. maybe a little over like 8.3lbs or something.

I've lost 87lbs. that's almost 11 gallons of milk.

Holy Crap.

I was carrying around that much weight. on my body. and my body is still functioning? not crippled and crushed? how the hell does that happen?
i'm thinking if i had those gallons attached to me as i walk around.... I'd probably pass out...

No wonder I had so many issues with my blood pressure before... dear lord!


I've had an epiphany today. That is all.

-ashley.

www.facebook.com/justashley1637
ashleyellen1637@aol.com

A great article about insulin resistance.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/prediabetesanddiabetes/a/insulinresistan.htm

I was just looking around and I found this.. It's one of the only articles I've found so far that explains it in, well, terms that are easier to understand... And that lists genetics as a big role in IR. So props to them. So I thought I'd share this. (:

Have a great day. <3

www.twitter.com/ashleyohara_ (don't forget the underscore)
www.facebook.com/justashley1637
ashleyellen1637@aol.com

Rant. 4-2-2012

Before I start ranting.. I just want to say I am ridiculously happy with chewbacca (my sleeve) and all the progress I have made so far... I don't regret it. And my doctors are all amazing. But I just really am frustrated right now and I need to get this out.. No one understands. So here we go.

(Please excuse my excessive use of profanities.. My mind doesn't register any other logical adjectives or adverbs or any descriptive words, at all, when I'm pissed.)

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!!?!?!?!

I just got my RX refilled for Synthroid and the label says "Don't take within 4 hours of taking Iron, Calcium, or Antacids.. Must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning." and I've also been told in the past by a few people not to take it with a multi vitamin...

HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO FIT THIS IN?!?!!??!?! So does this mean every time I've taken it with my zantac or calcium citrate, it didn't work? or if i didn't take it on an empty stomach in the morning, but at night, that it didn't work?

This medicine stuff is so fucking confusing. I have to take meds 5-6 times a day to get it all in. that's just not right.. And after realizing how off I've been I'm trying to get back on it.. I've always been good with medications. but everything keeps freaking changing and i can't STAND it.

One doctor says one thing, another doctor say s another, i keep getting put on and taken off different doses and different medications..  just. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate being the little nerd I am with my doctors. Researching things for myself. I don't want to seem like I'm doubting them. They are the doctors. I'm just their 16 year old patient. and most 16 year olds wouldn't take it into their own hands to research their diseases and medications and what not..

So I talk to other people on websites and such about their experiences with insulin resistance/pcos and they each say something different... one lady was talking to me about my birth control I'm on (altavera) causing her problems and she couldn't lose weight on it.

this is like the 4th or 5th type of BC I've been on.

I don't even know what to think anymore.

I hate all this confusion. and I hate that i like researching this stuff, because i do, and i learn more, and i feel like an asshole bringing it up with doctors. I've always felt guilt for so much that i shouldn't feel guilty about. but i do. and it makes me feel bad.

I'm exercising one fucking hour a day like I'm supposed to. I"m under 800calories almost every day. under 60 carbs almost every day. 60+oz sf fluids.. every. fucking. day. and my weight doesn't fucking budge. given, confusion with meds. i don't fucking care.

my weight has been all fucked up ever since i had surgery. the amount of 'stalls' or 'pauses' I've had is FUCKING RIDICULOUS. one lasted for 6 weeks. another one for a month. another one for 3 weeks. another one for 8 weeks. and with all these med changes i have no fucking doubt it has to be those causing it. it's just not fucking right!!!!!

YES. i have taco bell or McDonald's occasionally. but i always get the fucking healthiest thing they have, and hardly eat any of it!!! its almost always something involving grilled chicken. always. and that's what i eat.  and i still stay under my calorie/carb limit!!! yes. we get pizza sometimes. i always get thin crust and the amount i eat stays UNDER my calorie/carb limit I've set for myself.

I've had issues with exercising since surgery. less than a month after surgery i had a huge chunk of skin removed because there was a huge mole removed  and it was on the upper inside part of my thy.. it hurt to walk. my legs would rub together and it'd be really painful. i also sprained my ankle in December. and i was on crutches for awhile.

but aside from that, I've walked. a ton. and since February I've been doing close to an hour a day almost every day. walking/jogging and palates.. and light weight lifting. sure I've missed some days. sure i don't always hit an hour. but i always do something. I've hurt myself a lot because i over do it.. i didn't go jogging today because i pulled a muscle yesterday.but i did upper body stuff and sit ups and push ups to make up for it!

