Any tips for short hospital stay?

[Luckymummy22]

My daughter is due to get an operation later this week.
It is to repair a missed montiaggo fracture on her elbow so she will be in cast after operation.

Not sure actually how long she will be in. Possibly only 1 night. But just wondering what to expect?

I will take a few things to make her feel more at home, but I guess she will probably feel quite sorry for herself after the surgery.

We've not met her surgeon yet as op has been delayed because of a bacterial infection she's had. but there is a chance that the op will be that same day so feeling very unprepared.

Just any pointers would be much appreciated

She is 5 years old

My DD was in hospital for 10 days recently due to a fracture. What I would say is there is a lot of waiting around so take plenty to distract her. If she has a tablet/ iPad you could take that and some colouring books or a new magazine. She'll probably be fasting too so if you have plenty of distractions that will keep her mind off it.

I bought my DD a new blanket and put it in her bed, not sure if you want to do that for 1 night but DD found it comfy.

She will probably be quite sore after her surgery so don't be afraid to ask for pain relief regularly. The nurses can be busy but don't be afraid to ask rather than letting the pain build up.

Also as she's having shoulder surgery you need to think about what would be easy to dress her in post op. Maybe some loose vest tops and a zip up hoody rather than an overhead one for going home. And bring her favourite teddy too.

Good luck, hope it goes well. My DD is also 5 and due back in hospital tomorrow and I'm hoping for good news.

Thanks so much. Good luck for tomorrow!! I really don't know at all how long she will be in for or if they will even do it at our local hospital or whether we will need to go to an orthopaedic hospital.

We though she'd be well on the road to recovery last Friday when her cast came off. But unfortunately they've seen the fracture but not the dislocation when it happened so now it's a more complex operation.

It's so hard when they are in pain and I hope you're daughter is doing well x

take food for yourself
and lots to read
and phone/tablet chargers
a pillow and blanket

Earplugs. It can be hard to sleep on a children's ward.
They don't like you taking lots of blankets, pillows etc in ours for infection control reasons.
iPad/tablet. Something for you to read.
Again this may be specific to our hospital, but if you have a lidded travel mug you can take your hot drink back on the ward. If not you have to stay in the parents room.
I took instant porridge for myself too, so I didn't need to leave DS to go and eat.

Take a book, for you to read, that nice jolly parent who welcomes you (might have been me but both mine now get to the adult ward) will snore. Good luck to the pair of you (Hippo: Monteggia fractures are not at shoulder but below the elbow and involve both bones of forearm, ulna # is obvious but the radius pops out at the elbow and I think OP already knows that). Good luck OP, missed Monteggia = big job but age 5 expect perfect result.

Thanks all some good tips. I will definitely take ear plugs lol. And I'm used to hubby snoring lol. Although him I kick. Can't really do that to another parent 😃

Thanks dratsea for the reassurance about the outcome. I am positive if she gets the right surgeon all will be fine. We will see what vibe we get on Wednesday as my faith in hospital is not very good at the moment.
Doesn't help that it's in the news a lot just now and none of it is good.

We will do what it takes though and will go private if necessary (thankfully insured). She's a very active 5 year old girl who's already started using her dodgy arm even though she can't straighten it out much at all!

A pair of warm socks to put on cold feet.
Lip balm.

Best of luck. Will be a challenging day for you all.

(Dd had a badly displaced forearm fracture set under GA when she was 6)
yes loose vest tops for her
Oversized hoody (age 9) to fit over cast
Pre order a Limbo cast protector
Remember to load her usual bedtime music onto whichever device you take
Where's Wally type books - reading was too much effort
Slippers / crocs for both of you
Cash for vending machines.
Novels for you
Decent pyjamas for you - we had surprise a ward round at 9.30pm and I had to talk to the consultant while quite skimpily clad.

Ask for access to the parent showers in the Ronald McDonald House if there is one.

We'very got a few oversized stuff as she was in a cast for 4 weeks until Friday. She's not to go to school until it's over (Dr's order) so i think I will take her and get her new pyjamas that button up front tomorrow. We have a Limbo, never used. She refused but might change her mind this time. I don't do skimpy pyjamas lol but i'll lake sure I don't take ones that fall down lol (have lost a bit of weight 😂)

I will pack socks / slippers as well as flip flops / crock.

We've already spent a fortune on car parking! And will dig out change for vending machines.

We don't live far from hospital at all. In fact staff often use surrounding streels for car parking (thankfully not hours) so I will probably shower at home. Husband will be there as muxh as possible but we have a 2 year old also so need to make sure hes ok.

Will be glad when it's all over. We have been incredibly lucky so far and this is the 1st time we've had to face anything like this.