What should I pack for hospital for a hysterectomy stay?

[Happydays777]

What kind of things do I need to take to hospital for hysterectomy? Minimum 1 night stay. Pyjamas slippers dressing gown and slippers. Change of clothes? Tissues, wet wipes, towel, pads and phone charger but no idea what else? What do I put it all in as don't have a hold all.
Will have to travel 50 miles to hospital as I live remotely. DF will be driving me there and collecting as DH will be going to the football he says its nothing major! None of my friends have had one but I am as I have large ovarian cysts and very HMB that caused severe anaemia and Hb of 40. Now after treatment and txa its Hb140.
Put over a stone in weight and gone from 8st6lb to 9st 8lb and not eating more? Nothing fits so will be stretchy loose trousers and top for journey home. Anything I need for drive home? Will it be painful?

Something to pass the time.... reading materials, puzzle books/magazines. I took a small colouring book and some pencils. Or knitting or embroidery or something.

Do Refreshers really work?! Bonus.

They did the trick for me! You do seem to have to buy A LOT of them these days, which is hard, but, you know...

Aww thanks so much. The bleeding and backache are awful.

No they haven't said anyhting about what i can and cant do maybe at pre op... and he hasn't taken time off. My DM will come over to mine as she's retired and will help. My friends will all be at work and he won't be much help in the house.

🙄

It's not some kind of party. 😂 passing the time ? When you're in for minimum one night? 😂 you will be on pain relief which will likely make you sleep! PJs not a good idea. Nightdress if you must. Eye mask good idea. Your phone and pods or headphones. Disposable knickers or big comfy cotton ones. They will drive you insane with obs , meal times etc so you will be glad to relax. Do you know if you are having abdominal excision ?

An extension lead isn't a bad idea - just make sure you label anything like this you take in, Sharpies are your friend!

I had a decent power bank for my phone so I didn’t have to deal with plugging anything into the wall and I could just have it sitting on my table. It’s one I can get 7 full charges from so it lasted the whole time I was in without needing to be charged up.

I didn’t use the earplugs or eye mask I was told I would likely need but I was in a really quiet ward.

I didn’t wear the pyjamas I took, just stayed in the hospital gown but definitely needed dressing gown and slippers for when I was going to the bathroom for anything. Fragrance free soap is best for cleaning yourself afterwards, my nurses recommended that.

Most of my time there I spent either sleeping, speaking to DH when he was there or just playing games on my phone. I found that better than the concentration I would have needed for the book I had with me, so the book sat there totally untouched.

For going home if you have shoes you can slide your feet into (so no buckles or laces etc) then that’s much easier unless you have someone to help put them on for you. DH had to tie my laces for me and he didn’t do it as tight as I do so my shoes felt really weird when I was walking to the car. A cushion to protect you from the seatbelt as others have said was really handy too.

One other thing I really enjoyed while I was in was the packet of Percy Pigs DH bought me from the M&S in the hospital. They were lovely when I was awake overnight and everyone else was sleeping but I just needed a little something to eat (I struggled to eat too much for dinner after my op and didn’t really get my appetite back until the next day).

Maybe download a couple of films/series both new and ones you watched before and liked. Sometimes I like to watch old favourites when going through a rough time rather thank focusing on something new.

Oh How to get away with Murder is really good. Might be worth watching while DH is at football!

Marking my place - this is all so useful, my TLH is in two weeks so I will use this thread as my packing list. Thank you OP and everyone 🙏

What a good idea. Something sweet to nibble on..! thanks

Not sure yet hopefully laparscpic but maybe not if cysts are big?

Who do i need to see about HRT the hospital or GP?

Yes because I tend not to sleep when in hospital. Had to spend a week in hospital due to severe anaemia and was on a and e for two days so didn't sleep.

https://share.google/reAm9SQMEUbiALyIU

Have a read of this

Who do i need to see about HRT GP or the hospital or consultant and is the gel good? my colleague has patches but gel sounds better tbh

I took a magnetic peg which I looped my charger cable to & it stuck the bed & the bedsheets. No lost cable for my dreadful phone / tablet / headphones!
A water bottle which you can drink from whilst reclined.
Squash - the small squeeze ones as water made me want to hurl.
Enormous pants, nightie, cardigan (doubles as a dressing gown so didn't need both, crocs. I went home in leggings and vest with my cardi on - I looked a state, but I was comfy-ish

My granny has been on hospital for the last little while. Key things:

Long charging cable, ear plugs, eye mask, comfy nightie definitely essential. Also slippers or similar slip on shoes preferably with soles I reckon, in case you want to go to the loo if you're able to get that far.

And then a bottle is definitely a good idea. Granny has found she wanted hand gel and baby wipes to clean her hands before she eats. And some tissues to deal with hospital nose. I think that's been the most used stuff.

Masks in case anyone on the ward is infectious, FFP2 are good
Anti viral nasal spray (boots dual defence or Viraleze)
Hand sanitizer - Boots do a good anti viral one
Air Fanta do a good portable filter that will also double as a fan if it's hot but that's quite expensive

I’m also going in for a lap hysterectomy next week so this is incredibly useful!

I’m opting to wear a loose dress in and home as I prefer a dress to trousers anyway. I have a hold-all and was planning to take that, but DH has cleverly suggested a backpack instead so he can have both hands free to help me out and back to the car when I’m discharged. We had a bit of a rehearsal for all this a couple of months ago when I had a hysteroscopy under general in day surgery, and I think a combination of your list and the other great suggestions here will be perfect.

Hope all goes well for you when the date comes around!

OOO Great idea thanks where could i get a sippy cup from or similar?
Thanks

Aww thanks. Hope your nanny is ok now x
Where to get a sippy cup?

Good idea as water makes me want to hurl too! No way can i drink water plain lol

The gynae team should.