What To Take To The Hospital Before Surgery

[joysdelights 24]

I am hoping for a January surgery date. Have only two more appts before. Wondering what to take with me to this surgery. I am getting sleeved.

[Beach Lover 1,084]

Wear very loose clothes to the hospital. You will only have them on for a few hours and you can then wear them home. Bring your toiletries, pillow for travel home (put on your stomach to help with the bumps in the road), Gas X strips, chapstick, phone and that's it. You won't be able to wear your pj's because of the IV's, they will give you nonskid socks to walk around in and you can use a 2nd hospital gown as a housecoat so no one will see your business. I was way to loopy to use my laptop that I brought with me so that one is up to you. When you are pre op ask the nurse for a private room if you can get one that is when they assign you to your room. When you are post op ask the floor nurse for the flavored sponges. They hydrate your lips and mouth...........A lifesaver for me! Best of luck to you!!

[Tropical.Lover 24]

Wear very loose clothes to the hospital. You will only have them on for a few hours and you can then wear them home. Bring your toiletries, pillow for travel home (put on your stomach to help with the bumps in the road), Gas X strips, chapstick, phone and that's it. You won't be able to wear your pj's because of the IV's, they will give you nonskid socks to walk around in and you can use a 2nd hospital gown as a housecoat so no one will see your business. I was way to loopy to use my laptop that I brought with me so that one is up to you. When you are pre op ask the nurse for a private room if you can get one that is when they assign you to your room. When you are post op ask the floor nurse for the flavored sponges. They hydrate your lips and mouth...........A lifesaver for me! Best of luck to you!!

Thank you babes !!!

[Scout1234 161]

I am 2 weeks post op so this is fresh in my mind:

This is what I had with me and comments on each:

Cell Phone: To stay in touch with loved ones

Ipad: Your favorite Movies / TV / Music (I put a lot of time and effort into downloading stuff to entertain myself and didn't even open it because I was so out of it

Kindle: Same as above, never left my bag

Slippers: Don't bother, they put anti slip socks on me at the hospital

Clothes to wear home: oversized sweat pants or shorts (climate dependent) to accommodate drains and tubes / oversized tshirt or sweatshirt (climate dependent) to accommodate drain bulbs. You won't need underwear (because of the drains & tubes) I was given the advice of buying a sweatshirt that zipped up the front so you don't have to put anything over your head. I hate those types of sweatshirts but I bought one because it seemed logical……it wasn't necessary at all so if you are not a fan like me its not necessary

Pillow and Blanket: For the ride home, came in handy because I had a 2 hour ride from baltimore to philadelphia

Sneakers: you will want something comfortable to wear on your feet that you also feel very stable in. I walked out of the hospital from my room because when the rolled the wheel chair in I did not even want to attempt the following:

1. Get out of bed (painful)

2. Sit down in wheel chair (painful)

3. Get up out of wheel chair (painful)

4. get into the car ass first, swing legs into car (painful)

Not to scare you about the pain, it really wasn't so much the pain as it was being so deliberate about moving because of the incision!

[farmgirl04 231]

I agree with Scout 1234 completely. I did take a paperback that I had picked up at a garage sale just to occupy me prior to surgery. It was one that if I lost or left behind I wouldn't miss too much. Anything else, except cell phone, would have been a waste of time because I slept! The one thing I wish I had prior to surgery were plain white cotton tee shirts, not too big. I wear them under the compression band, at first over the bandages, and within a couple of days just the tee shirt. And a lanyard for when you are allowed to shower, which differs drastically from doc to doc. Good luck. Take your pain meds when you need them, don't be brave! I still (3 weeks out) use my Valium in the evenings, especially as I am doing more each day, and my stomach muscles definitely spasm. No surgical pain for at least 7 days now.

[joysdelights 24]

Thanks all of you. This is very helpful.