what should i pack to take to the hospital

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#1 Post by **freerideuk** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:33 pm

well its 8 days till i go into hospital and well my surgeon never gave me anything or told me what i should bring with me for my wee stay at the hospital :S

what should i take ?

xxxx

#2 Post by **sweetpea** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:19 pm

hi freerideuk,

I've no specific ideas for jaw surgery (not had mine yet), but I've been in hospital a couple of times (once for 5 weeks), and I would say that slippers are very important, the floors never feel clean. Ones that you can slip on and off without bending down to fit.

Also a dressing gown, not sure if you'll be in a mixed ward?

I'm feeling a bit wobbly at the moment and wondering if I can take my bear !! I'm 46 so maybe I'd better not?

Light reading - magazine perhaps rather than a book. How long did they say you'd be in for?

Something to pamper yourself with ... a lovely smelling body lotion or something like that.

Lip salve. Perhaps face wipes?

I have no experience with jaw surgery, but I'm hoping my dad will help me with providing warm salty water, zip n squeeze for drinking, etc. I think he may be able to come over from the US to be with me.

I've been busy making healthy soups and liquid broths and freezing them (organic free range chicken and root veg soup, and pumpkin, carrot and ginger soup). Some clear, some seived, some quite textured. I hope they'll be useful.

I hope you get some replies from people with more experience, I'll be interested in their ideas.

#3 Post by **JuicyB** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:41 pm

I just had surgery two weeks ago. Most of the things you need they will give you. If you want you can take a gown with buttons or pajamas that are easy to put on, a hair brush, a ball that u can squeeze to work out your hand and distract you from the pain(not that you will have bad pain but maybe mild)also you may have the iv in for awhile so it'll make ur hand feel better, you can bring an ipod and maybe pictures of your fam for support. You'll want plenty of sleep so try not to take too many things because you won't need much. GOod luck

#4 Post by **freerideuk** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:52 pm

am a bit confused on to take like shampoo and stuff will i get the chance to shower

it says all be in for 3 to 5 days i think ad like my own shampoo and stuff lol and also hair dryer and straightners but i don't know what am ment to take

xxxxxx

#5 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:33 pm

Upper, Lower, or both? What are you having done?

I'm 4 months post op from upper, lower, and genio. I was only in the hospital overnight. My doctor said 2-3 days originally but I was out the very next morning.

I would suggest bringing nothing but chapstick and slippers with you. You are mostly going to be out of it, sleeping and resting. If you stay more then one day and need your stuff to shower then you can have someone bring it for you, but if you get out the next day you will not need it and will save yourself dragging all that junk with you. I had my husband bring my laptop later on when I woke up (I actually blogged from the hospital about 10 hours out of surgery) but the anethesia can affect your eye sight, so I didn't do much since I couldn't really see very well. I mostly just slept, and got woken up to have my vitals taken every couple of hours. Chapstick was the one thing I forgot and really needed as my lips were very dry and sore after surgery. Most people seem to be out within 24 hours or 2 days at the most. I think I would just wait and see if I need it and do it that way.

JMHO

Brandy

#6 Post by **freerideuk** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:01 pm

hey am having a le fort impaction and geno

but i am from the uk and i have noticed people from the uk seem to have a longer stay in hospital

thanks for the replys soo far =]

xxxx

#7 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:07 pm

Well then, I guess what Meryten suggested sounds about right. Man, I feel sorry for you folks in the UK if you have to stay in the hospital that long! I would've been a nut case being in there for 5 days. I think two days would've been a stretch even. I was absolutely thrilled to get out of there within 18 hours after surgery. I didn't get hardly any sleep until I finally got home!

Anyway....good luck to you!

Brandy

#8 Post by **pokergirl** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:59 pm

I'm with you Brandy. All I needed was my Blistex. I took an overnight bag with my robe, slippers, socks, new pj's that I had bought especially for the occasion, lotions, makeup, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, magazines, another change of clothes, and my ipod. I have always been one to overpack. I didn't use any of it, including my toothbrush, and my face and jaw was wrapped up, so I couldn't put on any makeup even if I had felt like it. I couldn't focus on a magazine for being so sleepy and nothing on my body needed lotioning. I honestly don't remember even brushing my hair before I left. When they said I could leave, I was out of there. I would have gone crazy if I was in there any longer.

#9 Post by **PCPFORMULA** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:29 am

Hi

I had upper surgery at the southern general hospital in Glasgow 4 weeks ago, I checked into the hospital at 2pm on the tuesday for a pre assessment, you see at doctor and they weigh you, take blood, talk over any health probs you may have, take your blood pressure etc etc, it takes around 45 mins, after this you will be shown to your ward, usually the surgeon will pop up and see you before the end of the day to tell you what time your op will be at.

