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!

Audible for when you are too tired to look at screens or read
Noise cancelling headphones

PP's saying hospital stays made their skin and lips dry made me think of sheet face masks. Plus there's always loads of serum left in the pack you can rub into your arms and legs which always leaves you really soft and moisturised.

I hope your stay is a short one and you recover quickly.

I hope you hospital stay helps and you feel a lot better very soon.

I've been in hospital far too much these are my must haves if at all possible.

I often am in for long periods of time and can be in for days without visitors, the hospital is in a PITA place, visiting times are annoying and I'm using my favours for childcare. So I like to be more prepared going in than expecting to have things brought in. Your set up is more than likely different to mine.

Big tea mug

2 500ml insulated bottles so the water has a chance to stay cold.

Own pillow and a few spare pillow cases (I like to be able to get a fresh one on everyday)

A fleece blanket as it can get cold.

Bed socks

Always PJs, and either a sleep bra or vest top for underneath as it's always likely you'll be woken at some weird hour by a Dr wanting to talk to you or do tests and I always feel a bit embarrassed with my boobs swinging about 😉

I bring long charging leads, but also a large bank charger so incase I'm not near any plugs I can still charge my phone/ipad and then recharge the bank charger at night.

I really like skincare so I bring it all with me and do a full long routine everyday.

If I have my own room I will bring a yoga mat and do some yoga, meditation or pilates.

I'll also always bring some dried fruit, nuts, healthy snacks as hospital food is stodgy.

Cross stitch, embroidery and/or crochet

Nail file and hand cream

Lip balm

Noise cancelling headphones. I have Samsung ones and they do 100% cancel out everything even when just on silent. They are comfortable enough that I can fall asleep in them. Not as comfortable as the foam ones but worth it for the silence.

Determination....it'll be hard, it'll be shit some days but you'll get through it and out the other side. GOOD LUCK OP

Something useful to do if you knit or crochet is to make nests for wildlife rescue.

https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/making-nests-for-wildlife-in-care

I don’t do a standard size. Just until I think it’s big enough.

I agree with proper mug and your own pillow if they allow it. I also take my own teabags when I’m in with DD ( who has spent months of her life as an inpatient). And a big scarf/ wrap for shoulders as sometimes it’s chilly. If you will be getting out of bed then a decent pair of slippers and a nice dressing gown if you have

A very long charging cable.
External phone battery
Definitely noise reduction headphones
Good moisturiser

Mattress Topper
V pillow
Desk fan
Long charging cable
Eye mask
Small water bottles for the fridge
Lip balm
Kindle
iPad
Own decaf coffee and tea bags
Small pot of fairy liquid and a scourer (to clean my mug)
Cling film (for when DH brings snacks in)
Notebook, pen, post it notes
Our hospital food is vile so I live on sandwiches or DH will bring some home cooked food in, we have access to a microwave.

Spotify have brilliant podcasts I usually like the true crime ones.
Also the BBC ones like Woman's Hour can be really interesting full of current topics in the news
Desert Island Discs is one of my favourites really good interviews and music. if you get bored either write down or in your head make your own Desert Island Discs. Decide your records and why plus what you like to take to the island.
BBC also have good quiz programmes too and documentaries as well.

Have you ever been in hospital before? It's the noisiest place on earth, especially at night.

OP audible is a good shout and lots of podcasts.

Nintendo Switch with a Zelda game on it.

Hope your health improves, Op.
2 things no one has mentioned that might be useful.
Hairnets, like your Grandma used to wear, help keep your hair in better condition overnight.
The Open University website has loads of free short online courses on a staggeringly diverse range of subjects that you could ‘study’ to pass the time.

Apart from the things like audible, I would really recommend something that requires zero concentration. For me it's sketching, but just something that is mindless and relaxing, but time occupying.

And a good water bottle! The wards I was on were all so hot, and the water in the jugs they provided was always lukewarm.

And an effective and comfortable eye mask.

Most definitely noise cancelling earphones or earplugs (I find wax ones the best) because you never know if the person next to you has brought in Duolingo - imagine listening to someone speaking poorly pronounced Spanish all day, would drive me mad 😂

I'm afraid that really isn't what hospital stays are like. More like spending a couple of weeks stuck on a train, surrounded by people having loud phone conversations and rustling crisp bags, while someone keeps walking through the carriage sticking needles in you. And the AC has packed in. And you feel ill....

amzn.eu/d/g8EvuJA

Tantrix tile game.

Teach yourself to knit or crochet

Surveys
Competitions
Games - clockmaker, homescapes, gardenscapes, nonograms
TV series (I recently started SVU from the beginning!)
Puzzle books
Ancestry
YouTube - trek trendy, tiny houses, food tours on insider food channel, the Welsh twins for skincare/makeup

Nurse here 👋 I've found that the patients who cope the best with a long admission are the ones that get up, washed and dressed into actual clothes each day, so if you're physically well enough I'd really recommend that. Will you be able to get off the ward and go for a walk? Even if you just get a bit of sun on your face for 5 minutes that's always a good mood boost. I hope everything goes really well 😊

I’m a doctor. Don’t rely on Wi-Fi download lots to watch as when Wi-Fi is busy it’s slow. Might be fine for whatsapps but high quality videos it might not work so well xx

Treat yourself to a beautiful-smelling face cream, hand cream and body lotion to help make you feel human!

What a ridiculous, offensive thing to say.

I came on to suggest kindle so glad you have got that covered!!

I spend a lot of time in bed and would also recommend

• Duolingo - especially if you can get a few family and friends to join. There is a free version but we are a big family so share a subscription to the paid version
• online games you can play with people - my son and I play chess through a chess app that way
• free courses like open university ones or other places
• online book clubs

I agree I've been a long term patient many times and if I'm able I am up and dressed even if it's joggers or whatever it really gives the day a bit of structure in an artificial environment.

our local hospital encourages people in the day to dress and to sit in chairs. even ones not up to being dressed are encouraged to get in a chair, it also gives nurses space to make the beds etc. I think that being dressed in the day gives a sense of normality and also somehow your body seems to know night from day then.
most places have a cafe or even a coffee shops so if you can get to them even in a wheel chair its nice to sit and people watch for a while. one of our local hospitals have a big reception area with chairs, its a big suntrap so is lovely to sit enjoy the sun and people watch, there is also a shop.

Buy a Sleepband so you can lie down at night and listen to music/ podcasts. Better than headphones for sleeping.