Packing for hospital

Skyllo

Pyjamas are MUCH better than a nightie. They preserve your dignity better when being examined as to examine you properly, you'd need to lift up your nightie from the bottom but with pyjamas you can just lift your top up. Lots of people wear normal clothing during the day, particularly those that are in for investigations that aren't really ill at that time (I'm a medical student so spend lots of time in hospitals).

Definitely bring something to keep you amused! If you're a light sleeper, earplugs might help as wards can be noisy at night with alarms going off and patients getting up or snoring.

Best of luck, hope everything goes well for you.

lostinrates

Skyllo wrote: »

Pyjamas are MUCH better than a nightie. They preserve your dignity better when being examined as to examine you properly, you'd need to lift up your nightie from the bottom but with pyjamas you can just lift your top up. Lots of people wear normal clothing during the day, particularly those that are in for investigations that aren't really ill at that time (I'm a medical student so spend lots of time in hospitals).

Definitely bring something to keep you amused! If you're a light sleeper, earplugs might help as wards can be noisy at night with alarms going off and patients getting up or snoring.

Best of luck, hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks.....

The thing with nighties is they are better if, well, if you are rendered unable to do ANYTHING for yourself ime. . I sincerely hope not to be! I expect them to be mainly interested in head and back, and for back i expect i will be in a gown. They might let me keep knickers on. I anycase, they should not need me to lift anything up, unless they really need to, in which case i will be beyond caring...
Tbh i have very little dignity anyway :rotfl:

Skyllo

lostinrates wrote: »

Thanks.....

The thing with nighties is they are better if, well, if you are rendered unable to do ANYTHING for yourself ime. . I sincerely hope not to be! I expect them to be mainly interested in head and back, and for back i expect i will be in a gown. They might let me keep knickers on. I anycase, they should not need me to lift anything up, unless they really need to, in which case i will be beyond caring...
Tbh i have very little dignity anyway :rotfl:

I've seen patients get lumbar punctures as day patients and they keep their normal clothing on. No need to be in a gown and they are certainly NOT good for modesty! Hospital gowns are usually just until someone can bring you in pyjamas/nightie (if it's an unplanned admission) or for surgery. They have NHS pyjamas for the men (in my trust anyway)! It took me a while to realise they were NHS pyjamas, I just thought blue was a popular colour.

lostinrates

Skyllo wrote: »

I've seen patients get lumbar punctures as day patients and they keep their normal clothing on. No need to be in a gown and they are certainly NOT good for modesty! Hospital gowns are usually just until someone can bring you in pyjamas/nightie (if it's an unplanned admission) or for surgery. They have NHS pyjamas for the men (in my trust anyway)! It took me a while to realise they were NHS pyjamas, I just thought blue was a popular colour.

Really? Thats all great news!

I normally am fairly interested and calm about proceedures but have to admit some nerves about tis lumbar punture business.

I should hopefully know a little more tomorrow, my gp said had he nor i heard anything he would chase and call me tomorrow, so....


To explain what i meant about being unable, last time things were anything like this sort of talk from the doctor i really could do nothing for myself, not get up for the loo or anything. I feel perfectly ok atm, but i know its reqsonably serious with my brain atm because of some of the symptoms i have had in the last couple of weeks, so i am probably assosicating the potential lumbar punture with some of the more aeriously disabling times i have had.

marmiterulesok

Hi lostinrates,

I am a nurse and have never worked in a hospital where towels and nightclothes are not provided and changed on a daily basis.You can take your own nightwear,but they might prefer that you wear hospital attire.(I work in surgery now and if a patient comes in with his own nightwear we tell them that before the operation they can wear their own stuff but after the op,it's the hospital nightwear).Some knickers definitely and a bra,you can wear them under your gown to preserve modesty.

I would suggest taking in soap/shower gel,shampoo,face cream and cleanser and a deodorant defininitely and any other toiletries you want.Some perfume too,if you want.

Slippers definitely and a dressing gown.

Something to keep you occupied,a book,magazines,music (do you have an iPod or similar?),crossword puzzle.

A pen and paper definitely.It's a very good idea to write down all the questions you have for the doctors.It's very easy in the spur of the moment to forget things that you want to ask and it's very frustrating when this happens.It's also useful to be able to jot down things that they tell you.