I'm not perfect. NO ONE IS. but I've followed my plan just about to a T. doing everything i know to do.

I know i started at a lower weight. and I know all my metabolic stuff makes it harder to lose weight.

IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS FUCKING FRUSTRATING.

I'm sick of doctors changing things every time I see them. i just want something to fucking work for once! YES. I've lost about 45lbs since surgery. but guess what?!?! I LOST 35LBS PRE-SURGERY by eating MORE and having higher doses of medications. did i make a mistake? should i have not had that surgery? or a different surgery maybe?!

oh my god.. words cannot fucking express my thoughts right now.

I feel sick today. i think i got a bug or something. so I'm a lot more irritable today than normal. so reading that pill bottle just fucking set me off...

I'm generally a happy person. easy to get along with. I'm usually pretty passive. i don't like confrontation. but today is just not a good day. I'm sure I'll be back to normal tomorrow or something.

but good fucking lord.

I'M DOING EVERYTHING. i don't know what else i can fucking do!
OH. AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT.
according to the place i had surgery, I'm supposed to be losing 2lbs a week... aside from my frustrations with that not happening, my endocrine just wants me under 200lbs by the time i see her on august 1st.... that's only 3 or 4 more pounds... that'd be like a pound a month.. vs 2lbs a week..

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE AIMING FOR HERE?!
obviously, more weight loss quicker... I want plastic surgery asap.. because this loose skin is already on my last nerve.. i'm getting cysts and my skin hurts where it all rubs together, when i lay on my side my stomach indents in and it almost hurts.. my arms are annoying, the inside of my thighs kill. under my stomach where it hangs i'm about to chop off myself, and just, ugh.

its just so confusing.

and i HATE the fact that I'm 16 so I'm always afraid doctors are thinking I'm being a smart ass or questioning them when i ask anything serious rather than the typical concerns of a teenager. "how do i tell my friends about my surgery? how do i explain it to my boyfriend?" I'm totally open about everything on the Internet. on facebook. my personal facebook. i'm not worried about what people think anymore. I'm worried about my health and if this doesn't fucking work for me, what the fuck will?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!

fdjskal;fjasdklfjkl;asdafkljdfkl;asjfkl;jasdkl;fas;kjdfkl;asdjfkasjdfklasj;fas;
UGH.

Oh. on top of all of this carpul tunnel has been acting up lately. (yes. I'm a 16 year old with carpul tunnel. diagnosed. urgent care Dr. thought i sprained it. he said carpul tunnel. surprizing? i know. i type too much.) so i'm in a ridiculous amount of pain/numbing/spasms/tingling feelings/etc... and i'm not supposed ti take ibuprofen at all... one doctor says i can if i take it with zantac, others say not at all, tylenol doesn't do shit for me. i still have oxycodone Left from surgery. maybe i should break into that stash.

ughh...

fjdak;sfjasl;kfja;slkfjsa;klfjas;
normally i wouldn't post rants like this... i have a handful of times int he past... i hate people seeing when i'm not in a good mood or not dealing with things well.. because the SECOND i don't deal with things perfectly or 'normal' doctors try to push anti depressants down my throat.

and all my doctors know i have this blog.

I have one bad day, and everyone assumes i'm falling into a deep dark depression and its going to take years of therapy to come out of it again.

no. I've been there. and I'm NOT going back. the acceptance alone to this surgery is what brought me out of it. yes. me feeling like i'm failing is depressing. but deep down i know I'm not failing. I've lost over 80lbs. i'm over halfway to my goal weight. and typically i'm happy about it.

again. ONE. FUCKING. BAD DAY.
let me have it. please. i need to rant like this. it helps. a LOT.

ugh. i don't even know anymore. i don't have real friends i can' talk to about this. and i'm tired of talking to therapists about it all and doctors. i mean i can talk to my friends. but they don't understand. they're all jealous. i'm jealous of them though.t hey have pancreas' that work. they just choose to be lazy and eat too much of the wrong things. they don't have to have their stomach cut out to be able to lose weight. and even then, still its not guaranteed that will work.

so yes. list of things pissing me off right now.
kgo.

• medications.
• lack of weight loss.
• doctors not being able to make up their minds.
• pulling a muscle in my leg causing pain.
• carpul tunnel.
• not being able to renew my temps like i was supposed to the other day, to finish drivers ed.
• not being able to get a job.
• not having an understanding family or friends when it comes to this stuff.
• having no one i can relate to.
• people assuming i'm crazy whenever i have a bad day.

justifiable? i certainly hope so.

