If you've been on a hospital ward recently...

[KenAdams]

...was it boiling or freezing? Wonder what to pack - I'm a naturally cold person and due to the nature of my surgery some of my normal clothing won't be suitable.

I'm also packing some noise cancelling headphones so I can sleep as I'm very sensitive to noise.

Anything else I'll need? I take it you need your own shampoo, shower gel and towel? No one has really told me what to bring it re personal items.

Hotter than hell.

I've been in a private hospital three times this year and it's been too hot on every occasion.

Take your own pillow, they are made of plastic.

I was able to tip the duvet out of the cover and just sleep with the cotton cover as a blanket which was much nicer.

I gave myself a good blow dry the morning I went in and kept it in a messy bun and managed 5 days before I had to wash it. I had gynae surgery anyway so I didn't use a hairdryer for weeks afterwards, I just tied my hair up wet.

I found the water was absolutely fine. Oh I took my own fruit to eat as I couldn't face eating off the menu and they went on and on about me having something so I ate my banana.

does the admission letter not give you a list? i know our local hospital likes patients if possible to wear loose clothing like tracksuits etc in the day rather than stay in nightwear. i think changing to something like leggings and tshirts or hoodies is a good idea apart from comfort and modesty, it always somehow makes me sleep better if i change into sleepwear at bedtime rather than wear it all the time

They always bang on about day clothes but I've been in hospital for long periods of time and never seen anyone bother to get dressed. Tbh these days if you're well enough to get yourself dressed you're out the door and home !

Definitely take some snacks OP, nights can be very long if you've had dinner at 5pm and then are up all night.

Oh yes take your own pillow if you can!

Our hospital is freezing on one side of the ward and boiling on the other so... it depends. Definitely take warm things just in case - there's nothing worse than being cold when you're already not well.

I’ve been in hospital for similar surgery. Do not lug in your own towels. Hospitals have plentiful towels and facilities for washing them. There’s typically nowhere to hang up used towels so they will replace them frequently. Best advice is to take a good supply of fresh fruit. Pain relief will likely constipate you and then they start with the laxatives and it's a viscous cycle. Good luck, hope it goes well.

Medication has to be in packets with a prescription label on
Otherwise they wont be able to give it to you
They administer the drugs, you cant take your own out of your already made pot for example

Everytime i am in, they never have all of my meds available so i always remember to bring my own and they give them when im due

I'm glad you've mentioned about the medication as I have a pill pot I was going to put them in.

Nothing at all re clothing or what to bring to the hospital with you in the documents I was given.

My mum has just had a 2 month stint. It was roasting but she felt cold so I brought on an oodie style big too she could wear when wandering as the cafe didn’t let you in in nightwear so she couldn’t wear her big fluffy dressing gown off the ward (it’s a hospital ffs most people are in nightwear). She shit herself a few times as she has dementia and the pads aren’t wonderful. They gave her a colonoscopy prep twice so she was suffering serious diarrhoea. She ended up in hospital PJ’s and looked like an inmate but they meant her own stuff was kept for when she was a bit less ‘runny’. They provided toiletries apart from toothbrush/paste even deodorant was provided. Definitely take shower showers and a kindle/i-pad etc

Do you have someone that is able to bring you stuff from home. You could always set a pile of warmer or lighter clothes aside to save you having to take in too much stuff at first. Temp does seem to be a bit variable looking here.

MTU was freezing and I had to borrow a jumper off a work colleague. AMU ward was OK as was the ward I ended up on. The side room I was in was hotter than hell but did at least have windows I could keep open 24/7.

Yes, planning to send home stuff each day and I've made a pile of suitable outfits for DH to bring in daily. Mix of long and short sleeved though so I'll keep something warm I can wear over it in the hospital that lasts a few days.

Ha yes it does seem mixed! I'll have to rethink some of the jumpers I've set aside too as the sleeves will be too tight.

If you have a massive loose Cardigan that you can drape over your shoulders that would be good for covering up and putting over the bed as a homely blanket. Spray a dab of your perfume on it for something to sniff if you get home sick. I was happy most of the time but a late night noisy admission and feeling ill, i did appreciate my own smelly cardi.

I was in for a week in lockdown and a hospital gown as a nightgown was handy. I also threw food over myself eating in bed so it was less washing. Definitely power bank and a really long charging lead. They will ask if you have any valuables and to hand them over or sign a disclaimer. I'd pack a bag ( even carrier bag) to wrap your devices up in at night. No one robbed me blind but the staff insisted I'd get everything stolen.

Carrier bags for dirty washing.

Take in more than one week of your normal medication as I couldn't get discharged as they couldn't order in my usual blood pressure meds. Saying I had enough at home didn't cut it. Everything needs to be in its original box and they take them off you.

If you can get up snd shuffle about you should get home faster.

Was on one today visiting. So hot I was down to a vest top. I don’t know how the staff cope.

Best of luck with everything OP.

I very recently visited a post major op person.
Normally the light blanket and sheet provided is enough, and it can d feel uncomfortable to be hampered by too much clothing,
However my friend who is normally ok with the bedding had pretty bad shivers, and I requested a second blanket... it was no trouble they said.
When your body it isn't functioning properly, you can feel unusually cold.
I agree about an eye mask,coz even if you opt to keep the curtains around you, the height they reach is just below that very harsh lighting.
You can request lights to be reduced, providing the other occupants on your section also want lower level lighting.

Re the bland food... I requested the Asian menu, and it was a revelation, as in my opinion, so much better, tastier.

Uncomfortably boiling - maternity ward

My DP was in hospital for a month. He had an extra pillow and a blanket from home as the nights were quite chilly. In the day it was boiling so they opened all the windows...he was right next to one so felt the draft!

I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital this year with my baby. It’s always been warm in the wards. That said, I take my own pillows and a single duvet. I find it hard to get comfortable/ cosy under the hospital blankets, and the pillows are awful.

Ear plugs if you can't sleep with headphones in.

I always ask to have the curtains drawn around at night, I was in one ward where they tried to tell me that it was better if they could see everyone, but I just insisted. In the day I don't care.

Hair—I take dry shampoo and then get your husband to help you wash your hair a few days in. Ideally, the staff would help, but it's hard to get everyone washed and dressed in the mornings, and so my experience is that that often gets either left until later or not at all.

Our hospital has good ward staff, mostly health-care assistants, they are well trained and try to make everything as good as possible.

That's a good idea and I can have him bring in my hairdryer that day too then just take it home. I'm getting quite a bit cut off my hair before I go in to make it more manageable.

Thanks all, bag packed as per your suggestions.

I was in hospital at the end of August and it was freezing.

Boiling or freezing on my ward. No
Happy medium!

Very hot generally .
need flip flops or slippers
definitely no towels . You would have nowhere to hang them