2 Fun Questions about hospital stay

robe and slipper

If you don't have a recliner chair in your room (some folks rent them and have them delivered to the hospital/hotel room), you could really use one of those pillows you use on the airplanes.  Something that allows you to sleep comfortably sitting up. 

At the hotel, I slept in a chair backed up against the wall with a bunch of pillows.  After the surgery (I was open), I could not lay down.  Using one of those pillow/chair thing that you can use to sit on the floor might come in handy.  Same concept.  You can sleep sitting up on the bed if you wedge yourself up against the head board into a sitting position.

I slept sitting up for 7 weeks.  At home, I have a large chaise chair with a high back and it's big enough for me and my pit bull.  I lived on that thing.  That was my bed.  I took a nap on the bed once and woke up in pain, could not roll over to get out of that bed, and laid there crying out for my sister to come get me. 

Take as little with you as possible. Ask the hospital if the have fans available. If not, take one---I was SO hot after surgery, and that's WITH a fan. (And I've been cold ever since I left the hospital. I wear wool socks in the summertime!)

I don't really remember much of my 'daily schedule'---it's been nearly ten years, and they gave me some GOOD drugs...(*grin*)

I had gas bloating and couldn't drink anything until I passed that gas.  That was very uncomfortable, and was the only pain I experienced.  They had me up walking the same night as surgery, and did it as much as possible to try to get the gas moving.  I took my Kindle, but didn't use it.  I watched tv, and slept a lot.  Don't expect to get a lot of rest during the night, they'll be in taking blood, taking vitals and bringing ice.  I also took slippers, and they gave me another gown to use as a robe for when I was walking.

Best of luck to you and I hope everything goes well for you.  Let us know your progress, ok?

Slip on slippers and slip on out door footwear.  You won't want to be bending over for a while.

My surgery was a few years ago so I can't remember right off the bat my exact schedule. All I remember is that I had to get up and walk down the hall as far as I could every half hour and I had to sip on water every 15 minutes. The rest was just a blur really. I do remember out of all the things that I brought, the thing I forgot was a fan. I was burning up in the room and would have loved to have a fan blowing on me, but it was next to impossible to get a nurse to bring me one. I remember asking for one several times and I never got it. 

#1 - Bring a pillow with you for the ride home so you have something to clutch around your tummy.

- tight t-shirt/breathable athletic shirt or jacket.  Not exactly tight as a girdle or spanx (and you wounds shouldn't be encased like a sausage in non-breathable material anyway), but for the first week home, it helped in keeping things "in place" and I didn't feel as if my guts were going to spill out of my incisions when I sat up.

- maxi pads.  Some may get spotting/periods, but to be honest, it helped me the first few weeks when I couldn't move quickly enough to get to the bathroom.  May not prevent an "accident" - but it could help minimize the embarrassment.  

- shoes that you do not have to bend over and tie.  Wear slip on shoes to and from the hospital.  Will make it so much easier!

#2 - Wasn't in long enough to have a "routine" - only in 2 days.  Expect to move around very shortly after surgery.  It helps prevent leg clots and helps you pass gas.  

Things NOT to take:

- your vitamins.  You won't be able to take them, and generally, you are given a "pass" for not taking them the first week or two after surgery.

- your whole "line" of toiletries.  I tend to overpack and overdo it on personal toiletries (esp. face stuff).  So - take your face cleaner and maybe moisturizer, but keep the toner, cosmetics, night cream, pore minimizer, etc. at home.  I have no idea who I thought I was going to impress.  :-)  Just stick to the basics.  If you forget something, the hospital will have it, or have a friend stop at Walgreens and get you a travel size of something.  

- Kindle.  Yes, I loaded mine up and brought it with me.  Totally ignored it because I was in and out of it because of the drugs and doing "laps."  I didn't feel like reading - just sleeping and watching TV.  Load up the kindle, though, for when you get home and are recovering.

Best of luck!