Hospital bag for hysterectomy?

[Womanreadingletter]

I'm having everything out soon - keyhole/vaginally (sorry for tmi!) - but maybe relevant wrt what to take?

Presumably night dresses not pjs?

What else please?

I know it needs doing but I'm absolutely terrified - not of op itself - but of of indignity/being dependent/spewing uncontrollably sort of thing, so any tips as to what to bring in terms of distraction/comfort would be good too!

Many thanks in advance for any advice or tips.

Oh dear - sorry - just spotted another hysterectomy thread on here. I'll go and read that first!

I'm going in next week. I'm packing:

Giant pants
Nightdresses
Dressing gown
Slippers
Sanitary towels
Face wipes
Peppermint capsules
Maternity leggings
Tunic
Eye mask
Hand sanitizer
Charger for phone
Headphones

I was in just one night. I wore a hospital gown over night as was too drugged and immobile toeven think about changing, while i had the catheter in. I did put my PJs on the next morning and then wore them home.

Wet wipes for a quick wash top and bottom in the evening.
Mini shower gel and shampoo in case you are in longer than a day and need a shower.
Toothbrush and toothpaste. And I took my iPad with some Netflix downloaded that I watched the next day before I went home.

I took one of those little squeezy squash things and was parched sodrank loads. And i’m GF so took some bread they toasted for me.

I was in a room on my own so didn’t need them but i did pack ear plugs and eye mask.

And a nice essential oil blend.

I had hysterectomy a few years ago. But it was full surgery. The only critical things I reckon are headphones, Netflix, eye mask and plenty of snacks. I needed slippers and took a light night dress but it was hot as hell all the time!

Peppermint tea bands. Although they had those and the best tea lady that kept coming back and topping me up. I think i asked her to marry me at one point. She was lush..

I also took a pack of soft pads (the dirt cheap Morrison’s ones, not the Nast scented plastic ones) but didn’t need them as had minimal bleeding.

Slippers and dressing gown. To walk to theatre in.

Thank you Giss that gives me a v useful starting point. I was hoping that I would be given a pre-op advice booklet or something, but no!

I stupidly hadn't considered sanitary towels!! Do you think vaginal bleeding will be an issue? (Probably stupid question too!)

I hope your operation and recovery goes well

I'm assuming it's a possibility. I've gone for cheap, thick pads for comfort (and lack of weird perfumes). I'm in for 3 days so will also pack dry shampoo and some nice hand cream.

Btw mine is abdominal. I have the pre op on Friday so should find out more.

Take whatever you think will make you more comfortable x

Xpost!

Lots more responses! Thank you so much everyone! Much appreciated! And great suggestions!

at nearly marrying tea lady Whythelongface! Presume peppermint tea is for easing the gas they pump you full of ?

I am going to be in for 4 nights for various reasons (not in UK) so will definitely take shower gel etc, thanks!

I'm dreading the heat as already having hot flushes!

For those that have had the opportunity: how soon after op could you walk to lav unaided pls? Dreading needing to use bedpan!

(Sorry for moaning - it's the fear speaking - I know I am lucky to have access to good health care where we live.)

Apart from all above. I would take some sort of ear plugs. Lady in next bed to me snored worse than my OH!

Water to drink or opal fruit type sweets to suck you get such a horrible taste after the anaesthetic. Kindle/table with books films etc to watch. Big t shirt/night dress thing I took a thin dressing gown. Wear something comfy to arrive in and wear that home. I had full surgery so made sure I had no laces on my shoes as I knew I wouldn’t be able to fasten them.

Opportunity? Auto-correct error! Meant op!

Thanks again Giss! I hope you are not too nervous. Have you done any prep at home to make things easier when you get back? I'm thinking of batch cooking etc?

That's a great tip about the shoes, thanks AuntPetunia.

I am packing stretchy yoga pants for travelling back home.

