?? What to pack for hospital???

Hey gang, I and several other preops(some on Alabama board) need to know what to pack. There was a posting from DX that had a list but now I can't find it. I know chapstick is one thing and room air freshner. What else ????? Robe and slippers, hair stuff personal care stuff, soap, oral care, deoderant etc. phone list of family and friends ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Personally I intend to take a neon pink water pistol full of stink-um to any staff member who's mean and grouchy!!!!!! Don't expect any but you never know! This is before I talk to their supervisor. Tomanip

AN ESCAPE ROUTE !!! Just picking !!! If your having it done Lap, you really won't need a lot of things. Hopefully you won't be in there that long. Take as little as possible. Your not gonna have a lot of time for junk. I had a lot of phone calls. I had company. So... I didn't need books to read or puzzles to do. I had actual people entertaining me !!! Use their gowns as a gown and house coat- save yours. Oral care, chap stick & deodorant. If your not one who has to have their hair washed everyday, just take a brush. Phone numbers (hint * program them in your cell phone) that way you won't have to keep up with an address book. About the chap stick.... some people may have found it helpful, but I sure didn't. If your leak test is done the way mine was..... Your mouth is going to be so dry before they do the leak test & chap stick isn't going to do anything to help. But hey... it will help ease any kissing up that needs to be done DO NOT DO ANY KISSING UP !!! Kick tails & take names !!! Hope this helps some. If I think of anything else... I'll post it. Tammy

Tams, Guess that means I gotta pack a pen and paper!!!!!! Tomanip

Hey Tomanip Don't overpack !! That would be my advice. The hospital usually provides soap and personal care items. Air freshener? Nah. Robe Yes. Slippers Yes. Wear the hospital gowns. That way you dont have to wash them when u get them messed up. I wore the clothes I wore TO the hospital back home too. Pack socks and undies according to the length of stay. See what the average stay is with your physician. Mine was set for about 3-5 days. I left after 3. Unconscious the first day, walking walking walking the second day, going home the third day. A small bag of stuff is really all u need. Maybe some sippy tops for water bottles? they are helpful. Wet wipes , but those were furnished at my hospital as well. Like I said, don't go overboard on what youre bringing. U won't need it. The only luxury item I brought < since I had a private room > was a laptop computer to watch DVDs on :D Have a great week!!!! ~Andie~

Andie, Where have you been? Missed you! Thanks for the info. I want to take as little as possible!!!! Tomanip

You definatly need an escape route. I had a mother in law who would not leave. She didnt care if was asleep or awake she stayed for I dont know how long. My friend was spending that night with me and I know she stayed past 11pm... My friend finally said "I gotta go to sleep and you are on my bed"... she knew I had had enough.. I took my sleep wear... I didnt wear them until my last night there and I had to just be in my own clothes. I washed my hair that day and even put on a little bit of makeup. I was tired of looking like I was in a hospital. I worked on crossword puzzles when nobody was there but other than that - I wouldnt take a whole lot. You will go home with more than you brought and you wont feel like and wont be able to carry anything. All your friends and family will have to do that. I would take a robe and slippers. I used mine. There is just something about being in something that belonged to me. I couldnt stand the dreary hospital stuff. I did wear the gown but when I was up I had on my robe and my slippers. Bright colors. I was in the hospital from Thursday-Monday so I was there probably longer than you will be. But by Sunday I was getting stir crazy. I froze too -- I was very cold. Some got hot but I was freezing. You may want to bring another blanket. I am so happy for you. Its right around the corner!

By Escape route - I meant -- something for you to say to let whoever is staying with you to get rid of whoever is there visiting..

Christine, Thanks for the . I'll set up a code word or some kind of signal. Don't think I'll have much company as the hospital is 60 miles away. They'd have to be really good friends or very, very, nosey!! Good thinking! Sounds like you had a monster-in-law like mine ,well yours is ex and mine is deceased. I swore I'd never be like her and hopefully I'm not, I love both of my childrens spouses and they love me. My daughter-in-law calls me "Mom". My son-in-law calls me by my first name. It's great!!!! Remember how she was when your turn comes to be the "Mother-in-law" For the life of me I can not call you "Country Bumpkin" it's not you. You are a classy lady. My daughters name is also Christine named for a friends mother who was also very classy. My daughter may not consider herself as such but she is quite the southern lady. Well I'm Chatty Kathy today, didn't mean to bend your ear so much. Again , thanks for the advice and TRY to behave. Tomanip NOT

You dont have to call me Country Bumpkin... Haha.. I need to change it back or to something else. Maybe I can talk Melissa into being Tweedle Dee and I can be Tweedle Dum. Thats cute, huh? My MIL really knew how to wear out her welcome. If I got home and she was there I would not even pull into the driveway, I would go hide out at a friends house. She is a night owl and could stay up all night and would try at my house on school nights-- there would be times we would all crash and she would still be there watching TV... Kills me. I will always be TRYing to behave but somehow it doesnt work out the way I intended. You are really sweet... talk to you soon!

I vote for the water pistol full of stink-um!!!! Yeah!!!! Seriously, you might want to bring a couple of full gowns cause you might be very swollen from the gas that they use to inflate the abdomin when they do lap. I had to have surgery twice, so my stomach was so big for a long time and clothes were painful. Even my underwear was too tight, for about 6 weeks until it went down. Slippers or warm socks might be better, I was freezing all the time, I guess my hormones were in a uproar after the surgery, cold one minute and hotter than you know what the next. Also if you have a lot of drips, it is easier to manage with the socks when you need to get up to go to the pottie. I had them bring me a pottie chair to the room, it was easier than managing pole and all into the bathroom. I was there longer than most almost 2 full weeks, with a close up tour of intensive care, DX too. The hospital gowns are good at first, cause you will mess up several times, or quite a lot until you can get your colon under control. All three times they did the swallow test on me I got deathly ill. I really do think that I am allergic to that stuff. It is a clear yellow liquid. Had both ends working at the same time and it was so bad, never want to go thru that again!!!! Chewable Vitamins are horrible but There are some liquid ones that they sell on the web on Susan's site that may be better. Protein Powder that I used is Isopure, no carb. It is best blended with ice and water or low fat milk. Vanilla is not strong. Unjury is also good and you can start with one scoop and then build up to two. I also put a scant teaspoon of coffee in mine sometimes to make a shake......Buy yourself one of those shake blenders. You could shake the powder diluted with water first then add ice and shake again..... A good book or two can help to pass the time. and of course the TV guide!! I love TV cause I dont get all the US programs here and they are usually a couple of years behind. That is all that I can think of now, but if I come up with more stuff will post again! Smiles, Cheryl