I'm having surgery, what have I forgotten to pack?

[ColitisSucks]

I'm having a big operation on Saturday (I hope, it's already been cancelled once!) my bag is packed, but what have I forgotten? I'll be in for 1-2 weeks.

It's abdominal surgery so no food. I've packed comfy clothes and pj's. Slippers and a dressing gown. Washing stuff (shower gel, toothbrush etc) face and hand cream. Phone charger, headphones. A cross stitch kit. Phone has my kindle and Netflix on it. Carrier bag for dirty washing.

Anything else I need? DP will be visiting, and will bring anything I need, but mulling over this is stopping me thinking about the operation...

Perfume and a lightweight, easily washable blanket from home made me feel more human when I was last in. And cash for the hospital shop. Good luck!

Extra long charging cable.
Battery bank.
Ear plugs.
Eye mask.
Pens - maybe you'll fancy a crossword and pens are like gold dust on a ward
Lip balm - wards are hot and drying
Your own towel!

When I had a laparoscopy I needed very elasticated trousers a couple of sizes bigger than I normally wore as I had to make sure the waistband sat between the incisions. I think I wore a nightie for the first couple of days so it might be worth packing one of those as well just in case you can't stand having trousers on to start with.

Baby wipes are handy for many things.

Good luck with it.

Ear plugs are handy. Hospitals can be very noisy at night. Eye Mask too, the lights are often on all hours. A cushion or pillow of your own might help with getting comfy.

Put little items you use a lot -lip balm, mints, mini pack of tissues, ear plugs-in a little tie handle bag so that you can lift it out of your bedside locker onto your lap to get out what you want rather than twisting and rummaging around trying to find one small item. flip flops for the shower. Eye mask because it’s really hard to sleep with people putting the lights on.
Payment Card for when you are able to shuffle down to the shop to relieve boredom and buy something you fancy.

I hope all goes well and you have a speedy recovery

Dettol wipes you can give everything around your bed a wipe

I had surgery last week and was so cross at myself for not taking an eye mask or lip balm. Absolutely vital to have both of them!

Crap magazines. Nightie in case you need a catheter. Snacks for after the op - boiled sweets, cereal bars etc. One of those mini bottles of squash as the water is often rank.

Ah, yes, I did buy myself a silk eyemask from accessorise at the weekend - completely spur of the moment, but like I said, distracting myself!

Pens are a good shout, thank you! And lip balm. And a nightie. Think I have one from when I had DD.

Thank you :)

Mints or other sweets for if you have a dry mouth
Extra blanket or cardigan. Some wards are really hot but others are chilly.
Your comfiest bra

Definitely a black eye mask and some decent wax ear plugs!

Drench shower wipes were a lifesaver after my caesarean when bending and twisting to wash was painful. Definitely an extra long charging cable, maybe a tablet with headphones too. Plus extra stretchy bottoms and nightie like others have said. Good luck!

Flip flops for shower. Ear plugs. Lip balm. Eye mask. Hand cream

Extra long charging cable and power bank.
Some very loose jogger trousers for post op - I bought a really cheap pair a size bigger, because you just don’t want anything in the vicinity of tight on your tummy for a while
Mega huge pants for the same reason
A small cushion for holding over your incision when you cough
I took boiled sweets for the first couple of days post op when I wasn’t too hungry, but just wanted ‘something’ of a taste.

Best of luck!

Moisturiser, my skin dries out so badly in hospital and itches like mad.
2nd pps suggestions of Lip balm and wipes.
I know you said no food, but would something like mints or boiled sweets be any good for after surgery when your mouth feels a little dry or you get a 'taste'....mil was in a few weeks back and requested boiled sweets because she kept getting a 'taste' in her mouth and wanted something to suck on.

Sanitary supplies (if applicable)
Comfortable, loose bloomer type underwear
Warm bed socks with those non-slip pads on the bottom
A head torch for reading at night if you don't want the main light on
A small, lit clock- unless you wear a fitbit. Nothing worse than waking in the night and having no idea what time it is

Lozenger of some sort. Some people get a scratchy feeling in their throat from the breathing tube.

I don't knowbif yoire allowed to with covid and how things are washed but your own pillow. I hate hospital pillows

I'm going to be on a really strict limited diet after surgery - I'm having a stoma - so I don't know yet if I'll be allowed sweets for the few days immediately afterwards. Usually I'd have a big bag of haribo as the first thing I'd pack!

I've no idea how I'm going to feel. For the first couple of days at least I think I'll be on some pretty hefty painkillers so will probably just be sleeping lots.

I hope everything goes well. One thing I took was antibacterial cleaning wipes, on a shared ward it meant I could wipe around the bathroom, my bedside table, the chair by my bed. This was pre Covid, I was cautious. I also took small bottles of water to drink.

Yes, wipes are a good shout too. Especially for the bathroom, I hadn't thought of that.

Second Extra long cable and a power bank.
Wireless headphone (noise cancelling ones if you can)

Puzzle book /pen /notebook

Moisturiser
body cream
flannels
Dry shampoo and bobbles etc
Ear buds
Deodorants
Facial spritz
Hand sanitizer

Squash
Nice instant coffee if you can have it the stuff from the breakfast trolley was RANK.
Hot Flask and cold drink bottle
Favourite cold drinks abs nice water I didn't like then horrible plastic jugs and cups
I would say many snacks but you said no food

Comfy pants and bras

Don't take any a jewellery or bank cards use Apple pay if you can.

A cheap watch

Wishing you all the best OP

You'll probably find there's easy access to Clinell cleaning wipes while you're there.
Cuppa soups, your own tea or coffee. Hair bobbles, shower cap.

Comb and/or brush.

Hi OP - I had an (elective) colectomy a few years ago. Hope your surgery goes well. Sounds like you have got lots of good ideas from previous posters.

Have you specifically been told you won't be able to eat for a while? Normally they are keen to get you eating again asap after surgery as it helps with getting your insides working properly. Stodgy carbs are your friends