Overnight Bag

[SaintTeresa 15]

Well tomorrow is the big day eh? You're going to be fine. I brought my cell phone charger, my own pillow and soft jammies and fresh underwear to put on after surgery. Some hospitals want you in the gown, but no one minded that I put on short sleeve top and shorts. I did NOT sleep and have a very hard time sleeping in hospitals so I walked a lot. They gave me toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, socks.

If it hurts--ask for more pain meds!!! I am just shocked that some of the other patients would not ask for it--it made getting up and walking SO much easier !!

I did not touch my hair, makeup, nothing until the following day when I was leaving. Then just a pony tail and the jammies I had on.

You're going to feel better fast! Good luck!

ST

[lauraellen80 855]

Makeup remover? You will have no energy to put on makeup! I packed a bag but only ended up using my toothbrush and hairbrush. Bring a change of clothes to leave in.

I stayed in my gowns the whole time, commando - underwear bands may rub up on your incisions, same with the underwire of a bra when sitting up.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who went commando in the hospital!

[BizzyB 119]

I took a bunch of stuff and only opened up my bag for my toothbrush and hair brush.

[Michelle920 66]

I agree with everyone except there's one thing I had at home and wish I'd brought. Dry shampoo!! I was in the hospital three nights and by the third day I could have used it. I didn't bring much else, just clothes to wear home and my own slippers, which I didn't even wear. Had I known my first roommate was going to snore I would have brought headphones. My hospital offered toothbrushes and toothpaste but I'd brought my own. I didn't expect to be there so long, in fact I originally thought I'd be the one who stayed one night when they said 1-2 nights.

[Alex Brecher 10,516]

Phone and phone charger, and tablet or ipad and adapter, if you can’t live without them. Beforehand, you might want to download a movie or TV show to watch so you don’t have to depend on the hospital’s wi-fi. You might be too tired to watch something, but you might want to…you never know. If music calms you, you might want to bring headphones and download a few songs, too.

Don't forget to bring everything related to your medical records and insurance!

Good luck!

[hockeyfan7 249]

I took clean underwear, clean clothes to wear home, deodorant, hairbrush, headband, lip balm, my cell phone and charger, Crocs for walking in the hallways, my bathrobe.

The hospital let me wash up and gave me soap and towels and washcloth. They also brought me a clean gown every day. They let me wear my underwear with the gown, but nothing else. They didn't make me wear the non-skid socks. I wore my own Crocs when I was up walking around.

[amsleeved 13]

Slippers and a pair of shorts to wear under your gown. You will be up walking the halls with an IV attached. Toothbrush is good to have.

[mallen1895 108]

Good luck on your surgery. I packed a lot but used none I was there overnight and wore the same hospital gown until I left. My phone charger only thing used

[Rabbijeff 5]

Just had mine on 6/26. Brought a bag never used anything except underwear and toothbrush, toothpaste. Didn't use the books or papers I brought. You will be doped up on narcotics for the first 24 hours post surgery because it hurts. And you do want to walk, walk and more walk. The narcotics make it possible to walk so make sure that before they get you up and walking...push that button on the "pain pump". After the 1st 24 hours they administered IV Tylenol which made it possible for me to walk 5 laps around the floor at a time because it dulls the pain so effectively and doesn't knock you out. If they offer Dilaudid...be aware that it is the kind of narcotic that makes you close your eyes mid-sentence and then continue your train of thought an hour later....took 3 hours to get out of bed on oral Dilaudid. Kept closing my eyes. Also, if they offer simethicone...doesn't do much. You have to walk, even super slowly clutching a pillow to your belly at first, but walking is the way to get the gas absorbed by the body and get your system working quickly and smoothly.

[Rabbijeff 5]

Bring a long cord charger for your smartphone or tablet! Mine broke On day #1 and only one resident had an iPhone!

[nc512 30]

I packed loads and barely touched any of it! My saviours were my comfy dressing gown and slippers. I changed into leggings and a baggy t shirt once I had my IV out. I also watched a few movies I had already loaded onto my iPad..it was quite nice to have a distraction. I brought my book with me but I didn't feel up to concentrating enough to read! Hope that helps! Good luck with your surgery! ????

[ashley126 10]

I'm going home today! Yippie. Surgery went well. I'm on my second day post op and still feeling gas pains but nothing unbearable. Between my husband and I we actually used most of the items I packed. What really helped me was brushing my teeth to get rid of or at least help with the cotton mouth. Especially when your only intake is ice chips. ????

[mclorrie 219]

My surgery is this Thursday, (July 2).

I've got PJ shorts that have a drawstring that I'm planning on bringing to wear under my hospital gown. I plan on bringing a couple pair of undies, a book, chapstick, brush, hair tie, toothbrush, toothpaste, bipap machine, and a pillow. I'll wear home what I wear to the hospital. Stretchy yoga capris, loose top, and flip flops.