Ideas for a long hospital admission

[longadmission]

I am about to be admitted to hospital for a few weeks, not sure on the exact length of time yet. I have a few puzzle books, and have loaded up my kindle. There's decent wifi so can watch netflix/disney/prime. Can anyone recommend anything to keep me occupied, preferably things I can order form amazon for family to bring in. Always open to more puzzle book or programme/movie recommendations. I'm normally very active so this will be a nightmare for me!

BBC Sounds was a life saver for DH when he was in hospital for a month last year. Comedy, docs, audio books etc.

Tell me you haven’t spent time in hospital without saying it.

Reality is a bit different. You’d be lucky to sleep at night, let alone by day.

I was going to suggest crochet. I wouldn't get a kit. I'd get a few balls of DK weight yarn and good quality (e.g. clover amour or tulip) 4mm crochet hook and then follow YouTube tutorials. Bella Coco is great for learning. Once you have the basics then look for different granny square pattern - there are loads of free patterns online or you could get a book. Easy to make and you can sew them together to make scarves, cardigans or even a blanket if you get loads done.

Or if you have basic knitting skills you could make socks. Google Winwick Mum sockalong.

Agree with the crochet suggestion.

If you feel up to learning to do some granny squares do have a look at the Woolly Hugs website. I think it's run by a MNetter and they do some fabulous work making blankets for different causes.

www.woollyhugs.org

What a silly thing to say. I think what you would like is a holiday from life, which is understandable, and an entirely different thing!

A good eye mask so you can nap in darkness at anytime.
Ear plugs
Hair treatment mask
I always take flannels so I can put hot water on one and spa my face (in a sense)
A really random book, I got one on caring for a donkey. Never had a horse but it was a good read and you didnt need to focus on it, which is ideal when your head isnt with it.

Hope all goes well

Duolingo is great fun and free.

I’ve spent several weeks in hospital over the last few years.
Iplayer/Netflix etc are great for series watching.
I play different games on my phone.
I have done colouring books and also sticker books!
Small Lego kits or similar - temu do mini bricks kits.
Phone admin! I delete all my emails and old apps and things!

Just to counter some of these... I spent 10 days in hospital 2 years ago, and it was quite relaxing. Busy NHS ward.

I was still able to nap and relax when I wanted, and I read a tonne of books I'd been meaning to get through for ages.

I also did a couple of embroidery kits from Nelly Makes on Etsy.

Get better soon!

If you aren’t bothered about the data element of it, I would set up a throwaway email and enter lots of competitions!

I always take in 2 sets of headphones, one set are ear buds and good for laying down and listening, the others are big and over my head. They are useful to signal to others that you're busy, the number of people who would try and talk to me without realising I had ear buds in made it very difficult to listen.

Cozy colouring book.

Ditto earplugs, and spares too lest they get lost/swept away. I recommend the yellow 3M ones you get them on Amazon I think.

A good romp, like George Macdonald Fraser's Flashman if you haven't read it. (It's unPC though.)

Nothing valuable in the way of sentimental stuff or quality clothing lest it get nicked or lost or what have you. Squirrel away a tenner for the taxi back, not sure how those kind of items such as bank cards and wallets are made safe but maybe they are.

I was in for over a month during covid (pregnant and heart problems, not ill) and was confined to a room completely alone (bliss), with no visitors allowed (less bliss as the weeks went on).

I took the Silmarillion with me. Tried it both by book, kindle and audible and never finished it.

But in seriousness…

• kindle
• iPad (with whatever streaming platforms you desire)
• headphones
• audible
• knitting/embroidery etc.
• your favourite tea
• a real mug (enamelled if you’re not ballsy enough to bring china)
• your own pillow (I can’t stress this enough!!!!)

-

Both of these plus

• a long charging cable for your phone/tablet.
• plastic caddy for your stuff that's easy to move from your tray table to your locker.
• check whether there are amazon lockers in the hospital
• toilet bag with a hook on it

Get a flexible arm that will clamp to the bed or table and hold your devices. Much better than trying to prop up your device when you don’t feel like holding it because you are tired. Plus leaves hands free to do something like learn to crochet.

If you like puzzles then something like the professor puzzle escape room games things as they can be played single handedly (though more fun and easier with others) or in book format like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pandemic-Escape-Room-Puzzle-Puzzles-Humanity/dp/1802791817/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1V1JBOTO0VIDC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsHRE_pqcOdroU9SWSysTBA0SEreSYisll4lnZsQDbiIfL8QilL32kJIQBW7pdnP095hcZtTMqBegEHHk0sS9MFW7_cK4sRu42DA4r1x4JC5mTvS92YgC_JXT8_fLMZp3MV_L5if5zxyF0hEF6nxShXn00R6J5CdNHLfpUCYkUs._vamASidzCKArYXqrM2S-4q6tq2gm3UKpOuWVBYWyk0&dib_tag=se&keywords=puzzle+escape+book+pandemic&qid=1738879615&sprefix=puzzle+escape+book+pandemic%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1

I have a switch too and when i had a while i played through a pokemon game but depends if you're into that.

The words of someone who has never spent a prolonged period on an average NHS ward..! By day 4 I was going insane with sleep deprivation and decided to sign myself out - I was more ill when I came out than when I went in.

Make sure you have choice. So as well as TV and books and puzzles, have a mix of fact and fiction books, colouring etc. I’d recommend tapestry kits, the ones with the printed pattern on that don’t require as much skill or concentration, The Rest is History podcasts, and there are interesting books out there on the history of clothes or the history of food (Nom, I think that one is called) that are light non fiction reads. Hope it passes as quickly as it can!

A basket to put stuff in and keep it together. The tables don't have a lot of space.
Headphones and Bluetooth headband
Extra long charger
Hand cream and lip balm
Pillow and pillow case
Soft blanket
Load up kindle, iPad
Something to make your pillow smell like home
Your own mug and water bottle
Pashmina

Get well soon.

What a completely tone deaf stupid thing to say. I actually can't believe you would actually say this.
Do you not understand that someone going into hospital for a few weeks is likely to be in for something serious. For example a month long inpatient stay for cancer treatment. Or several other possibilities none of which are something that you would want to be in hospital for. Maybe think before you post in future.

If you like podcasts I would recommend Paradise on BBC Sounds, and that will entertain you for a bit.

I’m not sure what you would be able to do physically but maybe a crochet kit would be a good thing for them to bring you? You can get beginners ones for cute animals!

good luck, and wishing you a good recovery

That’s a great idea! I do the competitions through Red Magazine but I think there are sites you can join which list them all

Just remembered also on BBC Sounds is the radio 4 book of the week and also plays. It’s usually an abridged version of something I never get round to reading and well worth a listen. I’ll see if I can find something good…

Variety - the brain needs variety to stave off bordom. Long and short attention things so you can flip flop between. I'm a big NY times quiz fan and would buy a subscription to dip into all the old quizes.