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Packing for hospital

I forgot to mention a pillow. I need my pillow to sleep and it was a life saver on the hour plus ride home. If you live any distance from home at all bring a pillow to hug on the way home :). Also, have the person picking you up stop for a cold bottle of water for you to drink. My husband is awesome at taking care of me and those two items were both his idea.
 
You know how all your life you go to the gynecologist and they give you an extra small gown that doesn't even begin to cover you? Well, not at the bariatric unit. The smallest gown they had was a 4x. So right away (after surgery) they put me in the clothes I brought from home (loose pj bottoms, underwear, and tshirts). Because of the IVs, you need help getting dressed in regular clothes.
My J tube drained leaked, so it soiled the clothes I had. So the only thing I wished I had was more clean clothes.
My doctor didn't require a bowel movement before discharge, but he did insist that I pass gas and have bowel sounds before discharge.
 
CALQL84HEALTH said:
no much.
Take pjs just incase you get to change but you will prob be in hospital gowns for the trip
walking shoes that do not require to be tied. Walking after and lots of walking will make the gas go away and keep pain at bay. walk as soon after as possible and keep walking when ever possible. It truly works
something to read or post online. I never really messed with the lap top because I needed to focus on walking and sipping water ( I wanted to go home asap!) it worked
hygiene products
baby wipes to freshen up that first day because surgery will make it almost impossible to take a show and surgery makes for a strange smell.
chap stick was a must and I never use the stuff
hair brush
pack light to take extra stuff only means you have to hall it out of there afterwards.

best of luck
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Another item I forgot to put on my 'Packing List' and will kick myself when I wake up after surgery is the Baby Wipes that CalQl8...was so smart to remember and advise.
 
StinkerBelle said:
This will probably be the only time I have issues, uhhh passing wind / tooting / fluffing / ;) ..
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I hope you don't mind but, I shared this post with my grand kids. They thought it was so funny we were LOAO.
My granddaughter likes the lady-like "fluffing" the best.
My grandson likes your name.
Thanks for the laughs.
 
Gr8k8 said:
I hope you don't mind but, I shared this post with my grand kids. They thought it was so funny we were LOAO.
My granddaughter likes the lady-like "fluffing" the best.
My grandson likes your name.
Thanks for the laughs.
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LOL, my boys always called it tooting. Me I always called it fluffing..

My husband nicknamed me Stinker Belle after we became serious. He said I was a lot like Tinkerbelle yet I was quiet the lil mischievous stinker, so the name StinkerBelle was born and has stuck.. :)
 
Good to know, I'm glad I asked, I thought it was a dumb question. Like obviously I should bring my prescriptions. Why would they flush them. I don't understand why. J:eek:
 
Gr8k8 said:
Good to know, I'm glad I asked, I thought it was a dumb question. Like obviously I should bring my prescriptions. Why would they flush them. I don't understand why. J:eek:
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they just won't give you anything that they haven't prepared or labelled. You should also not bring anything in to take yourself, cause there could be side effects with what the hospital is giving you, or you could be taking double of something without realizing it. I always ask before I let any hospital personnel give me anything or put anything in my IV.
 
That's good advice. I've never been in the hospital when I needed medicine on a daily basis. But now that you explained it to me I can see that my meds might not be appropriate after surgery and the meds that are given to me while in the hospital may interact with my meds from home. This way they're monitoring my meds and can adjust as needed. Thanks. I'll take meds off my packing list.
 
Gr8k8 said:
That's good advice. I've never been in the hospital when I needed medicine on a daily basis. But now that you explained it to me I can see that my meds might not be appropriate after surgery and the meds that are given to me while in the hospital may interact with my meds from home. This way they're monitoring my meds and can adjust as needed. Thanks. I'll take meds off my packing list.
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You are asking really great questions. I was going to take all of my meds with me. I do have to take my cpap with me. Looking forward to not needing that contraption. lol
 
Depending on the hospital is what prescription medications they will allow you to bring, and you can only bring 3 days worth. My husbands hospital, he is in the pharmacy, actually will lock outside prescriptions in the facilities pharmacy and dispense per labeling instructions.
 
a little advice for those on more than one type of meds. Make a list of all meds with amount and times taken. At the pre-op visit the nurse will ask as will those doing pre-op test then when you check in they will want to know and then again when they start the iv. I took the stickers that come with my meds when I get a refill and put them on notebook paper. I also listed the last time and date taken. The nurse said she could hug me because she had to have the list and she didn't have to try to spell them and guess at the mg taken. I made 6 copies and just handed them out as needed. When it comes to mixing meds don't take chances either bring you bottles or the complete list of medications. Another option is to have your pharmacy run you a list but you will have to know the last amount and time taken for each medication. I am only on two things but it was still great to have that list made.
 
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