Items to prepare for long term hospital stay?

[Proudestmumofone1]

Horribly anxious about everything being out of my control. Such PTSD from this particular specialist hospital. And been told it will be months, not weeks.

So finding a sense of control by trying to think of things to make it easier….

What would you bring?

I’ve been here many times before so standard iPad headphones long charging cables etc on my radar.

But currently worrying about the sticky plastic bed and the overwhelming heat in this particular hospital and thinking if a mattress cover would help?

I am sure many of you have unfortunately been in this position too so any ideas would be fab…

I’m also super ADHD (diagnosed before I get flamed!) which means being restricted to a bed / bay is hard… activities I can do in bed that aren’t mind numbing (and therefore I won’t be able to focus on?!)

Any ideas please share!

x

I had several weeks in hospital a couple of summers ago, it was very hot and unpleasant. Especially the plastic beds.

I took some craft things to do - some embroidery that i hadn't been finding time to do, some knitting, etc.

I took a very long phone charger cable - 3 metres I think, so I didn't have to ask people to plug it in for me. (couldn't get out of bed for a bit) and a power pack so I could charge more than one thing at once. Wireless headphones. Netflix on my phone.

For the heat, I got a rechargeable neck fan - like this https://amzn.eu/d/cKYMEMS

And a solution to the hot sweaty bed was to ask for an extra sheet, and then sleep on top of the made up bed - on top of both bottom and top sheets and the blanket, and just have the spare sheet over me.

Travel kettle. I hated being tied to meal times for a brew!
Desk fan definitely
Tablet with access to iPlayer/Netflix etc. (Consider glory )so you can watch TV
Earplugs are a must !
Eyemask
Flip flops so you can wear them as slippers as well

You say you’ve done long spells before so you know all the basic stuff

i would definitely take a nice blanket, some hospitals are funny about Bedding and you need to be prepared for it to walk.

i found I liked having my own nice mug and my own cutlery, one of those nice keep cold water bottles are invaluable.

plenty of flannels so you can freshen up as often as you like even if stuck in bed, a bottle of water and a flannel can give you a hands and face.

plenty of empty bags for your laundry- I assume you have someone lined up todo that for you.

mints and or gum I personally like mints to suck if you can.

think of learning something new, do you crochet or embroidery/cross stitch, there’s loads of YouTube videos and loads of us on here who will help you.

note pads and pen to keep lists- I always get hospital fog, and also sticky note pads - invaluable for leaving notes (gone to the loo, if I’m asleep tea no sugar please, etc )

I struggle to sleep anywhere that isn’t my own bed, but my Snoozeband was an absolute game changer! I used to have a cheap one from Amazon, but the difference is night and day. Definitely recommend Snoozeband, OP.
A good water bottle sounds useful.
Might be worth investing in a month or so of Spotify Premium, for the included audiobooks.

Aromatherapy roller ball oils to put on your pulse points... different sorts for sleep, de-stressing, focus, energy etc

A travel kettle is genius why have I never thought of this

What absolutely genius suggestions! Gosh you’re a lovely (useful!) lot.

That also reminded me (thinking how scrolling here will also help me!) how the WiFi was awful in this particular hospital and streaming etc was impossible. So going to change my mobile phone to the max data to hotspot….

Ordered loads of your ideas, a big thank you for taking the time to share x

I was recently stuck in hospital bedbound for a few weeks in very hot weather and I couldn’t solve the sweaty overheating problem.

If I’d had time to plan ahead - a shorter-than-usual haircut might have been on my list as my hair is quite long and got so tangled and sweaty.

Embarassingly I really appreciated having a roll-on deodorant for my under-boob area. Not something I ever needed before but since I couldn’t shower anything that helped me feel fresher was nice.

Hospital provided a desk fan and I took a small USB rechargeable hand-held fan picked up from Amazon. Amazingly the food in my hospital was great - I set a goal of “only healthy food” and so I ate a load of stuff I wouldn’t normally - who knew tinned pears are actually really tasty?!

Hospital liked to wake us all up at 5am for blood pressure checks so once I was up that was usually that.

For myself I liked to a set myself a morning routine:

• wake up, wipe face and neck and hands with a Nutmeg hydrating/cleansing skin wipe.
• Stretch out and do my basic physio exercises
• Do my daily quizzes online: AlphaGuess; all the free ones on NYT like Connections and Wordl; Quintumble; Globle; HangFive;Triplit
• check emails and bank accounts
• Wash and cleanse and toilet
• breakfast and chat to other ward occupants
• Doctors rounds
• physio
• nap
• physio/muscle maintenance
• catch up on office work
• physio/muscle maintenance
• lunch

good luck xx

If you knit or crochet, have a look at twiddlemuff / fiddle glove patterns for dementia people. Sewers can make blankets.

Or, knit or crochet nests for wildlife rescue centres.

Download movies or box sets to your tablet/ iPad.
Download some audio books (the WiFi in our oval hospital is terrible.)
Definitrely snacks and some of those little bottles of concentrated fruit juice that you squeeze into a water jug.
Sugar free sweets.

You can't take a travel kettle into hospital! It would be completely unsafe with confused or potentially violent patients around. I can't believe any ward would allow this - they certainly wouldn't where I work!

Your local library will have a free online lending library app probably Libby or Borrow Box. Sign up and borrow newspapers, magazines, books and audible books. Inexpensive and brilliant. I’ve downloaded both apps and used them thousands of times. Audiobooks are great when I’m overwhelmed. I pay the ITVX no adverts subscription worth every penny.

