What do I need, to take to the hospital?

 Hey all

Robotic surgery April 14th.

I'm sure you have all seen this post before, never been in hospital as a patient, so if you could put up with it one more time, I'd appreciate it.

I have the post that English Aff was so kind to supply. I was just wondering about the little things like the stuff you put in a overnite bag, and what about the pants, no elastic, shoes, no flipflops- slippers?

Anything.     Thanks guys and wifes who packed all the bags anyway.  Tim

slip on shoes are almost mandatory, unless you have someone with you that will tie your shoes, bending over will be a problem
sweatpants (to wear home) are also required as you will leave need the room, no jeans, just wear them there as well, less to carry later
I was there only one night so I never needed anything other than the hospital fatigues
toothbrush and toothpaste

thats about it, you likely will not be there that long (ID and ins cards of course)

Leave the watch at home, no need to worry about where that ends up

I had sweatpants and a sweat shirt and was very glad to have both. I agree on the briefs. If you buy 36 I'd suggest 38. Last thing you want is the elastic around your waist too tight. Slip on shoes, an excellent idea. I took a small, non-fiction, paperback book on a subject that interested me and was easy to read. Sephie's comment on 12 hours being drugged and 12 hours walking (for da Vinci) before being sent home is on-the-money from my experience. I was either asleep, or busy showering, walking, going down to the shops on the main floor for coffee, or having the nurse change dressings, learning to change bags, or ..... who knows? Time flew.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

I was leaking too much around the catheter from bladder spasms to use normal shorts, so got some of the depends "adjustable" (i.e. they split with velcro-like closures on the sides) pants to stem the tide on the way home.

Didn't want to be changing bags (the nurses convinced me it wasn't the best idea), so I took a pair of loose drawstring pants, and split the seam on the side at the knee long enough to slide the bag through.

I took way too much, and then had to carry that plus all the extra stuff they gave me home. What did I use?
- Blackberry, BB charger, wired headphone (the bluetooth didn't get along with all the electronics in the room).
- Full Slippers. NOT flipflops or loose houseshoes - when you are trying to get stable enough to walk, you don't want to trip & fall on a loose shoe.
- Basic toilet articles for the shower (soap, shampoo in a small bottle).
- a book - read maybe 50 pages.
- notebook & pen for notes.
- any medication you have to take regularly (stool softeners, sinus stuff, blood pressure meds, etc.) If they give them to you from the hosp. pharmacy, they will cost a fortune. They will likely take the bottles away and send back the prescribed amounts, then give you the bottles back before you leave.
- Cane to keep in the vehicle - I have a folding one - you may find it hard to get in and out of your vehicle, so just leave it in the car for the trip home.
- Some underpads to put on the seat of the car, you may leak. The hosp. might give you some if they charged you for a pack.
- Bathrobe to wear walking around - those hosp. gowns just aren't for "out and about" (I was in for several days).

Post Edited (142) : 3/8/2010 10:38:30 AM (GMT-7)

P.S> Don't pre-shave any surgical area ahead of time, that is usually a big no no with hospitals if they haven't told you that already

Hey guys

 Do I need a bathrobe? Do they want dentures removed?  Thanks  Tim

Can one bring their own recreational drugs ?

Tim you might get an inflatible donut for the ride home.I didn't get one until 2 weeks and it really helped I just quit sitting on it last friday at 6 weeks DICK

Timm,
I had Robotic and was in and out of the hospital in 25 hours. I wore sweatpants. They supplied everything else, including the slipper socks. Don't bring a lap top or anything else you will worry about. Skip the jewelry. You don't need it.
You get there in the morning, get prepped, and have the surgery. Then you sleep and wake up, watch TV a bit , go for a walk wit the attendant eat a few times and then get discharged. You will have plenty of time to send emails to your friends when you are home. If you need to read, grab some free magazines. Read ones you don't normally read. You'll learn something new.
Just enjoy the hospital stay while you can. Hopefully you won't be back.
Jeff

