Packing a bag for the hospital

[onepreciousk 19]

2 days until VSG. What did you miss from your bag, that you should have packed???

[GradyCat 3,695]

I packed more than I needed. I didn't need my phone or my pajamas. I did end up using my deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and chapstick

[KCgirl061 1,532]

A lot of people would suggest packing your own socks or house slippers for walking the halls. I don't like the idea of this, I work in the operating room and know that surgeons and PAs and such walk right out the OR up to the nursing floors dragging blood particles with them. Gross. I suggest you wear the socks they give you and throw them away.

My suggestion mirrors GradyCat's above. Plus maybe your own pillow.

[SusieQ2019 567]

I took the basic, toiletries, charger and change of clothes. I took gas X strips but never used them since I had no discomfort from gas like a lot of people mentioned here. Some people wear the same clothes home. For the most part I was in and out of sleep after the surgery.

[S@ssen@ch 745]

I don't think I even got into my bag until discharge, so I really didn't use anything I'd packed. Not my charger, not my PJ's, nothing. In fact, I think I turned my phone off and never turned it on. I might have had some lip balm and I would highly recommend having some, just in case. At discharge, I washed my face and combed my hair, put on some comfy clothes and out the door I went.

Regarding slippers, I had them in my bag but never got them out and I'm glad I didn't. I agree with KCgirl061 above. There's nothing wrong with the hospital socks, even the gowns are tolerable (not fashionable, but tolerable).

My advice: pack light. Make sure you have some stretchy pants/comfy clothes to go home in. Otherwise, the rest is a personal choice. If you feel you need basic toiletries, include lip balm.

[Jobber 321]

Everything was such a blur that I probably over-packed like some others. They're checking you so often, that bringing obstructive things like PJs become troublesome.

Also, I wouldn't bring anything that you're going to associate later with the pain you may experience while being in that place. The gas pains were friggin horrible... I can no longer drink Vitamin Water because of this.

Ultimately, most folks are only there one night, you'll survive with what they have for you there, it's not like you're on a survival show. Save all your comfort prep for going home. Just my 2 cents...

Good luck to you!

[kristieshannon 1,626]

I'll be buying a pair of $1 flip flops at Old Navy this week to wear while in the hospital. I third what was said above, don't bring your own slippers from home unless they are machine washable! I'm OK tossing $1 flip flops, but not my nice comfy UGG slippers.

[Samantha T 41]

I only packed my charger, a little extension cord, headphones, deodorant and a change of underwear. I wore sweats to the hospital and that's what I planned to wear home. The only thing I ended up using was the deodorant and the change of panties.

They put me in my room at 10 am and I didn't turn my phone back on till midnight. They were giving me IV pain meds and I was in and out all day. So I didn't need the charger, the headphones or extension cord. I wore their slippers to walk in and took them off when I got back in bed. They gave me Gas X, face wash, a tooth brush and tooth paste.

Good luck with your surgery!



Sent from my moto e5 plus using BariatricPal mobile app

[Mom_of_Chaos 545]

The gas x strips everyone talks about are impossible to find. I am guessing they are discontinued.

[SusieQ2019 567]

I purchased the gas X strip from Amazon.

[Samantha T 41]

The gas x strips everyone talks about are impossible to find. I am guessing they are discontinued.

The hospital gave me the chewable ones. So those are the ones I bought too. If you do go that route the Cherry Cream tastes like cough Syrup so go with the mint.

Sent from my moto e5 plus using BariatricPal mobile app

[stilljustafatguy 13]

i dont wanna be that guy but i didnt pack anything. didnt end up needing anything.