People have mentioned squash - you can get mini (I got mine from Aldi which are cheaper than Robinsons) squash where you just need to squirt once or twice. Much easier than bottles of squash

I take my own pillow if I can but if not pillow case, pillow spray, hand cream, nail file, lip balm, and socks as my feet are always cold!

Ear plugs and an eye mask for sleeping
Rechargeable mini fan
Invest in a few pairs of some very lightweight cotton pyjamas
Snoozeband
Audiobooks and podcasts on your phone/tablet
Kindle (or download the Kindle app for your phone/tablet if you have one)
Crossword / puzzle books
Flip-flops or slides - much more practical and hygienic for the bathroom etc in a hospital
A cooling face spritz with fresh/calming smell
Your own bath towel - hospitals give you a tiny little towel but they're rubbish for drying yourself properly after a shower
Adult colouring books and pens/pencils (but bear in mind you'll need a sharpener if you're using pencils)
Notebook/journal/sketchpad if you're a creative type
Squash to add to water if you get bored with plain water
Wet wipes for hands and face - I never normally use them but they are handy in hospital

Neck fans are brilliant. They always help me feel less frazzled in the heat.

I take a flask as I drink far too much rea and hate waiting for ward rounds. So they laugh and fill it up for me.
Plus my huge mug.

Definitely own pillow and nice soft pillow cases, with a few to change and then send home to be laundered (not white if possible)

Insulated water bottles - you want to keep the water cold not tepid when the jugs been sitting there all day.
Maybe a glass as I hate plastic cups

Crochet/knitting/cross stitch

Skincare- it passes some time in the morning and night to have some routine if you are well/mobile enough

Loose lounging clothes - especially if you have to go to OT or Physio, you feel less weird than doing exercise in your PJs

Sleeping bras - I hate being woken to talk to Dr's with no bra on

Your own blanket

Lip balm

Hand/foot cream

Sunglasses- weird one but if you are in a sunny ward and the blinds are up they are really invaluable

I usually bring a big batch of homemade mix of oats and dried fruit, that way if the meals are gross that session i can have it with yogurt and feel I've eaten ok.

Get the kindle or Libby app on your phone for books.

Good luck OP, once you are there for a few days it will feel less awful and you will settle into a routine and come through the other end.

Agreed! Ours doesn't allow hot water bottles becaue of the burn risk, no way they'd allow a kettle. (also why the 'hot' drinks are really not, I expect)

Our local hospital doesn't allow anything that is plugged into the mains, because it has to be PAT tested. So no mains desk fans either, only battery.

I only take things that are rechargeable as they do obviously allow phone chargers.

Months? You poor thing.

I'd be seriously considering an online course if finances allow but there is also tons of free stuff on the websites of the big universities.
Either something that would advance my career or something rather lovely like interior design or gardening design. Something that helps you plan positively for leaving hospital like a redecoration project or a big holiday.

Or if you think you'd be up to it you could volunteer remotely. Perhaps something you wouldn't have time for usually?
https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/opportunities-solr?search_api_views_fulltext=&field_geofield_latlon_op=16.1&field_geofield_latlon=&field_where_opp_based%5B%5D=1094&field_opportunity_type%5B%5D=974&field_time_commitment%5B%5D=797&field_time_needed_taxonomy%5B%5D=1131&field_time_needed_taxonomy%5B%5D=1132&sort_by=search_api_relevance&sort_by=search_api_relevance

https://engage.pointsoflight.org/search/i/Remote+Volunteer+Opportunities?page=2

wet wipes are invaluable for wiping hands after eating, refreshing your face etc. Baby ones are the kindest ones
, colouring books you can get, motivational ones which may help you, or even a swearing one!
you may find magazines easier than books, as I have always found that just getting into a good book, and you get interrupted. when you have finished, I am sure other patients will enjoy reading them.
hand cream and a gentle face moisturiser, as you will find your skin dries out. I find it quite calming and soothing, massaging my hands with hand cream

Even more brilliant ideas.., thank you everyone. Although obviously sorry to hear how many ‘have been here, done that’.

Love the online courses idea. I have been known to work from hospital with sepsis (attending tribunal hearings!) but if I’m not well enough to ‘properly work’ then that would be a fab in-between. I really struggle with the times where I’m not sleeping all day / recovering from surgery type thing but also not well enough to fully focus/think. Could look at a range of ones depending on level of focus….

Had never heard of snooze bands and think it will be a game changer as always need some noise on.

I’m reliant on feeding tubes which has its pros (always got to look at the positive sides!) and means food isn’t an issue thankfully… clever to bring the mini squash drops though as hate also being cluttered in a small bay.

Some good points about hair prep. When I was in for emergency open heart surgery it was a nightmare after as it’s long and had been in a bun for 8 weeks. The matted back had to be cut out. Thinking ahead is much more sensible….

Now to thinking about how I actually deal with not being with my toddler… or maybe I’ll push that one into a box and pretend it’s not happening.. xx

It’s always nice to bring something from home. I brought a light blanket and it was a small piece of home when I felt at my worst.

My son was in hospital for 10 months. It was unplanned but these definitely helped along the way.

noise cancelling headphones
blanket
fan
pillow
water bottle
iPad/some kind of entertainment
games like jenga, dobble, exploding kittens etc
snacks
extension lead because plugs are always in awkward positions

So many brilliant suggestions from PPs! One thing I found helpful was a clip of some sort (or clothes peg) to attach the phone charged to the bed or sheet so I didn't have to keep reaching awkwardly for it after abdominal surgery.

Many many brilliant ideas on here, but this one has to be the winner! GENIUS!