Tips for Preparing for Surgery

• Have a partner, family member, or buddy with you for a few days after the surgery. This should be someone that you are comfortable with. They'll be able to help you with food, bathing, taking your prescription medications, dressing the wounds, etc.
• HDMI or AV adaptor for streaming movies in your hotel room
• If you're having a bilateral mastectomy:
  • Pack button-down shirts. You will not be able to lift your arms above your head. Button-down shirts will prevent your stitches from breaking and will relieve discomfort when dressing and undressing.
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• Ask your surgeon what type of dressings he recommends that you use after the operation. You can pick these up before the surgery.
• Ask your surgeon if he will supply you with your prescriptions at the pre-op appointment. If you are having surgery in the United States, you will be required to show a photo ID to receive a prescription for a controlled substance. It is best to handle this the night before your surgery.
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Choosing a Hotel

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• Check to see if the hotel offers free or reasonably priced WiFi.
• If you plan on streaming movies to the TV in the room, check with the hotel to make sure that they haven't locked the TV's. Some hotels attempt to discourage you from streaming movies because they want you to purchase movies through their TV service. If you are streaming movies from the internet, you'll need a WiFi enabled hotel room, or access to an ethernet cable in the room that is close to the TV.
• Check to make sure that the hotel doesn't limit the cable channels. Some hotels will say they offer cable, but only a few channels are complimentary. This is usually not a problem at the larger chains. Check the online reviews about the hotel to see guests have any complaints.
• If you're staying more than a few days, opt for an extended stay hotel.
  • They offer significant discounts for guests who plan to stay for several days.
  • They may have cookware and a small kitchen in the room
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• Write down your medication intake. This is especially important if you won't have someone around to monitor your care in the days following the surgery. Painkillers can distort your perception of time and cause gaps in your memory. It is vital that you do not over-medicate yourself, especially if you are alone.
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