What to bring to hospital? Is there a thread that lists all?

[jessiquoi 623]

i thought i had seen one earlier in my journey, but i can't find it.

thanks!

[LML8789 52]

I don't know where there is a list but my suggestion is:

phone & charger

lip balm

and a pillow to keep around your stomach for the way home if you have a long ride home

you won't feel like reading etc so leave the ipad etc at home!

Congratulations--sounds like your surgery's coming soon----Lisa

[thesuse2000 698]

That's weird - I thought it was pinned in this section, but I can't find it either. I agree with all of the above suggestions. I was so out of it, but I did use my phone and lip balm - and that was about it. I'll just add to make sure you have something loose and comfy to wear home.

[Luvin_Life125 558]

I was just discharged 4 days ago. I brought: my phone & charger, extension cord, heating pad, pj pants, socks, 2 pairs of underwear, toothbrush & paste , body wash, face wash , Shampoo & conditioner, hair brush, hair elastics, my super soft blanket from home, gas x strips, biotene dry mouth wash, and hand lotion . I used: toothpaste & brush & mouthwash, hearing pad, phone & charger, extension cord, face wash, and body wash. That is it. I had to wear the non slip slipper socks the entire time. I had a catheter most of my stay so no undies. I have really long hair so I braided it the morning of surgery just to save myself a few knots. My hair stayed in that braid until discharge day when I also washed up with the body wash and washed my face with the face wash. Everything else stayed in my back pack. I say you are best to pack minimal stuff and keep to the basics . Good luck!

[sunnkistme 76]

I just had surgery November 3rd. I took very few things and used even fewer. Phone and charger. I like the idea of the extension cord. I had to charge my phone the day after surgery and did not want to bother a nurse to plug my phone in. The only available outlet took a bit of bending to plug and unplug. I used lip balm. Toothpaste and a tooth brush. I took a sponge bath day two and had to use hospital soap, yuck, wipes or wash would be good. That's it....I did not need or use another thing. I wore loose comfortable clothes to the hospital and just wore them home.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Anytime I go the hospital, I take a good sturdy Teddy Bear. I have used my bear for an armrest (to help support the hand or arm that has the IV in it) and a neck rest, For my sleeve surgery, I used my bear as a stomach support for coughing and to sit my phone on because it is difficult to reach over to the nightstand. When emotions hit, the bear is simply a comfort to hold. I may be almost 63, but I am still a girl. Thank goodness my family thinks it's cute and not weird.

Also, I would have had a tough time of it without my Chapstick.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I think it depends on where you are having surgery. At my hospital I was given a duffle bag at preadmission. It had those slipper sock in side. At my final nutrition glass I was given a Water bottle.

I brought a chapstick, my iPod & charger,my travel toothbrush, deodorant and extra large panties to wear home. I had as many pillows as I want in the hospital. The provided colace & prilosec as part of my daily meds. My room had a shower with toiletries.

I didn't need pain meds and my program keeps you for 2 days. By day 1 I was bored and I was happy to have my iPad with me. I kept myself busy by emailing and playing games.

[jessiquoi 623]

i'll only be there overnight, so i don't want to overpack, and i only live 10 minutes away so my boyfriend COULD go home and get me whatever i decided i want... but i prefer to be prepared.

thanks for your replies!

[Sleevarilla 169]

http://teddy-tech.com/product/bari-buddy/

I had the moose, not the Teddy Bear and it was the best thing I took to the hospital

biotene

bathrobe, so you don't flash everyone when you're walking (couldn't wear pants due to the urinary catheter)

i think that's all that I saw that wasn't mentioned.

Best of luck on your surgery!

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

http://teddy-tech.com/product/bari-buddy/

I had the moose, not the Teddy Bear and it was the best thing I took to the hospital

biotene

bathrobe, so you don't flash everyone when you're walking (couldn't wear pants due to the urinary catheter)

i think that's all that I saw that wasn't mentioned.

Best of luck on your surgery!

Check with your doctor. I didn't have a catheter. They gave me two gowns so I could cover back and front.

[KMendez325 31]

How do you get that ticker on the bottom of your posts?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

How do you get that ticker on the bottom of your posts?

http://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?app=trackers&module=tickers&section=create

[quayle71 5]

I have to sleep with body pillow unless i am drugged...worth bringing or just ask for extra pillow, bringing my own pillow but thought body pillow too much.

Not bringing books but Kindle fire and headphones i think i will bring.

The extension cord idea is great for phone and kindle....

Gas X strips, heard from people that nothing helped them post surgery but walking....said it is the air inside your body not your stomach...?

Thoughts...

[Cococat 119]

A robe. You have to walk after surgery and having a robe saves your rear end from over-exposure. I brought two small pillows to prop under my elbows while in bed. I am sure they will supply you with as many pillows as you want, but they are bigger pillows and having my own felt nice.

They give you everything else. A friend of mine said to take a notebook and jot down everyone's name and everything that they gave you and did. I did not do it but wish that I had because one forgets so much.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

1. At my last pre-op meeting with my surgeon, I asked him about pain management and how he handles that shoulder gas I was hearing about. He said it comes from CO2 pumped into the abdominal cavity to expand it and allow more room to work with his surgical instruments. This is the gas that rises post-op into the shoulder area. (Personally, I don't see how Gas-X strips would help with gas that is not inside the stomach or bowels, but many swear by it). Doctor said he would extract as much as possible before closing up. For what it's worth, I did not have any shoulder post-op.

2. About the value of a notebook: good in case you just want to write something down. My best example is when I had ro go to a rehab facility after my knee replacement since I lived alone and could not take care of myself right away. The first night, my pain meds were delivered over two hours late, so I wrote that down and names of every nurse and nurse-aid who promised me I would get my meds in a few more minutes.

Every time anyone came into my room for anything, I wrote down their name, what they did to me, what they said to me, and how they teated me. About midway through the second shift on the second day, a nurse came in and asked me if I was a journalist. Well, I like to write things down and was midway through writing a book about surviving domestic violence, so I said yes, I am a journalist and I am logging my experience so that I can write up an article about it later.

From that point on, every med was on time and I was treated like the Queen of England! I thought is was hilarious. Since it was working, I just rolled with it. So anytime I am in the hospital, I write everything down - just in case.