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What should I take with me to the hospital?



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I have never been in the hospital before. Does anyone have advice on what to bring with me?

My surgery is Dec 23!!

Dana

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You really need nothing other than a change of clothes, a hair brush and your own tooth brush. They will give you a toothbrush but the are really bad ones. I also brought my IPad because I would go crazy without it. I would make sure you have reading glasses if you need them. Also I used lip balm because my lips got so dry.

They prefer you use their hospital gowns so pjs are not necessary. They have to be able to get at your iIV easily. They will also provide robe and footies that are slip proof.

Other than that, you really need nothing.

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My must haves were my heating pad and iPad.

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My favorite thing I brought to the hospital was a heated blanket (heating pad). Helps with pain

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Depends on the hospital, some provide a robe, others do not. I take my own toiletries, hairbrush, combs, toothbrush, a robe, , and slippers, my entertainment this time will likely be my new tablet so I can read and keep Facebook friends up to date. I usually include a change of clothes for my husband too, as he tends to spend every waking moment with me in the hospital. I don't know yet if he plans to take all 3 days off work or just my surgery day and discharge day. I hate to say me having surgery is routine, but sadly it is. Don't overpack, but don't take so little you need people to bring stuff from home. I didn't need a heating pad after my gallbladder surgery, but if you have one, keep it handy. Also, I don't know about your hospital, but, check and see when you bring the overnight bag, at checkin, or postop. I generally have my husband leave mine in the car until I'm in my own room postop. Gives him the excuse to go find himself something to eat and take a few to work through his emotions postop. This time, he will not be in the waiting room alone as in the past, friends of ours plan to be with us through the entire preop morning and taking rotating shifts through my hospital stay.

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Your own pillow, slippers, robe, and gas ex melts.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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