I'm going to go play a bunch of music and write and rant more in my journal and then try to sleep. I'll probably be totally over this all in the morning.

its not reasonable to assume everything about this journey is great.. it's not. its hard. people need to know that.  so here's my two cents.

i hope you're having a better day than i am.

peace.
-Ashley
www.facebook.com/justashley1637


UPDATE: 20 minutes later.. I'm really proud of myself right now.. Right after I posted this i went and almost grabbed food.. key word: almost... i've never been much of an emotional eater... it's never been a big problem for me.. (my problem was more.. not eating... or cutting myself.. neither of which i've done, intentionally anyway, in a very long time.. ever since i started losing weight before i even got accepted for surgery... and then got accepted for surgery... i havent done either... it's been about a year, yet another reason i'm proud of yself.) BUT. i stopped myself.... I realized emotional eating was exactly what i was doing. I didn't feel hungry, and I know i didn't need to eat...  So I chugged half of a propel zero (kiwi strawberry<3) and worked out for 15 minutes... some jumping jacks, pushups, situps, a few palate's things.. and streched... and then i hate a sugar free sour icebreaker thing.. which i'm kind of hooked on.. and i feel so much better.. and not guilty.. because i didn't eat..

That's a really big accomplishment for me.. not from refraining eating (and not eating, and not cutting..) but because i turned to exersize.. i have NEVER done that.. in my life.. i've never WANTED to exersize... And i've never felt much better after exerisizing, untill now...

I'm a happy person now. bipolar angry bitchy ashley moment, over. i will continue moving forward with my life, now. goodbye.<3(:

Pro's and Con's of WLS.. (VSG specified) for me..

Just the personal Pro's and Con's that I've faced.. (Honest ones.. and kind of funny ones which some people may find stupid, offensive or have a problem with.. sorry if you do.)

Pro's

• I'm never hungry. Hardly ever. Unless I pull an all nighter and don't eat for over 12 hours.. which has happened a couple times.
• I can't eat more than 8oz at a time.. and I rarely have a desire to.
• It's much more permanent than just medicating myself.. That is the only way I have ever lost (and kept off) weight before.. Was the 4-5 months before I went for a surgery consult, and was on a high dose of metformin and had just started aldactone for the first time.. No amount of just plain diet and exercise has ever done it for me.
• It's a cool story to tell... sometimes... to the right person...
• VSG is much less common and less known.. so if People question what surgery i had, and i don't really want them questioning weight loss surgery on a minor, i can say a "Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy" and they'll most likely have no clue what it is..
• I enjoy that i get to call my sleeve chewbacca. it's funny. its easier to laugh about something serious, for me. whenever it bugs me or acts up or i get frustrated.. i just scream "F you Chewbacca" and people look at me like I'm bordering insanity... It's extremely amusing... and I laugh.. and forget my frustrations.
• (this goes along with the lack of hunger..) There have been two ties since surgery i didn't have time to eat.. and literally didn't eat all day.. I didn't have the time or money to stop and get food.. I just dealt with it... and aside from my blood sugar getting messed up later on... i never got hungry... I'm not supposed to go long without eating. or skip meals. i usually don't. but on the few occasions I've gotten caught up and what not... it was nice not having my stomach roaring at me.
• I get to participate in research to help see long term affects of it on children/adolescents... for the vsg... there isn't much out there. it's cool to be a part of something like that. to feel like i might be helping future generations or something.
• I haven't had any food intolerance's. I assume with the lap band or bypass i probably would have more issues.. never experienced it, so I'm not 100% sure... but i just know I'm happy i haven't had any issues.
• No mal absorption.. my vitamin levels are perfect.. (even my b1... which in 100% honestly: I only took once. one tablet, the day after i got home from the hospital... it made me gag and want to throw up.. i didn't.. but i was nauseous for awhile.. i think the smell/taste more so than anything... but it was perfect. and i only took it once, so, ya know.... yeah)
• I'm able to Jog now... 7 1/2 months out... and play soccer.. and basketball.. for half an hour straight.. i haven't been able to do any activity like that since i was 12 or 13... which is honestly amazing.. and i love it.
• I don't mind having scars honestly... I know that's messed up... But I have a good collection.. and i think they tell a story. stupid things like that make people unique.. so i have 4-5 tiny scars on my abdomen that just show how serious my health got.. and i started to take it seriously.. and i can now honestly say i have done just about everything i can to get it under control...
• i feel like a much stronger person having gone through all of this...
• I've certainly found out who my real friends are.. (and real family, for that matter..)
• I'm now able to wear a ring on my ring finger, that would only fit my pinkie before.
• i can shop in the juniors section at like walmart and stuff.. (still 1x-2x... the largest it goes in that section.. but i can. which is a huge accomplishment.. i haven't done that since i was 12 or 13, either.)
• I get to tell a story not many people get to tell. I get to blog about my journey through all of this and hopefully help other people.. I can honestly say I've tried everything.. and out of everything I've tried. *this* *this* and *this* is what I've found is the best, etc... not even necessarily surgery related.. but people can see I've gone to that extreme and I'm serious about getting healthier..
• which brings up the next one... my entire family always thought i was just a lazy ass who ate to much... not my immediate family.. mostly my dads side of the family.. the fact that doctors sent referrals and performed this surgery on me i think got them to realize it is a real sickness.. it's not just a kid that eats too much...
• Through having surgery, I got diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, and Sleep Apnea... and found out part of my heart was enlarged.. if i never got motivated to get a referral and see more doctors.. i probably wouldn't have found all of that out as quickly as i did, to do what i can to get it all under controll.
• It's helped me feel like if i can control this, and get through it all.. i can do anything.
• I think my parents trust me more.. Ever since I brought this up.. And I've been complying with everything.. listening to the doctors.. and even blogging about it all (which they're both happy about..) Ive stepped up to the plate... I've grown up a lot the past year or so... My mom doesn't try to control my health stuff like she did when i was younger and I'm really happy about that.
• Its a good motivation.. like i said before.. wls was a last resort.... knowing that, I'm way beyond determined to make this work... There isn't a word to describe how determined I am..
• It helped get my life back in order.. I got a GED, started getting involved in more things, got off my anti depressants, went out more, i see the few friends i have more, go to more concerts, and do more things i enjoy.. and it all started in April 2011 when i had my consult with the bariatric center.. and they accepted me into their program. things had been going bad for so long, it was a positive thing.. and it still is. the acceptance alone changed my life.. the surgery in itself is a whole different story.
• I've met some awesome friends through it.
• I started this blog because of the WLS, but through that I've gotten to help other people with metabolic issues that I've dealt with my entire life... the wls is great but the real passion i have is behind the disease that i struggled my whole life with.. and still do. surgery or no surgery. surgery is just what got this blog started up.

