So, Dd's op is almost certainly next week. Any hints or tips for our hospital stay would be great, as would some virtual wine LOL

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

It was sprung on us yesterday lol. One minute the consultant was saying it would be about 6-8 weeks, and the next, the nurse was calling us back through the door and asking us if we'd like it done next week.

We find out for certain on Monday morning.

I'm making a list of things that me and dd both need to take in, and have got essentials covered, but I'm sure there are things that I have probably missed, so any ideas would be great

Dd is 15 btw if that helps.

Will she need to stay in for a while or be home fairly quickly?
Will she be mobile?
Childrens ward or adult ward? (I remember having my wisdon teeth out at that age and being thoroughly wrong-footed by the fact I was on an adult ward with loads of old ladies - I hadn't been prepared at all)

How long is she likely to be in? Will she be mobile?

Depending what she is having done think about clothes which will maintain her dignity and be comfy.

Minatures of shampoo, handcream, shower gel etc

Plenty of books and magazines. Does she have a kindle?

Are you staying over with her?

She will be on a children's ward, and in for between 7-10 days. First 24 hours will be on HDU, and then the rest on a spinal ward. She's having spinal fusion surgery so mobility will be limited.

She has a kindle yes, so that will be really useful, and she's got some books art stuff.

I will be staying with her all the time.

Hello original. I had spinal fusion a couple of years ago. I was in no fit state to shower or wash my hair for the entire hospital stay tbh. Shower gel and sponge is good for bed baths. Dry shampoo definitely but it wont make any dent on the glue in herhair if she has neuro thingies on her head.

What is the fusion for? Mine was for scoliosis, i still have before and after pictures up on myprofile, you are more than welcome to show her.

Take some talc. It got very hot when i was on ward and i couldnt move very well without help so talc made it a bit more comfortable.
Take sanitary towels if she has her periods, the stress of the op brought mine on early.

Because of the high dosage painkillers i couldnt concentrate on reading at all a great comfort was some women on the ward doing crosswords , i was shouting out the answers to questions she'd asked 10 minutes before, i was that out of it onmorphine!
Prepare for a lot oftears original. It's a hard op i wish your dd every success.

Dry shampoo!

Lots of snacks and drinks. What are you going to eat? Do they have a parents room with fridge and microwave?

When I was on morphine and not really up to reading I watched films. Someone lent me a portable dvd player but a tablet would do it these days. Fun simple programmes and films that she doesn't have to think about too deeply.
Hand cream (the air in hospitals is always really drying and she will appreciate having soft feet and hands) and maybe a manicure set so you can pamper her while she's laid up.

Audio books would also need less concentration than reading.

lots of different drinks. It's always so hot in hospitals and water is very boring after a while.

Oh yes hand lotion and vaseline for lips and nose, i chewed through my lip during the op so my lips were particularly painful. Plus she'll be on oxygen so her nose will get very dry and painful.

Malteser bunnies keptme happy though!

I had major surgery, and also got my period in ICU. The nurses provided pads while I had my catheter in, but once I was mobile I needed my own.

I also couldn't concentrate on reading, but enjoyed trashy magazines that were not too taxing. I liked visitors, but also liked it when they went, so prearrange a signal with her, so that you can tell when she has had enough. She probably wont want to tell her friends to leave, so that will come down to you.

Most wards are fine about mobiles, apart from ICU. So bring in her mobile so she can text friends. I bought a cheap PAYG, and boy did I get through my credit. I didn't have much else to do apart from text.

I remeber thinking wooo lots of time to mumsnet but didnt even have the concentration to do that! Once i was back at my mums i watched a lot of most haunted... at the time i thought it was great! I must have been completely offmy rocker!

Will you be going down to theatre with her? If you are, you might want to be more prepared than I was when DS1 had a minor op a few years ago.

I was with him when they put him to sleep (just outside the operating theatre). I hadn't expected to be as shaken up as I was by seeing him go under and wheeled in for his procedure - it made me quite tearful. A kind nurse told me afterwards that most parents get upset, but nobody told me beforehand.

I hope it all goes well for your DD.

Thanks all, this is very helpful.

I will reactivate her love film account so she can watch some films, and have added sanitary towels and dry shamppo to the ever growing list.

ABF - Dd's op is for Scoliosis too Going to have a peek at your pics now.

Oh wow, that is a fab result

I shall show dd later.

Neithershredding - I am going down to theatre yes. I will probably be ok unless dd gets upset, and then I will be useless lol.

No idea what i'm gonna eat btw. There is a parents room, with fridge and microwave though so it will probably be pasta pots and things. Ive had no time to put any money up seeing as it has been sprung on us a bit, so using the canteen etc won't be an option.

If you or your dd have any questions then pleasd do not hesitate to pm me. It's such a scary thing to go through with.

Thank you ABF. Dd has so far been very laid back about the whole thing, but I am expecting her to fall apart a bit on the day.

I am not particularly worried about the op, but her recovery, as she really has no idea of the amount of pain she will be in.

Do you have someone who can bring you in food to warm up? Some cup a soup type things will probably come in handy for dinner. Ready meals as crap as they taste do the job as something to eat.

The parents room at our hopsital has bread for toast which sorted breakfast and dinner and tea

Make sure before she goes to theatre she understands how to use what ever pain medication she will have afterwards normally a button she can press to get doses of morphine. We don't allow parents to stay overnight on our HDU so you may want to check with your specific hospital to see if that is an option.

Depending on how long the surgery is she may end up with pressure marks especially on her elbows and knees, ankles and forehead as they are often laying on the front for a long time nice smelling lotion is always good. In the longer term bring things she'll enjoy like an ipod or a DVD player and a wash bag and loose clothes like PJs or jogging bottoms the less you bring the better. In the short term bring healthy food, t-bags or coffee and perhaps powdered milk or fresh and keep it in a cool bag as other parents will 'help themselves' if its in a joint fridge. Get as much involvement with the school teacher as possible as soon as possible, it will be a great distraction and gives her something to do.

If you are staying all the time get someone to bring you in fresh fruit/vegetables every day and maybe frozen meals or home cooked and then brought in in a cool bag. It will be tough but you need to leave your daughters bedside for at least an hour a day and take a walk outside so you can clear your head and get fresh air. Make sure you bring a lot of stuff for you to do as there will be a school teacher and play specialists to entertain her but very little for you to do!

The worst pain ive ever experienced in my life.

But it's all worth it. Im 2 inches taller!

On the milk front when DS is in my mum always brings me a small flask with milk in which keeps it cool enough to use.

Painkillers for you