Hi all,

Would love your advice (or your complete lists) for what to bring with me to the hospital and what stuff to buy in advance so I have when I return!

Perhaps things that I wouldn't have considered or aren't obvious!

One thing I have picked up on from reading peoples stories is about having dry lips from dehydration so I have added lip moisturizer to my list! Would love more insights like this!

Thanks,

J

Chapstick and lotion!

iPhone & remote battery charger to avoid having to plug it into wall outlet.

An extra pillow to press & hold over you abdomen during the ride home.

Extra pillows to prop up in bed at home with. That or sleep in a recliner the first few days. Sleeve was fine with anything....hernia repair was the only pain.

I don't took several boxes of gas-x strips after reading about them here. Never needed them at all. Zero gas pains experienced.

Slip on tennis shoes. New Balance makes a couple versions that you simply step into. Extremely comfortable and you'll love them around the house.

Your own loose fitting gym clothes. I felt like a sick person wearing that stupid hospital gown. Felt like a dude finding his stride once I changed into my gear.

Have you postop pain med prescription filled beforehand, too

Excellent question!!

For home, a long handled shower poof has been a godsend this week. No straining to get my back or legs. I also had a hernia repair and my husband bought me one of those back pillows that have the arms. It made getting in and out of bed a lot easier.

A good hospital is going to provide everything you need.

The only things I used was cell phone, cell phone charger, chapstick, face wash, toner, face moisturizer.

I find of wish I rented a recliner for the first 2 weeks at home it would have been more comfortable. Although I had no problems sleeping in my bed and slept on my stomach the 3rd or 4th night.

Some sort of chapstick, hand lotion and a extension cord so that you can charge your phone or iPad easier.

I went home 24 hours later, so I didn't need much. The first day I was pretty much sleeping because of pain meds and recovering from surgery. The next morning I got up for the pouch test and then they sent me home. So I didn't have much of a chance to do anything or need occupied.

Thanks for the tips everyone - I am going shopping this evening and I will pack tomorrow to be super organised! Surgery 27th but travelling 26th!

I hadn't considered a pillow, I will try source a small one for the plane especially

I'm a crazy person and basically brought all of my makeup with me... haha. I did forget chapstick, and my wonderful hospital had some. I felt so good the next day I actually used the makeup too, so.

I agree on bringing loose clothes/pjs to change into and out of the gown. I brought some like cotton tank top style night gowns and as soon as I was awake I changed into that. Felt so much better just being in my own stuff.

After I got home I would say I wish I had better prepared my room, if that makes any sense... as in pillows, scooting things closer so I didn't have to reach, etc. (I had roomates but no SO to take care of me).

I brought sooooooo much stuff!!!! All I used was:

Chapstick

Charger w extension cord

My own pillow (they have plastic crinkly noisy covers on theirs) with a colored pillowcase so I knew easily which was mine

Earplugs (though to be fair they had those there I didn't need to use mine)

My glasses/contact lenses (brought the glasses in case they made me take the lenses out, but since I sleep in my lenses regularly they let me keep them)

They provided everything else--toiletries, slippers/socks, an extra gown to wear as a robe, saline solution, heating pad etc etc.

My hospital wouldn't let me use Any over the counter meds or anything so gas x or cough drops/lozenges were useless. I wanted lozenges so badly they wound up getting an ok from my surgeon and then gave me ones they provided.

Soap or wash for the shower.

An extension cord for iPhone, computer, etc.

Some sort of slippers.

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soft pajama pants.. Loved the in the hospital & Chapstick.

At home..a body pillow if you're a side sleeper

All I brought was my iphone, iPad, Chargers and toothbrush/toothpaste. Didn't need anything else that the hospital didn't provide. Wore the same clothes home that I came in, including a hat so I didn't have to worry about brushing my hair. All postop meds were dispensed to me before I left.

I actually went shopping for drinkable yogurt, pedialyte, Lifewater, decaf herbal tea and GasX strips on my drive home from the hospital. Already had Protein shakes, unflavored Protein powder and broth at home.

I felt great when I got home after surgery, the only thing was my throat and all was still very swollen. I couldn't even sip sip sip on water. I sent my fiance out for pedialyte, drink and popsicles, to keep me from dehydrating. The ice pops also helped the swelling. I wish I had them right when I got home. All I did was walk at the hospital, I didn't even them he touch half the stuff I brought

I'm a crazy person and basically brought all of my makeup with me... haha. I did forget chapstick, and my wonderful hospital had some. I felt so good the next day I actually used the makeup too, so.

I agree on bringing loose clothes/pjs to change into and out of the gown. I brought some like cotton tank top style night gowns and as soon as I was awake I changed into that. Felt so much better just being in my own stuff.

After I got home I would say I wish I had better prepared my room, if that makes any sense... as in pillows, scooting things closer so I didn't have to reach, etc. (I had roomates but no SO to take care of me).

Ha ha - love it! I'll be exactly the same, getting on my makeup at the earliest possible moment!

Definitely bring lip balm, lotion, deodorant, slip on shoes (I chose Crocs - easy to slip on and easy to clean if needed), my own fleece blanket, a long phone charger (the standard ones are too short!), I-pod and earbuds (helped at night if a loud patient nearby)...I did not use a lot of the things I brought!!!