Some money on you is useful but not too much.Don't take any jewellery in if you can and wear a cheap watch.You should be allowed to use your mobile phone.Usually they're not allowed in ITU only.In our High Dependency Unit and the ward,they're allowed.Don't forget your charger.

Ear plugs.

I worked in Neurology for six years,so assisted in countless lumbar punctures and have also had one myself,and patients ALWAYS wore a hospital gown.You are allowed to keep your knickers on though!

I hope it goes smoothly for you and that you're admitted soon.The waiting is awful,I do sympathise.If you have any questions about LPs,I might be able to help.

You can PM me if you want.

loulou123

I've had 2 operations in past few years - 1 fairly major and 1 minor. The minor one was meant to be day surgery, but I needed to stay in overnight unexpectedly. I had no night clothes etc so ended up wearing 1 theatre gown the 'right' way round (bum flashing!) And one the wrong way around over it to protect my dignity! So I'd say a dressing gown is a necessity!

I took pjs for my longer stay, and wore them through day too (clean pair) my op was on jaw and face, so I made sure all my clothes didn't need to be pulled on over my head, might be useful for you to consider this too - if you haven't.

I'm normally an avid reader but couldn't concentrate in hospital, and found magazines much better then books, as you can dip in and out of them.

As for towels my hospital provided a clean one as soon as one was used, but a relative has to take home your personal washing etc.

lostinrates

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Hi lostinrates,

I am a nurse and have never worked in a hospital where towels and nightclothes are not provided and changed on a daily basis.You can take your own nightwear,but they might prefer that you wear hospital attire.(I work in surgery now and if a patient comes in with his own nightwear we tell them that before the operation they can wear their own stuff but after the op,it's the hospital nightwear).Some knickers definitely and a bra,you can wear them under your gown to preserve modesty.

I would suggest taking in soap/shower gel,shampoo,face cream and cleanser and a deodorant defininitely and any other toiletries you want.Some perfume too,if you want.

Slippers definitely and a dressing gown.

Something to keep you occupied,a book,magazines,music (do you have an iPod or similar?),crossword puzzle.

A pen and paper definitely.It's a very good idea to write down all the questions you have for the doctors.It's very easy in the spur of the moment to forget things that you want to ask and it's very frustrating when this happens.It's also useful to be able to jot down things that they tell you.

Some money on you is useful but not too much.Don't take any jewellery in if you can and wear a cheap watch.You should be allowed to use your mobile phone.Usually they're not allowed in ITU only.In our High Dependency Unit and the ward,they're allowed.Don't forget your charger.

Ear plugs.

I worked in Neurology for six years,so assisted in countless lumbar punctures and have also had one myself,and patients ALWAYS wore a hospital gown.You are allowed to keep your knickers on though!

I hope it goes smoothly for you and that you're admitted soon.The waiting is awful,I do sympathise.If you have any questions about LPs,I might be able to help.

You can PM me if you want.

Thank youvery much!!, i am going to do that right now!

marmiterulesok

lostinrates wrote: »

Thank youvery much!!, i am going to do that right now!

I managed to lose my PM just before I sent it,which is why you got a reply with nothing in it!:mad:

Then I took my another hour to type it out again,sorry for the delay.

Mojisola

marmiterulesok wrote: »

I worked in Neurology for six years,so assisted in countless lumbar punctures and have also had one myself,and patients ALWAYS wore a hospital gown.You are allowed to keep your knickers on though!

If you go into hospital for a procedure such as a lumber puncture, our hospitals would provide a unisex gown.

If you go to outpatients for an xray, scan, etc, you are asked to bring your own nightclothes, dressing gown and slippers although they do have a few in case people forget.

The last couple of times my parents went in for day surgery, they had to take all their own stuff with them.

burnoutbabe

I'm going to take Loads of money to buy the tv package.
iphone and charger
kindle (well charged)
DS (well charged)
dry shampoo
not sure you're allowed nail polish - does say must be removed before any surgery so i'd avoid.
lots of tracky bottom type clothes, though boring nightie for 1st day or so as i'm having surgety through stomach so a nightie may be comfier. And big girls pants! - none of the normal small ones.
if i was allowed my netbook i'd be very happy. but doubt thats allowed.
Ohh and lots of long life snacks - tracker bars etc, just as i get grumpy when hungry.