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Two nights in hospital- what do I need?

49 replies

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 20:15

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...?

OP posts:
whatausername · 12/11/2023 20:54

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 20:46

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

They will vanish! You just need one confused delirious patient to come and nab 'em

trampoline123 · 12/11/2023 20:57

I always pack like I'm going on holiday but I wouldn't go without:

Ear plugs, eye mask, my own pillow, entertainment, big water bottle, snacks, extension lead, ear phones incase you're on a shared ward, nice toiletries.

I've worn the men's pjs more recently which I prefer to the women's gowns.

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 21:03

Some really helpful tips here. I'm quite vain so I'm not sure whether to take makeup. Is that daft?

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 12/11/2023 21:15

A sleep mask and earplugs
Long phone charger
Comfortable clothing
Flip flops for shower( if nhs hospital!)
Something like cordial to add to water
Lip balm and moisturiser
Snacks if you will be allowed to eat afterwards

uncomfortablydumb53 · 12/11/2023 21:16

Buy some cheap " AirPods"

uncomfortablydumb53 · 12/11/2023 21:17

Take make up if you normally wear it

Pippim · 12/11/2023 21:25

An extra long cable for your charger. Eye mask as they often leave lights on half the night.
A bottle of squash to make a change from water. A towel. I was too ill to wash for several days and no-one helped me. When I finally managed to get to a shower I had no towel.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/11/2023 21:32

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 20:50

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!!

Our spinal
Patients would have their hair plaited into French plaits to keep
It out of the way and stop it getting knotted. If you have long hair it's worth having it done.

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 21:37

@Toddlerteaplease it's only just shoulder length. Not sure what to do. I have dry shampoo and can just wear it back. Not sure how the showering thing works either.

OP posts:
DyslexicPoster · 12/11/2023 21:38

A very long phone charger lead. 3 metres
A good power bank fully charged.
Flip flops.
Baby Wipes because when I was in for a week, there was no shower on the last ward, well there was but it was being used as a comond storage.
Sadly a small padlock might be useful as I had a lots of ladies with various degrees of dementia and one was convinced everything I had, I had stolen from her, like my 90p Primark hairbrush.
Ear plugs and a eyemask. Small mirror. Carrier bags for dirty washing and a spare bag in case everything doesn't fit back in your bag ( how I have no idea, but my stuff didn't fit back in.
Notepad and pen for when weird questions pop randomly into your head at night for the doctor.
Take a wide scarf or hoodie. It's never cold but sometimes it's nice to just faeel a bit snuggled up in your own kit.
Small towel or flannel
Some paracetamol just in case ( sometimes the meds only came at med trolley times)
Headphones and downloaded music, podcasts and something to watch.

The thing I struggled with eventually was the older ladies shouting with dementia. So if I could only take three things it would be phone, lead, earplugs.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/11/2023 21:39

See if they have no rinse shampoo caps.Hair in microwave, rub on hair and bobs your uncle. We used to get the patients in the shower when they were up and about and off all infusions.

surlycurly · 12/11/2023 21:44

Jjngs there are loads of things I haven't thought of here. Thank you!

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 12/11/2023 21:52

Just a thought about hair washing
You can buy a cap or solution called Nil aqua to clean your hair.
I used one after Cataract surgery recently

EllaPaella · 12/11/2023 21:55

Ear plugs 100%
Ipad/Kindle
Books
Snacks
Toiletries
Take your own pillow (I'm a nurse and can you that pillows are a rare find in hospital!)

JustKen · 12/11/2023 21:59

In addition to the above: Dettol wipes.

Don't take your most expensive tech in. It goes missing.

MaloneMeadow · 12/11/2023 22:04

If it’s an NHS hospital then 100% bring your own snacks, squash for water etc. The food that my DD was served was a disgrace, I wouldn’t have even given it to the dog

Blankets + own pillows from home will be far comfier than the hospital ones
PJs, dressing gown, slippers
Eyemask + earplugs to block out light and noise on ward
Extra long phone charger to reach your bed
Entertainment (books, iPad/laptop for Netflix/movies/TV, AirPods or earphones)

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 12/11/2023 22:08

Squash if you’re not a fan of plain water as I’m not. Sent DH in with one of those wee squeezy efforts not a big bottle and it helped him keep hydrated. Also a sports bottle or such so you can have a drink without having to sit bolt upright.

Instead of hardcore pjs see if you can find some loungewear type stuff so you look dressed even if you’re not really. Not grey though as DH found he did sweat a bit and it was very very obvious.

Qwaszx · 12/11/2023 22:20

I wouldn't want to forget

Extra long charging cable and plug attachment.

Spray deodorant

A wooly wrap. Easier for me than a dressing gown with canulas and drips. Plus, its warmer.

I have a bag packed all the time now. I was caught out 10 years ago. I take it out every year or so from under the bed to hoover it and change the toiletries.

DNLove · 12/11/2023 22:25

Flip flops, kindle, a really long charger cable, a fleece blanket, ear phones and tablet. Hair bobbins.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 12/11/2023 22:33

Minimal valuables, I'd take wired headphones if compatible with whatever divice you use? If you're a bit loopy from meds airpods are very small and easy to misplace.

They also have a habit of whipping sheets off beds at a moments notice, I'd be worried something little like that would end up going through the laundry. They managed to run off with a woman's pajamas she'd left on the bed while she cleaned her teeth last time I was in hospital!

I would absolutely take eye mask and ear plugs, absolute necessity.

Hand cream and face moisturiser is nice, I always find my skin goes painfully dry.

Some way of entertaining yourself, book, phone with streaming app, something like that. Charger. Minimal cash, in case you want some sweets or something and are well enough to go to a vending machine or cafe/shop.

Overnight basic toiletries. You'll probably be feeling like doing the absolute minimum. Dry shampoo if your hair will really bother you in case you can't shower?

In my experience when you have surgery your belongings are locked in a locker, and they attach the key to your gown, that you're wearing while you're under. Once you're in recovery, you give someone the key and they go and get your stuff for you.

stepintochristmas1 · 12/11/2023 22:35

Qwaszx · 12/11/2023 22:20

I wouldn't want to forget

Extra long charging cable and plug attachment.

Spray deodorant

A wooly wrap. Easier for me than a dressing gown with canulas and drips. Plus, its warmer.

I have a bag packed all the time now. I was caught out 10 years ago. I take it out every year or so from under the bed to hoover it and change the toiletries.

I thought it was just me that always had a bag packed ! I have an illness that means sometimes when I get an infection it leads straight to hospital .

Mikki77 · 12/11/2023 22:41

Add hand gel to the list and make sure you and visitors use it!

MrShady · 12/11/2023 22:50

For my discectomy I took

Pjs, slippers, warm bed socks
Clean top, knickers, socks, slip on shoes (wore comfy trousers)
Charger and phone
Medication (including paracetamol)
Skincare/makeup/deo
Snacks!
Cordial mini bottle
Magazines/book
Money for my taxi home
Used a wheeled bag and nothing heavy as I knew I would have to carry/pull it myself

I went in the morning, op started around 10.30am, woke up at 4pm, discharged at midday the next day so I wasn't even in 24hrs post op

WinterCarlisle · 12/11/2023 22:59

Loooong phone charger
one of those little squeezy bottles of squash - I had anaesthetic recently and really needed something to get the taste out of my mouth
baby wipes - I loved these for a quick freshen up (was in 3 nights)
ear plugs and sleep mask

best of luck!

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