Two nights in hospital- what do I need?

[surlycurly]

I'm having a scheduled op and will be in hospital for a few nights. I've been told to keep personal possessions to a minimum. What do I need...?

Toiletries
pjs or a nightie depending on where surgery was.
joggers, hoodie, comfy clothes to travel home in
dressing gown
slippers
cosy socks
kindle or a book but I can’t concentrate and read when I’ve had surgery so I take trash magazines
snacks
water. They do provide but I drink lots so take some bottles with me
my own pillow in a recognisable pillow case
phone and charger. I took a power bank last time as well.
Edited to add underwear.

Lip balm/moisturiser. The air is sooo dry.

All incredibly helpful- thanks!

pencil & notepad . Don't bother with clothes except with those you arrive and leave in .

Bring an extension cable.

Ear plugs, eye mask.

I'll need to look out my power bank!

Something cosy. A cardigan, or a blanket to put around shoulders. I always think hospitals are boiling, as a visitor, but last month had surgery and was sat shivering in just a gown until someone came and gave me a very thin blanket.

Hospitals are having a drive to reduce'pyjama Paralysis' so they might encourage you to be wearing clothes.

Earplugs or headphones - hospitals are incredibly noisy. I don’t take anything I’m not prepared to loose - so I would not take a kindle, but would take an old book, a magazine, newspaper or a puzzle book instead for example. It’s incredibly easy for me to leave something behind/for it to drop in a bin etc when I’m recovering from anaesthetic.
Good luck and hope it all goes well.

edit for missing not.

Trust me, I'll want to get out as quickly as possible!

Anybody know where your stuff goes while you’re in surgery? Phone, keys, money ?

OP, hope all goes well and swift recovery.

Much appreciated @AbbeyGailsParty . I've been told to give the nurse my phone but the rest will stay in my bag. No idea where they're putting the bag...

If you can tolerate wax earplugs - the ones you ram in rendering you temporarily nearly deaf - take those. And an eye mask. And then noise cancelling headphones to wear over the wax earplugs.

My charger was unplugged and stolen while I was away getting a scan - so I would second not taking anything you can’t afford to lose (but hopefully you’ll have a lockable bedside drawer - my phone was locked in there but not the charger). I was stolen from on an 8 bed ante natal ward.

Is it a private or NHS hospital? I had an op privately recently and it was a revelation, they gave me a big fluffy white dressing gown, slippers, snacks, private room, I'd taken my own pyjamas/nightie but there was an option to have theirs, soft grey cotton jersey. A very nice lunch but I wasn't really feeling well enough to eat I don't do well with opiates. My things stayed in my private room and the door was shut while I was gone and the nurses station was opposite and there was someone on the desk all of the time.

Eye mask for definite

It's nhs @SgtJuneAckland . It's individual rooms though as it's a new hospital and it's a neuro surgery ward. Hoping I can leave my things there.

Do you think I should not take my AirPods in? I use them all the time!!

Will you be able to shower? I had a surgery a couple of years ago and had to use this special antiseptic wash full body and hair before the surgery. I'm sure it was great at killing germs but it was nasty on my hair and smelt like antiseptic so the first thing I wanted afterwards was a shower with my shampoo, conditioner and soap.

Only other thing I'd add to the above lists is a bottle of that super concentrated Robinsons squash, the teeny squeezy one, there will be a jug of water available at all times but it will be Luke warm, having some squash to add makes it more drinkable.

If you're going to be on painkillers then take some snacks that aid digestion like prunes, grapes... painkillers can very often cause constipation.

It's actually a back surgery so I'm not sure if they'll let me have a shower or not. I'm quite anxious about the hair side of things. I'm very intolerant of gross hair!!

Can you leave any valuables with a relative to bring in?

Lip balm yes but not petroleum based.

Audiobooks. I’m a big reader but couldn’t concentrate on books or keep my eyes open to read. I could doze to audiobooks and podcasts. Libby has them for free with library membership, and if you aren’t a member you can sign up online

Unfortunately I am having the surgery miles away from home so visitors will be unlikely.

Just get some cheap headphones. AirPods are desirable and so small - easy to disappear.