Con's

• Like i mentioned in the pro's section, the VSG is a hard to explain to people.. i mean once you do they understand.. but no one knows what it is.. so you actually have to go into detail to explain it.
• The people who don't accept it, dislike it, are jealous, or otherwise have a problem with me having wls.. have been a pain in the ass.
• I'm 16. I had the surgery 3 days before i turned 16. Obviously there are risks with that.. and well, not many doctors deal with it.. so for whatever reason if i ever lose the doctors I'm going to, move, etc... it'll be hard to find someone to help me out.
• as said above, I'm 16... its harder to explain to people.. and my parents get shit for letting me... even though it was my idea and ultimately my decision..
• the VSG didn't fix my metabolic stuff.. sometimes I wonder if a bypass, or DS (which the surgeon i go to doesn't do..) would have been better... Or if I'll ever need a revision to see if it'll help.. but without that, I'm still going to be drugged up forever..
• the weight loss seems to be slower for me personally, because of all the metabolic stuff (and tons of med changes)
• Chewbacca is great.. I love him/her/it. but it is kinda hard when your out with friends and they don't even really know how much I'm able to eat... if I've explained it to them, they still have no idea how much 8oz really is... and if chewbacca acts up... its hard to kind of hide.
• Sometimes I wonder if I could have done it without the surgery... But i tried my entire lief and nothing changed... so I know I made the right decision. a permanent decision.

Pros totally outweigh the cons, i believe.. I may add more to this list later, if i think of others.. which I probably will.. haha.

Weight loss has been really slow.. lots of med changes.. but this has still been the best thing I've ever done for myself... I'm ridiculously grateful to be able to take advantage of this.

<3
have a great day.
-Ashley
www.twitter.com/ashleyohara_ (don't forget the underscore..)
www.facebook.com/justashley1637
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
(:

mybodygallery.com

mybodygallery.com is pretty great... i found it a few months back on obesityhelp.com ... it's to help try and figure out what you'll look like when you hit your goal weight, or whatever..

basically you plug in any height/weight/size/etc.. and you have the option to select body type.. like apple, banana, pear, etc.... you can select as many things as you want.. and peoples pictures will come up that people have submitted that are at that specific size/height/weight/whatever you plugged in....

