Day of Surgery

[Devin215]

Ok everyone so "D-DAY" Is coming up on Thursday the 29th with Dr.Won at kaiser in Fontana CA. What do I need to bring with me besides a pair of solid steel balls and brass knuckles....lol...JK.... Really though.. what should I bring or what will I need?? any advice?

[merlot3106]

You will be in my prayers!!

Meg :)

[redkim]

I have a temperpidic pillow which is very firm and love it, it keeps my head from sinking and keeps it supported.  

[selmaS]

HI Devin,

There is a thread here with a list of things, but if my memory serves me:

A pillow or pillows which ever kind work for u ( there is a link in HP for a chiari pillow)
PJ's.....button front....no pull over type top. And light weight....hosp was warm.
Facial wipes
other wet wipes
hard candies
ear plugs ( very nosiey at night)
loose change for vending machines ( or trips to deli) hosp food/not so much : P
toiletries like Angie said
if u get a mask...get one that goes over the ears as the typical around the head...not so much....u will have a scar back there.

And ne other thing u may want to have with u......all items must stay with a family member until u r out of ICU...except a pillow....my DH was able to bring it in.
So, if u want TV and a phone hooked up ( wait and see if u have a roommate)u will need a credit card at some hosps for that.If ur roommate has the TV on...u may opt not to pay also....one on was more than enuff for me...didn't really care to watch at that time.

Wishing u all the best....and we will be with u in spirit : )
"selma"

[LG20626]

I liked having my own pillows with me.  The pain medication made it possible for me to sleep when I wasn't being interrupted by a nurse taking my temp/bloodpressure, etc

Also a digital camera to get pictures of your incision, I wanted to see exactly what was going on back there and how much hair they took.  (some people might not want to know, LOL-- I am the curious type)

Other than that, I was only in the hospital two days, so I didn't need anything except for basic toiletries and my cell phone.  

Good luck, I know it is scary but it will be over before you know it and you will be on your way to recovery.

[ChiariWolf]

If you have Kohl's store close, well others probably have them as well. But Kohls has fiberfill pillows 2 for 1. I bought the heaviest weight one they had. WOW the difference was amazing. For me it was much softer on the head and neck than the feather pillow. It also virtually stopped my head from overheating. I used to wake up with my head soaking wet, that's gone. We took this to the hospital and am glad the hospital pillows felt very hard.

Other than that my advise, for what it's worth, would be to relax. Spend all the time you can just chilling. It's a proven fact that if a patient goes in relaxed they heal faster. So chill out, don't think about the surgery. Your body and mind needs it right now. If you have someone coming along perhaps a cell phone to have them call family afterwards.

I do hope all goes well for you.

CW

[redkim]

I brought pj's and my pillow with me as well as toiletries.

[lu7997]

yeah I saw that too.  You take a king sized feather down pillow and sew it on both sides leaving the middle empty.  

One thing I would do is get your favorite jammies and slippers and pack those.  Pack anything that would make you feel comfortable in your room such as pictures and such.  Also pack your own toiletries.  No surgery is the ttime to change things up too much.  bring your fav pillows and blankets so you can sleep when you get a chance  another thing you will want to invest in is a mask for sleeping  hospital lights are always on and can be very disturbing and not to mention I have heard that photophobia immidiatly postopn isbad.


that is all I have since I have not had the surgery.


good luck I hope all goes well adn you will be in my prayers.
Angie

[SaratogaNurse]

I don't know where I saw it, but someone said take a pillow and sew it down the middle.   This is what I plan to have with me.  It's supposed to take pressure off the incision site and be more comfotable for you.   Good luck with your surgery.