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...

They've told me I'll be on a very limited low residue diet immediately afterwards, until they're sure it's all working as it should, and then I'm to add new foods one at a time to see how it affects me. I know I'm not allowed soup. And as you say, I'll mostly be having white carbs!

Face masks - I went to hospital today and that was the one think I'd forgotten! You still have to wear them there (probably not in bed but when you're arriving you'll need one on).

Kirby grins and a hair band or bobble to get your hair from your eyes.

Wet wipes.

A crossword book or something to do which won’t be too taxing.

Good luck

Someone else has Alex ready mentioned it buy flip flops for the shower. You will not want to walk around in there barefoot.

Good luck

Thanks for all the good luck wishes - to say I'm nervous is an understatement!

It's happening, there's no 2 ways about it, but I really really wish it wasn't.

A notebook and pen for making lists and things. You could start planning your christmas shopping... You could even order it all online while you're in there.

A plastic bag to sit on in the car on the way home. It will make the swivel action of turning to get out of the car so much easier and more comfortable. I forgot this after my first c section and I really thought I was not going to be able to get out of the car. I managed it in the end but it hurt. This was 24h after my surgery though so hopefully by the time you're going home you will feel a lot better. No harm in making things a bit easier tough.

Hope it all goes well. And I hope it doesn't get cancelled again!

Came on to say cheap flip flops for the shower/bathroom, you do not want to wear your slippers in there. Smelly lip balms, cover the smells on the ward. Download a sleep classical music track. There are sometimes you don’t want earplugs incase you jump when people talk to you and this helped me. Andrex toilet wipes are better than the deodorant wipes for wiping under arms/chest etc to make you feel fresher until you can shower. Dry shampoo. Put everything in little bags/sections so you can grab and not rummage, or packing cubes. Oh and power banks, easier to charge them and then have them on your bed with a short lead than the lead trailing. Cheap tablet/iPad for watching films. Little battery operated fan, some wards are nuclear hot.

Good luck!

Adding to all the other suggestions…

Face spray - it’ll be an easy way to refresh after a morphine induced sleep.

Wet wipes and or a flannel - you may be in bed baths for a little while.

Hair bobbles or a hair band if applicable.

Pre-load your kindle / Netflix etc - the wifi may be patchy in hospital.

Dry shampoo - bed bath issue again…

Good luck

Earplugs. Your own pillow. A pashmina kind of thing (esp if it smells of home) ideal for wrapping around shoulders if a bit chilly or just want some comfort. Pictures of special people. Pens and a notebook; always needed a pen after my op and it’s handy to write down what consultants tell you or ask them too.. I could never remember what was said 5 minutes later!! Facemask .. Vaseline (my lips got so dry as did behind my ears where the mask went).. dry shampoo and hair ties!

A little kit with nail scissors, tweezers etc is handy to have if you’ve got room in your bag. Small tube of E45 cream for dry skin, or maybe some talc if you use it.
Little notepad for jotting down anything you want to ask the consultant.

I hope all goes well for you, and you make a swift recovery.

DD had spinal surgery earlier this year and she really enjoyed a hot water bottle she found it really helped with the pain when she was in bed.
Hair detangling spray, she was in bed for 4 days before she could have a shower and wash her hair and it was a big knotty mess, also dry shampoo for the same reason.
She brought a fleece blanket from home because the hospital blankets are a bit crap, when she was sat in the chair she had something to put over her legs, she was in a nighty because they needed access to her back so her legs were always cold.

I’m also having an operation on Saturday and need to start packing as i’m isolating away from home too. Some brilliant suggestions, good luck op x

A little mirror so you can check yourself in bed.

Best of luck with the surgery, I have crohns disease and often wonder if I'll end up with a stoma one day. I hope it all goes well and you get the relief you need from the medical issues you're dealing with.

Those tiny bottles of squash (no blackcurrant for you though, for a while!). Maybe some straws.

Moisturising eye drops?

Download a few things you want to watch in advance as hospital WiFi won’t support streaming.
Some magazines in case attention span isn’t great
You could take Xmas cards to write if you do send them

Face mask

Blanket, pillow and fluffy socks.

Ah, just read why you're going in. I'm getting closer to that quicker than I want to - I have Crohn's. Good luck and take care of yourself.

I was in hospital for 5 days last December. The things I really appreciated were my IPad, and long charging cable, and an Audible subscription. I was not feeling well enough to read a book, but listening relaxed me a keep the various noises around me at bay.

I also had DH bring me a light blanket from home as I was too hot.

Good luck with your surgery OP. You sound well organized and prepared.

A towel.

Cardigan - sometimes you don’t want a dressing gown on but need something to cover you.

Peppermint tea/oil. Good for shifting wind after abdo surgery.

Hand cream, they get so dry washing them so often.

A stand for your phone so you can watch Netflix. I’ve just had a bowel resection where a stoma was expected but not needed in the end. I also had one of those v shaped cushions so I could rest my stomach on it. I hope all goes well

Hi again OP. Nerve racking waiting I am sure. I have ulcerative colitis fortunately in remission on a biologic, but I have been close to stoma surgery a few times.

I hear great things about people feeling so much better afterwards.

One other thing I thought of was some of those drops you can put in water to make it taste good. Little bottles. I have seen them in England. I used to take the little juice cartons and empty them into my water cup as it encouraged me to drink water. The only issue with that was getting up to wee with IV pole etc.!

Bit off topic but I've got crohns and had a temporary stoma for 6 months.

Jelly babies and marshmallows are your friends. I had high output from my stoma and they really helped

Nighties and big Big underwear. I had 3 sizes bigger

specs if you wear them
crossword books/magazines/notebook
pen
hairbrush/hairdryer
electric fan, if you can (in my experience, wards were very hot)

When I was in hospital (quite frequently when having chemo!) I took an extension cable so that I could plug in my phone and ipad chargers and reach them easily (plugs in hospitals are always in awkward positions!). Wet wipes are also an essential. Headphones aswell. Good luck.