Any tips for a hospital stay?

ravenlooney

the first things that some to mind to remember to pack are anti bacterial wipes for toliets and sinks before you use them, food cos I find hospital food totally unpallatable, phone cards or lots of change for the phone and erm ... when you get there, please remember to ask for laxitives if you're going to be on morphine based painkillers as you REALLY will need them :-))

Good luck!!

Westywoodpecker

I would recommend that you take a small hand mirror, mouth wash, and some hand wash for the use of yourself as well as any visitors (along with all the rest of the fabulous tips!! ). Hope you get it over with soon. Best wishes Jackie

Savvy_Sue

Continuing to think about my list I'd wondered about mouthwash etc because I may not want to move my head too much and the vibrations from my sonic toothbrush might get interesting, so thanks for that latest. I don't go ANYWHERE without a little hand mirror and a pair of nail clippers and an emery board and tweezers.

And thanks to the person who suggested DVT socks: they would NEVER have crossed my mind and I think I'd prefer my own to hospital issue, TYVM! Wasn't offered them last time I was in, which was just a day job, presumably I just pick up a pair from Boots or somewhere selling travel accessories?

What that also made me think of was a lockable travel pouch I can attach to the bed railings and keep under my pillow ... I think I've seen what I'm thinking of, will take a look. I know not to take much cash in, but I also know that you don't get any choice about your fellow patients and sometimes things 'disappear' when you go to the loo!

Hopefully when it's all over I will be back to let you all know what proved most useful: but for now keep the ideas coming!

Further thought about the notebook and pen suggests that a duplicate book would be most useful, if a little pricey, so that not only can I give my DH a list of what to bring next time he comes and domestic instructions, but also retain a list of what I have said so that I don't ask him 3 times for clean undies (which annoys him for some reason) and both forget and forget I've forgotten to ask for more chocolate (as if!) Ooh! I've just found an old one in my desk drawer, someone gave it to us in case it was useful and it hasn't been so that's solved!

Savvy_Sue

One thing I have managed to think of before previous hospital stays so hopefully will again, is to cut the caffeine BEFORE going in, so that the thundering caffeine withdrawal headache happens while I still feel human, vaguely, maybe ...

Sometimes I think you get this tip with your patient info leaflet, but I share it for the benefit of others who may not be aware of this!

Jay-Jay_4

Somebody mentioned a battery run handheld fan. Fab idea! I got my Nan one when she was in hosp recently as she was always so hot.

A travel clock with the date on is handy for your bedside table, as the days tend to merge when you're in for a long time.

A box of nice tissues instead of the scratchy NHS ones.

Your own glass to drink out of (probably best with a plastic one)

A picture of your family in a frame

Prayer sheets/holy water/rosary beads etc... (obviously only if applicable)

Salt and pepper for your meals (maybe sachets of vinegar, mayo and ketchup etc)

Cartons of cranberry juice to liven up water and keep your waterworks healthy.

Hair bands (if you need them)

That's all I can think of for now, good luck with your op x x x

1jim

take lots of change in for phone etc, some hospitals use patient line tv and phone system which is about £3.50 a day to watch tv, you also buy p[hone cards as well so can add up. leave credit cards at home as they are safer there
change also useful for magazines/papers/snacks etc

good luck

jim

Sofa_Sogood

I thinks that's you just about sorted Savvy_Sue.

Might be an idea to take a Thank You card in or similar? I was shipped out early last time and felt a bit mean not leaving anything for the lovely staff

Now pop back when you're going on holiday won't you? You'll need a lorry!

Good luck and best wishes.

Savvy_Sue

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

I thinks that's you just about sorted Savvy_Sue.

Well I certainly have enough 'shopping as displacement activity' to stop me worrying for the rest of the month! Which is very helpful, honestly! The pyjama hunt was very therapeutic!

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

Might be an idea to take a Thank You card in or similar? I was shipped out early last time and felt a bit mean not leaving anything for the lovely staff

Excellent suggestion! Glad, do I start a new thread for 'pressies that would be appreciated by underpaid nurses' or would you like to pop a few ideas in here?

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

Now pop back when you're going on holiday won't you? You'll need a lorry!

I think you're right about the lorry ...

Yes I will let you all know when I'm off and be back as soon as I can! Who knows, it may even be April before the summons arrives ...

1jim

for thank you prezzie get fruit, the nurses are usually sick of chocolates (itdoes not stop them eating them however) but when ive worked on the wards can remeber getting a big box of mixed fruit and really thinking that the patient must have made an effort etc (get a friend to do the shopping for you for this)

good luck
jim

Savvy_Sue

Have started the shopping, taking advantage of the triple points in Boots! Some things I have added to my list of desirables, but probably only if someone else gets them for me, are Oral-B Brush Aways, which are 25p each if you buy a pack of 12. They seem to be like a little finger puppet with a waterproof inner and a slightly textured outer and you wipe round your teeth with them if you can't clean your teeth. Since I might not want to move my head too much they look quite sensible but I'll find out first how much I'm likely to want to move my head. And maybe disposable eye masks. Not sure how much of a prat I'll want to look, but they could be useful as a 'Do not disturb' sign. The hanging toilet bag in bright stripes with pink trim at £13 is definitely on the wish list!

And I found some feminine wipes which are supposed not to upset my rude bits. And spotted that 'Cool spray' on sale: I got one as a freebie last year so that's going in with me!

Fruit bowl for pressie for nurses, OK, will remember that, also thought I might look out for little stationery bits and bobs, EVERYONE needs a half-decent biro, don't they!?

Oh, and I rang the hospital today because I suspected they didn't have my mobile phone no. And they didn't. So I also asked about timescale, and was told that the government says I MUST be given a date by the end of March, but it's all a bit chaotic because there's no money, they've got no ambulances, and they're very short of male beds. I said I thought I was on a winner then, because I shouldn't need an ambulance to get there, and I definitely don't need a male bed!