You never know what you'll need.
And it's true - whatever plans you make, they will change. Whatever preparations you make, you'll find later that you were somehow unprepared.
Still, here are some fairly universal ideas that should be helpful for anyone who's about to go through pretty much any type of bunion surgery.
#1 Freezer Pack. This will be your best friend during those crucial times between meds or as you shift away from meds.
#2 Rolling chair or wheelchair - or better yet, an ottoman with wheels on it so you can kind of drag yourself around the house with just your heels and get some core exercise at the same time.
#3 LapDesk - for those endless hours in bed with the laptop, trying to get your work done.
#4 Pepsid AC - to counteract the evil side effects of the meds you'll be taking.
#5 Press-N-Seal - to create fabulous custom bandage or cast coverings for showering.
#6 Handicap-Accessible Room at the Marriott Residence Inn - complete with kitchenette and the sit-down shower! (HOWEVER - Accessible Designers please take note - most of the kitchen cabinets and some of the appliances were not REACHABLE from the wheelchair, nor were the curtain pulls.)
#7 Pilates Matt DVD's - the only exercise that seems effective without using your feet.
#8 Hand Sanitizer.
#9 Lotions & Potions - especially anything with vitamin E oil, or cocoa butter lotion, to start taking care of those scars as early as possible. Later on, after 8 weeks of healing, I switched to alpha hydroxy products to deal with all of the excess skin that needed sloughing off.
#10 Housekeeping.
#11 VARIETY of socks, shapes, fit, weights (big fluffy may not be the best answer as you thought. I was not able to wear ANY but the THINNEST socks inside my sneakers during the 3rd/4th week).
#12 Swimming - soon after, a membership to a swimming pool is a nice bonus.
