Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Being in hospital and PJs or getting dressed

24 replies

Unsureaboutallthis · 14/04/2019 14:07

I’m probably being silly but I’m anxious. I’m being admitted to hospital for a planned treatment for around a week. It’s not surgery, it’s an intravenous drug. I’ll probably feel unwell but not terrible. Then again, nobody knows. Anyway, the letter says to bring toiletries and nightclothes but I don’t know if I’d be getting dressed, should I bring clothes? Sorry, I know this sounds ridiculous but I’ve managed to work myself up in a right state over something so minor. Hmm

OP posts:
MyNameIsFartacus · 14/04/2019 14:08

Take some daytime clothes and if you want to get dressed then do, there is no requirement for you to stay in PJ's!

belle40 · 14/04/2019 14:09

Hello OP. You may want to take some comfortable clothing in addition to nightwear. It can make quite a difference to feel that you are comfortable but 'dressed' if this makes sense. Good luck with your treatment.

stucknoue · 14/04/2019 14:10

Take comfortable day clothes eg leggings and a soft tunic dress but think about where they need access eg for drip, blood pressure. If you aren't staying overnight no need for pj's

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
ValleyoftheHorses · 14/04/2019 14:10

I sent week admitted prior to DS arriving due to placenta praevia. I found it helpful to have a shower and get dressed every day, but wore tracksuit bottoms or yoga pants - very comfy things.

SauvignonBlanche · 14/04/2019 14:14

Definitely day clothes #EndPJparalysis.

YesQueen · 14/04/2019 14:17

Take some comfy clothing. The PJ paralysis thing was a big thing in the hospital I was in

AuntieMaggie · 14/04/2019 14:18

I just had clean PJ bottoms each day and wore with a vest/t-shirt and hoody but I spent a lot of time sleeping and it was more comfortable. You could just take a pair of joggers for the daytime.

OutdoorApathy · 14/04/2019 14:20

I took some comfy tracksuit trousers and t-shirt. So I had something different to my pj's but still warm and felt like I'd done something during the day!

Thistles24 · 14/04/2019 14:20

Our hospital has a “PJ paralysis” campaign on just now too, basically getting everyone up, showered and dressed each day instead of staying in bed in their pyjamas. Leggings and a top/loungewear would be perfect- something comfortable but you don’t feel as exposed as you do in pyjamas.

Urgh2019 · 14/04/2019 14:21

Take comfy daytime clothes. It will make you feel better to get changed. You might not be stuck in the ward all the time and can go to the coffee shop with visitors etc so nice to have clothes.

EmmaJR1 · 14/04/2019 14:22

I was in for 5 days and felt so much better getting washed and dressed each day. Makes you feel more human. Good luck

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 14/04/2019 14:23

Our hospital has a “PJ paralysis” campaign on just now too, basically getting everyone up, showered and dressed each day instead of staying in bed in their pyjamas that's been standard at every hospital I've been in, even 17 years ago. I didn't realise some hospitals don't do this.

theworldistoosmall · 14/04/2019 14:33

I always take something comfy for the day, and stuff that can be layered. I find that hospitals temperatures quickly change.
I often go for walks around the hospital and local shops and prefer clothes.
Just think about what you wear and the cannula placement. I've knocked a few out because of tops.

Original poster
Unsureaboutallthis · 14/04/2019 15:12

Thanks, all. I’ll be staying as an inpatient as the infusion runs quite a long time and I need monitoring.

I was on hospital ages ago and they did encourage people to get dressed but I was so unwell, I think I stayed in my PJs.

OP posts:
Louise7777 · 14/04/2019 15:15

I would personally take stuff like jogging bottoms and baggy tops so should you want or are able to move around

wibbleee · 14/04/2019 15:40

definalety try to get showered and properly dressed. after c section I was the only 1 in my bay to do this. Felt better for it. I made my own bed, tidied up etc. I also worked in this hospital and felt I was helping out. Also alleviated hospital boredom. Urgggh used to see PJ paralysis a lot in people. It really gets on staff`s goats! its better for you physically to be up and about ( depending on what you can do) and mentally.

I remember a 16 yr old lad in hospital after his appendix out, surrounded by doating mum and dad..... they rang the bell for ds to have a commode brought to his bedside. Now we`d been encouraging him to shift his gears (and arse) out of bed and said on handover no commode. so they got short shrift.

squeakyreptile · 14/04/2019 15:45

I was in a pretty similar situation! I brought my both options. In the end (as I thought I would!), I liked wearing my normal clothes, and doing my make up etc. Honestly, I just felt more myself- and I didn't feel ill.

It was a good to have the PJs for back up in case I felt ill (who knows what side effects they are going to get to any mediation). I would say though, with having a cannula, to bring clothes with loose sleeves.

CharlotteFlax · 14/04/2019 15:53

Pack PJs for the night and a few comfy day clothes as long as you've got someone who can take them away and bring back laundered (just thinking of storage space)

Otherwise pack enough for PJs and comfy day clothes like leggings/joggers and loose tops/hoodies for the full week.

Hope all goes well and we've managed to help lessen the frenzy!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 14/04/2019 15:57

Soft clothes are ideal for days in hospital. There's an initiative in my local hospital about clothes making you feel like you are getting better but pjs reinforcing being unwell. Personally I think it's up to the patient what they wear, but whatever you do choose it is more comfortable if it's soft.

gerbo · 14/04/2019 16:17

It's usually boiling hot in hospital wards, as I found out recently, so a T-shirt may be best on top- gives access to your arms too for any injection or blood pressure readings. Light tracky bottoms?
Hope all goes well!

gerbo · 14/04/2019 16:19

Oh and don't forget slippers as I did! Or easy to slip on shoes/trainers. You don't want to be walking round in socks.

I ended up with hospital slipper socks which were fine and I was glad my 'good' home slippers weren't used in hospital in the end (germs?!). Maybe treat yourself to a new pair?

Original poster
Unsureaboutallthis · 14/04/2019 16:56

Oh yes, slippers, thank you! I did forget.

I’m going for light trackies and a t shirt during the day as they’ll need access to my cannula, I assume.

My lovely OH and parents will visit and can bring clean clothes but I want them to ready to alleviate stress.

Thanks again xx

OP posts:
DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 14/04/2019 18:02

I'm usually in for leg ops, so it's shorts, short sleeve shirt with buttons, and a fleece top for leaving the building. Don't be caught out by a sunny day, you'll have been cooking indoors for nearly a week, so the breeze will be like knives.

theworldistoosmall · 14/04/2019 18:17

Earplugs as well.
When I go in for transfusions and infusions I also take my laptop and binge on Netflix.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page