Eye mask to wear whilst sleeping
Bath towel
Flip flips to wear in the shower
Hoodie or cardigan to wear over bed clothes during the day time
Squash or whatever soft drink you like for post op

Thank you Frenchschnoodle!

Lucky I asked! I assumed hospital would have towels and shampoo like a hotel - duh!

Browsing for a not-too-flowery-hideous nightie now!

I had abdo last year and was in for a week so its abit different. However i would recommend you own over the counter painkillers as it is a buggar trying to get hold of anyone. Soft drinks or bottles of water. Earplugs and eye mask. Something that smells nice like a lavender hand cream. You wont need shampoo if its just for a night but maybe shower gel and flipflops.

Good luck. You will feel so much better afterwards.

You will feel so much better afterwards

Thank you very much Eachandeveryone; here's hoping!

Nice smelling things: essential oils/lavender hand cream also going on list!

Lots of good advice here OP. The only thing I can add is to take a travel mug. My ward had a hot drinks policy, you were not allowed them around the bed area when you had visitors. Unless you had a travel mug that prevented spillages.

Get in the peppermint tea as soon as you can. You won't feel like reading so stick to Netflix etc.

I had one last week, was in for two nights.

Nightie is essential for when you have a catheter- mine was only in until the next morning, so I just wore one nightie, then changed into pyjamas.

Eye mask and ear plugs. Wards can be busy and noisy.

Peppermint tea or capsules..The pain from trapped wind was terrible for me.

I took my kindle but wasn't really able to concentrate on reading, so maybe programmes downloaded on your phone would be better.

I came home in pyjamas, with a big cardigan over the top. Was driven door to door though.

Agree with some sweets to take away the horrible taste. I had a sore throat from the anaesthetic so throat sweets were helpful.

I didn't take any sanitary towels, but used the ones the hospital provided. Light bleeding for a few days only.

Also didn't need towels, hospital provided them.

Hope it goes well!

They do have towrls but theyre one size and that's very small! I got 2 lovely huge towels to take with me. I'm sure someone else has said it but earphones. I listened to the radio on my phone at night.

Lip balm
Hand cream
I also carried everything in a small wheely suitcase because it locked.

I had mine a week before Xmas 8 years ago and I batch cooked and labelled with oven reg etc. I was told by consultant to buy windeze tablets and take two before I arrived at the hospital so they were already working when I had the op. I then took two when I first came round. The staff were happy for me to do that and they did a great job of keeping the wind at bay.

Thank you again for more really helpful replies!

Noted about the towels and the sweets to take the taste away! And I'll ask about the Windeze tablets! . I do have a travel mug, so I,'ll ask about that although I'm lucky enough to be in a room on my own so may be different rules. Great idea about locking suitcase (although not sure I'll be able to bend to unlock it ifyswim!)

Thanks again everyone!

Take an extra long charging lead, or an extension lead. You don't know where the plugs will be in relation to your bed.

scaevola genius tip, thank you!

I always take a small fleece blanket if I go into hospital. I run cold and you can also scrunch it up as an extra pillow.
I have also been told to wash in medicated body wash for 2 nights before and I'm going to out clean sheets on the bed to come home to

I got home late last night after a lavh, was in 1 night ( almost 2 but was desperate for my own bed)
Hospital provided towels, pads, dressing gown.
Extra long phone charger was needed, and the sweets - I used wine gum type.
Nurses were great at coming on time with pain relief, had more.pain relief in last 48 hrs than ever dreamed of.
Noise cancelling headphones were great with an audio book the night after op as didn't feel sleepy so closed my eyes and listened.
Lip salve ( I forgot this and wanted it)
I also took non wired bras for comfort so when I got washed and changed the day after operation ( after packing and catheter removed) I put bra, vest top and then nightshift on. Then to go home I just put some comfy jogging type bottoms and uggs on with a long cardy withbthe nightshirt.
Currently sat on sofa with nice pjs on watching DH iron 😁