What do you take to the hospital?

Extremely helpful!!! Thanks a bunch Donna

Here are tips that my Angel (post-op) gave me, they are items to bring to the hospital (and why) 1) Eye mask - this way when the nurses turn on the lights in the middle of the night, you won't be blinded 2) Maxi pads - 95% of child bearing age end up getting their period within 1 to 2 days of this surgery. I timed my surgery so that it would be after my menstrual cycle but I came prepared to the hospital anyway..... good thing because my aunt "flow" came to visit and it was for a heavy stay! 3) Flushable bathroom wipes & a wooden spoon (10 inches long) - after having surgery its VERY hard to bend and wipe yourself after using the bathroom and what you do is wrap the flushable wipe around the spoon end and then swipe & clean.... this was THE BEST tip EVER. I brought the items just in case but didn't think I would need them since I figured my friend had her surgery done OPEN and I was having mine done LAP - but I was WRONG.... 4) CARMEX or some kind of chapstick - the ansthesia dries you out and then you don't get anything to drink for a day so carmex is your friend 5) Battery operated clock (costs about $4 at walgreens). This helped on the nights when I couldn't sleep. 6) Body pillow - I've slept with one of these for YEARS, and I brought it to the hospital to help ease the uncomfortable sitting and laying positions. If you fold the pillow in half and tuck it under your knees when laying down, it helps ease any back pain. Or when you are able you can use it to assist laying on your side. Mind you it wasn't until about a week after I got out of the hospital before I could lay on my right side, but it took about 6 weeks before I could lay on my left side (thats where the big LAP instruments were inserted so those muscles were SORE!!!) 7) Slip on shoes or flip flops to wear around the hospital and home - bending and tying shoes will be difficult for about a week 8) VERY comfy clothes to wear home from the hospital (I bought a supersized cheap nightgown and wore that home so I wouldn't have to change when I got home) Now for post hospital items: 1) Crystal light packets (to help get the clear fluids down) 2) Chicken or beef broth 3) Breyers sugar free popscicles (I think they are on sale at Jewel this week, buy one get one free) 4) Sugar free Jello 5) Applesauce 6) Ho****er bottle (you'll probably have some gas pain issues for a week or two and by placing the ho****er bottle on the belly it helps) 7) Heating pad (DON'T put this on your tummy!!! But you can use this on your back to help break up any gas issues also)

Okay, here's a really stupid question... I told my hubby I was going to borrow my sister's Game Boy and he told me I might not be able to use electronics in the hospital. Is that true???

Hi Natalie, I took a full suit case to the hospital, and didnt open it. They say that if you want you can put on your own clothes, but you probably wont want to.. you will have the pump sticking out of you, and an IV.. on top of nurses and dr's lifting the gown all day long to check on things.. i wanted to put on my own clothes so bad, but was just more comfy in their gown. My doctor's instructions said that if you used anything for sleep apnea that you needed to bring it with you, otherwise all medications should be left at home. I didnt have any bleeding from the surgery while i was in the hospital, but different people react different from the IV and meds..(also if you are on the pill, it can cause breakthrough bleeding...) so throwing a few pads in your bag is a good idea, but if not they have plenty in the hospital... please let me know if you have any other questions that i can answer for you... Chrissy December 2003--356/July 2004---253

Natalie~ As you have had many great responses, I won't go over my entire list...I would add a backscratcher to the previosly mentioned lists though! Good luck with your surgery and your journey. God Bless, Rachel