It could be your ve done the pre assessment already, your going in the day of surgery, usually I think they get you in the night before, so you can fast from midnight.

I got out of hospital on the friday, I was still a bit groggy then, believe me, you will want to go home at the first chance, it does get pretty boring, you ll prob not feel like wandering about!

If it is SG your going into, whos your surgeon? David Koppell?

#10 Post by **WhiteLurcher** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:31 am

Hi freerideuk

How's it going? Here's my tuppence worth!
The hospital will provide towels and mouthwash, that is about it! So as the others have said take your wash bag, lip salve, hairbrush, button-down pj's, undies, slippers and a bathrobe or cardi as you may have to trail down to x-ray! An mp3 player will help pass the time especially at night if you can't sleep, I bopped the night away pre-second chop as I just couldn't drift off at all

Anyway some sort of entertainment, book, magazine whatever your in to, as the time will drag, unless you have entertaining room mates! The nice lady opposite me use to put heated rollers in every night, but then she had been there 4 weeks when we met, first chop and was still in the bed opposite me when I returned for the re-chop a fortnight later! So you can take your hairdryer and straightners too if you want as there are sockets above the beds. Oh and in case your wondering I did see folk using their mobiles including the doctors, so I guess their not too strict but there is a payphone available too. I also took a couple of soya milk shakes cause their high in protein and the menu isn't up to much!

Sounds like a tonne of stuff, but if you wear a zip or button-up top when you go in you can just wear the same stuff when you leave!

Also when you go in you will be sent upstairs to an admissions clinic. They take all your details, blood samples, weight, ask a lot of questions, ask if you have any questions and might give you an ECG. I saw a trainee doctor, a nurse and the Anaesthesiologist. Basically it saves them coming to you but it can be quite a long boring wait so be prepared.

Hope this helps. If I've left anything out just ask!

All the best

#11 Post by **sauerkraut** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:50 am

I go in tomorrow (SARPE) and here's what I've got so far:

sponge bag with basic toiletries including lip balsam
2 pairs pyjamas (have none that button through so hope wide neck ok)
lightweight dressing gown
slippers
towel
spare undies
plastic bag for dirty washing
1 change of outer clothing
tissues
hairbrush
travel clock
purse with medical card and a small amount of money
paperback
puzzle book
couple of pens
mobile phone (though I won't be allowed to use it)
writing paper (you never know, I might catch up on my correspondence!)
address book (including addresses of all the specialists I've consulted over the past few years. I'm bound to need to fill in lots of forms that need these details

)
list of past medical treatments (for forms as aforesaid. Germans love their bureaucracy and don't keep central records

)
medication
the expander (mine's not cemented in until op)!!

I'm renowned for taking extra things everywhere "just in case," but if I've forgotten anything vital I'd love to know, please! I'm not sure how long I'll be in for and the hospital's too far away for someone to pop in with anything I've forgotten.

freerideuk: assuming I'm back in time I'll let you know what I needed/didn't need from that list. Hope all goes well for you.

#12 Post by **freerideuk** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:38 am

thank you everyone on letting me know what i need =]

and yes my surgeon is david koppel
i had an appointment at the hospital today and also did ask what ad be needing and they pretty much said i can bring what ever i like including my laptop though i doubt they have a free wireless internet conection in southern general lol

but am getting a bit excited now not long to go and i got my smothie maker today lol already used it got excited.....its actually really good =]

xxxxxx

#13 Post by **joey** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:49 am

well i got out today from lower jaw surgery and my bag consisted of pj's x2 dressing gown, book, mags, vasaline was a saviour for sore lips after surgery ( my lips still really sore) and dry shampoo from boots meant i didnt need to wash my hair and it still looked fresh after 4 days in hosp??? a mirror to check out swelling and to make sue i was hutting m lips when i was having a drink as they are totally numb!!! how you feeling about it? where in uk are you? im 4 days post op and i feel ok dont worry it really isnt as bad as you think!

#14 Post by **freerideuk** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:04 am

hey joey

i live in Glasgow and am pretty much feeling way to calm about it it still feels a bit away like its not really happening so am not scared or anything it will problay hit me when am packing to leave for the hospital lol

but thats good you feel well after 4 days lol am hoping to be able to get out after 13 days for my birthday but i don't think all be up for it lol

xxxxxxx

#15 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:19 pm

Hey freeride,
I think you could celebrate your birthday if it's 13 days after surgery. I went rock climbing after 12 days.

Hope everything goes well!

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