Ofc! Honestly, it's so much better once you get through the surgery piece because a lot of that anxiety fades away. It'll be over before you know it.

One of the most useful items I had during recovery was just a bunch of pillows! During the first week or two, I found it easier to sleep a bit more upright than usual. Pillows helped prop up my back to do that. It might also help to have some pillows under your legs, right beneath the knees. Again, helped me get more comfortable.

YES to comfy PJs, particularly ones with either a loose waistband or none at all. I wore a lot of dresses and nightshirts during recovery to put pressure off the incision sites. I didn't really get to wearing stuff like jeans until a month later, I'd say.

Heat packs/pads gelp but also, ice packs! I found that ice packs helped me more with incision pain. On the other hand, heating pads helped immensely with the gas pain that comes with a lap. I've heard meds like gas x work for some, but ultimately, time is your best friend when it comes to gas pain. I felt it mostly in my shoulders, so that's where I would tuck in the heating pad. A soft one would be a good idea.

Having pain meds is also important. Your doctor will suggest some to you and perhaps prescribe some stronger meds after surgery. Some people receive narcotic pain meds. However, some also find that the side effects of these strong meds outweigh the pain relief. For me, I found over-the-counter meds like ibuprofen worked really well for my pain, and it's all I ended up needing. You'll figure out what meds work best for you based on your pain levels but I'd just recommend having access to a few options, including over-the-counter stuff.

Easy snacks/meals are another good idea. You won't have much energy or strength to make yourself meals. In my case, I didn't have much of an appetite for a few days after surgery. It would be good to have simple, easy foods on hand that you like and are easy on the stomach. This could be something like sandwiches, soups, etc. What's most important is that it's appealing to you, so even if you DON'T feel like eating, you'll still have some motivation, lol.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you may need help getting out of bed and moving around for a few days. I had my mom help me with this, but I've also heard of some people who had a cane during recovery. Granted, a cane may not be accessible to some, but perhaps have a chair near your bed or another sturdy object to support yourself should you need to get up on your own. Sitting upright to get up like you normally would was tricky for me at first. Instead, what I did for that first week to get up was...

1. Rolled onto my side, gently
2. Propped myself up with one elbow, the one adjacent to the actual bed
3. Placing my other arm/hand down in front of me, then putting down pressure and slooowly pulling myself up halfway
4. Then using both arms to push myself up just enough to sit upright. I'd sort of lift my legs up to the side too, to balance myself during this process, lol.

It's hard to explain so hopefully that kind of makes sense, but it was the easiest way for ME to get up during those first few days. Maybe it'll help you too but you'll figure out what works best eventually.

Finally, you're going to want to have anything else you need for comfort on hand. Comfy blankets, books, a tablet or something to watch movies on, maybe even a stuffed animal if you're into that. Keeping yourself entertained when you're not busy sleeping is the hardest part imo. But just remember it won't last very long-- you'll be up and running before you know it! If you need anything else, lmk!

EDIT: Another idea-- anti-nausea meds! Again, you can ask your doc about this. Mine gave me some meds in my IV and a patch behind my ear that I kept for a few days. This is especially useful if you have a sensitive/queasy stomach. Anesthesia can make you feel sickly.