I’m home! So One major thing I found, is that I brought a lot of stuff with me that I didn’t even use. I brought my Nintendo Switch, journals, an adult coloring book...they all stayed in my tote. After the surgery I was out until about 5:30pm. At that time I was in and out of sleep until almost midnight. Finally I came to enough to be aware of the shoulder pain, left side. Then they gave me that tube you blow in. Which the right shoulder pain made it impossible to do. I can do it now but I still have a bit of abdominal pains.
If you have long hair, braid it so it’s easier to stick into the cap for the OR.
Don’t take anything more than a phone charger with a long cord if you will only be in for 24 or so hours (I was released after 29 hours of being there (from arrival before the appointment until I got discharged). My hospital had a lot of good movies on their TV program, and they also have cable television. The little time I did spend in my room, I put it on a movie or TV program while I “ate” and then once I was done eating I’d go for a walk around the floor. Anyway, I took a lot of stuff and I didn’t even use it. Not even my chapstick or nail clippers.
If you take meds that the hospital won’t have for your stay, take the prescription bottle filled with only the amount of pills you will need that day. Since my hospital was a heart and surgical hospital, they weren’t going to have my OCD meds, so I brought the bottle with two pills in each only.
If I think of anything else useful, I’ll let you guys know! Just don’t take a ton of stuff, because you’ll have to carry it back out with you. If it’s not essential, just don’t bring it.
And someone recommended a pillow for the car ride—smart recommendation! We live across town from where the hospital is, and hit a lot of bumps in the road on the way home. So I had to hug that pillow tight.
Ask for an extra pillow in your room, too! You might hug it when you have to cough, sneeze, etc. it will help! I didn’t have a sore throat from being intubated but I did get the excessive phlegm.