My older posts are still clearly being useful, but using hindsight if I had to do it again I'd take as little as possible:
Headphones and MP3 player
Electric Toothbrush and paste
Fruit juice in little cartons with straws
Reading glasses.
Chocolate
Two towels for the journey home, one to sit on and one to fold up into a perfect shape to clutch to my abdomen. (A cushion is a fixed shape)
Loose clothes. T-shirt, shorts etc (depends of time of year/weather, my op was in July)
Slip-on shoes
Paper tissues
notebook and pencil
ID insurance card etc
My sense of humour
A smile or two

I'd let my wife take:
cell-phone
camera
book
magazine
snacks
a pack of cards
copies of medical notes
hand cleaner
patience
a smile or two

If you are used to driving and used to sitting in the driving seat, then don't sit in the front passenger seat on the way home, sit instead in the back behind the driver, (unless it's a 2-door coupé of course!) you will find it easier to get in and out of the car because your body will be used to bending and turning that way, and the safetybelt will feel more comfortable. I got a friend to give me a lift home so my wife could sit in the back with me: he dealt with the driving and she dealt with me.

Jeff put it very well. If you are only in for a short stay you are almost home before you need anything.

Alfred

All removable dental devices (dentures, etc.) are removed prior to surgery - big no-no as you might choke on it (them).

When I brought John home, I grabbed a soft pillow from our sofa and put it in the car - he found the drive home more comfortable when sitting on it.

Purgatory is right about shaving yourself before hand - don't do it. John asked about that (oddly enough) and was told to not shave anything except his face. They shaved his entire stomach area prior to surgery.

Don't remember what our hospital's rule was about prescription meds so can't answer that one. The instructions you get from the hospital should provide that information as it would seem that each hospital has different rules.

Timm, you will have those wonderful pressure stockings on your legs after surgery to help prevent blood clots. And, of course, you'll be on a liquid diet - hope you like broth, jello and tea!

Get several pairs of hip-hop pants they either zip of button all the way on the outer side of both legs.
These are a must since you'll most likely leave with a catheter. Even with a catheter you will be able to take walks outside. You will also need socks, and non skid slippers, pads, and depending on how far you are from the hospital and I hate to say this possibly diapers. If you have a catheter for awhile most are usually in for about 2 weeks. that way you can get dressed. I would also recommend and mp3 player with your favorite music. You can purchase rather cheap. Also need basic shaving items, if you have a favorite soap or shampoo. Get either some books light reading, cross word puzzles. For home get chucks and plenty of them, pads, soup, have some light meals prepared ahead of time.You will need surgilube for the tip of your penis at the urethra it can become very sore when the catheter is in place, also alcohol wipes also for cleaning the catheter, vinigar for rinsing the foley bag. Rubber gloves and a hand sanitizer. This is something most nurses should know but it is not always practiced so also inform your wife the on the tube of the catheter there is a clamp this is to clamp off when emptying the foley bag. It prevents back flow of urine. The way that this is done hold the tube down so that as much urine is out of the tubing as possible then clamp it off or pinch it. This will prevent help bladder spasms. Also get some tucks they can be soothing as the rectal area can become quite sore. Also have bags of ice on hand the scrotum get become swollen. Ask the nurses to supply plenty of bandages and tape, also shave your legs please do, my husbands nursed taped the catheter to his thigh and he didn't even think to do this. It hurt changing the bags or if they decided to change legs.
If they don't tape it ask them to, it prevents pulling and tugging.
Good Luck I hope this helps.

I was never on a liquid diet.
I had a meal of chicken and rice followed by fruit salad at about seven thirty on the evening after I had had surgery and I only came round at about 4pm.
I did not manage a BM the day after surgery, but manged one the next day.

BMs always pretty regular with me. I guess I must have been eating the right things before the op as well as after.

All I did after the op that was different was to drink more, so it was not liquids instead of solids, but simply more liquids. (also more liquid in the shape of fresh fruit like strawberries, grapes etc)

Alfred