Packing the Suitcase
I’m starting to pack my suitcase for the hospital. Does anyone have
suggestions of things you wish you had taken with you or things you wish you
had left home because you didn’t need them? I know the hospital provides
you with gowns but do you feel more confortable in your own that don’t gap in
the back? Did you feel like reading? Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Sharon
August 28th, 2003 at 11:04 pm
Sharon,
I have had several surgeries over the years. And if there is one
thing I have learned it is to not pack the kitchen sink. Every time
I go I seem to take less stuff. The last time I went was for this
surgery last November. I wore a comfortable loose fitting dress and
a slip and some slip-on shoes and a pair of panties. (Since I only
had these on for about an hour they were still clean enough to wear
home. I took a short-sleeve cotton snap-front duster type housecoat
and a pair of backless slippers and a jar of my favorite lip and face
moisturizer. This I carried in a small canvas bag. I did not bring
any jewelry or fancy nightgowns, books or magazines, etc. I have
learned from past stays that this is just more junk you will need to
carry home. The one thing I did take was a tablet and pen to write
down questions or to keep track of things that I wanted like phone
numbers, and what medicines they were giving me, etc.
I did not take anything to read because I did not have the strength
to or want to. And I barely watched TV, when I did try and watch TV
I fell asleep. When I wasn’t doing this I was trying to walk the
halls as much as possible and do the breathing exercises to keep from
getting any complications. I did have a very good recovery and was
out as scheduled in four days. I did splurge and have a private room
because of not getting enough rest in my past hospital stays. It was
really worth it, because my daughter stayed with me the first night
on a cot in the room and my sister slept in the recliner. My rest
was also much more restful.
So my suggestion is to not take a suitcase and take as little as
possible. The hospital gowns are really very comfortable and then
you don’t have any laundry to take home. And if you really do need
something there are always friends and family to bring it to you. In
this case less is more because you will have less stress of having to
keep track of all that stuff.
Even after taking so little to the hospital, I still needed 3 people
to help me bring home all the stuff I had accumulated in those four
days at the hospital.
Hope this helps,
Pennie Foster
Gainesville, FL