I'm 5'2 1/2" so i just plug in 5'2" and 130lbs.. because thats my goal. and i also hit hour glass.. because weight or no weight, i'm bigger boned. i have more curves. i always have. and this is what comes up:

http://www.mybodygallery.com/search.html?height=5+2&weight=130&pant=any&shirt=any&zphoto=Large&hourglass=1&new=1

which i'd be totally happy with.. haha. obviously i'll never look liek any of those girls... my skin will be sagging and nasty and i'll have scars.. then i'll get more scars when i have plastic surgery to remove the skin.. but scars aside.. i'd be totally happy with that..

just thought i'd share. (:

peace.<3

-ashley.
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
www.twitter.com/ashleyohara_ (don't forget the underscore.. for whatever reason it doesn't let me add it to the url)
www.facebook.com/justashley1637

(:

What to bring to the hospital..!!

Here are my blogs about the day of surgery, and the hospital stay (3 days total.. including day I had surgery) if anyone is interested. (:

http://ourfightnow.blogspot.com/2011/08/surgery-day.html

http://ourfightnow.blogspot.com/2011/09/hospital-stay.html

Now, on to the post....

When I went, i didn't pack obsessively or anything the day before.. I used (almost) everything I brought. and didn't really need anything that wasn't provided. So to put your mind at ease, here's a list of what the hospital had already provided for me.. (check with whatever hospital you're having surgery at.. because it may be different there..!)

• Toothbrush.
• Toothpaste.
• Blankets.
• Pillows.
• Soap.
• Towels to shower with if needed (I didn't until I got home..)
• Aquaphor (a vaseline type product.. it was a freaking life saver.. my lips got so dry. It definatley helped. a ton.)
• Drinks (you can't really eat in the hospital.. lol.)
• Medications (if needed.. i was swallowing pills while still in the hospital. But I didn't bring any of mine with me.. They had them on file and brought them to me from the pharmacy or whatever, there.
• Internet access.
• They gave me a word-search book to do pre-op while i was waiting.. i still have it.. haha.
• And a gown. they also had socks with grips on the bottom, and like.. sleep pants available. I spent most of my time in a gown, and sleep shorts that i brought from home, though.

So I didn't bring any of that (other than one towel to wash my face with that i never ended up using.) But what I did bring was..:

• The clothes I was wearing at the time.. (Grey cotton Shorts, bra/underwear, tank top, and a cardigan, and flip flops.)
• My laptop & Charger.
• My Ipod & Charger.
• My cell phone & charger.
• a notebook and pen (and a few sharpies.. i love drawing with them.. no clue why.)
• my meter to test my blood sugar.
• some hair elastics/ties and a headband.
• a retainer for my nose piercing (a plastic clear thing you put through it.. they have them for every piercing possible.. i didn't want to risk mine closing up during surgery and my anesthesiologist allowed me to keep the plastic retainer in..
• My nose stud.. to put back in when i woke up..
• Insurance cards and stuff like that.
• chapstick
• deoderant
• face wash (acne wash..)
• perfume/body spray/mist stuff.
• hair brush.
• eyeliner and mascara.
• differin (Rx acne medication)
• wallet
• a pair of pajama shorts, change of underwear, and 2 tank tops.
• (I bought a hospital t-shirt while i was there.. more of a reminder type thing. but i ended up wearing it on the way home.)
• and headphones.

I'm pretty sure I used all of it except one of the tanktops that i brought.. (It was the mid-end of August.. it was pretty hot.. and I was actually sunburnt at the time too.. They were the only thing that made sense untill i was freezing my ass off in the hospital.. haha.)

Oh. and I did manage to fit all of that into one black backpack that I used to use for school. I think my mom brought more than me in more bags.. and she was only there half the time I was.. (Thankfully.. she honestly REALLY got on my nerves.. She's a nurse.. trying to play nurse/doctor lady on me.. I was a bitch to her when I was drugged up.. It was crazy.)

So yeah.. Maybe those lists helped you figure out what you need to bring to the hospital to have surgery.. Keep in mind it all also depends on how long you're staying.. I stayed a total of 3 days.. I went in around 5am friday. went into surgery around 7:45am friday. then I left about 1pm on Sunday. Some people stay longer, others stay less.. (although all the nurses and doctors seemed surprized i was ready to leave on the 3rd day.. They were planning on me staying one more day at least.)

Alrighty then. I think that's about it. Have a great day. (:

-Ashley
ashleyellen1637@aol.com
www.twitter.com/ashleyohara_ (don't forget the underscore.. for some reason it wont let me add it into the url)
www.facebook.com/justashley1637

<3