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What to take to hospital
Ok I have been looking for a thread or a list and I can;t find anything and I know it is here spmewhere!
Other than comfy jammies, what should I take to the hospital? WHat should I have at home> I got a body pillow, but what else? Or can someone just tell me where to look? Isn;t there a nice little list somewhere? i cod have sworn I had seen one at some point LOL
Thank you :)
Other than comfy jammies, what should I take to the hospital? WHat should I have at home> I got a body pillow, but what else? Or can someone just tell me where to look? Isn;t there a nice little list somewhere? i cod have sworn I had seen one at some point LOL
Thank you :)
I just posted a really long comment and it didn;t post! I HATE that!
Ok, I said carolyn that was a horrible experience, and I am glad you made it through, that just shows you are strong er than most of us becuase you basically had to go it alone. :(
ALso yes, I am going to try to have someone with me all the time.
Ok, I said carolyn that was a horrible experience, and I am glad you made it through, that just shows you are strong er than most of us becuase you basically had to go it alone. :(
ALso yes, I am going to try to have someone with me all the time.
Well I'm with Elizabeth and Sheila, I never wanted for anything! The nurses were always on top of my medicine and even called the dr to ask about other meds they could give without me asking them to. Michelle, you may want to ask about someone staying in ICU with you. In Milwaukee i was allowed to have someone stay with me. They didn't the first night but my DH did the second night.
I agree with the advocate too..
I woke up on morning number two in extreme pain and with no one really willing to help me with it.. I have to say my hospital experience in Canada was horrible compared to what I am mostly hearing here. Don't let anyone tell you that health care is better in Canada..
The first time I got up, the nurse pulled me out of bed with my catheter still in, plunked me in a chair away from the bell and then left!!! I couldn't get up b/c my catheter was wrapped around the bed (and I would have pulled it out...yuck) and I got extremely dizzy and nauseated and couldn't even call the nurse to help me...I just sat there and started crying.
Anyway, I had previously called my sister in who is a nurse and she came in right then and she was appalled at how little care I was getting. In the nurses defense they were understaffed and I had 3 roommates all who were over 70 and complained constantly ..so the squeaky wheel gets the grease. There were times where I thought "I could die right now...and they probably wouldn't even noticed for several hours". Yes, it was that bad..
Moral of the story...make sure you have someone there with you to advocate for you!
I've learned a few things for next time....hopefully there won't be one!
Carolyn
I woke up on morning number two in extreme pain and with no one really willing to help me with it.. I have to say my hospital experience in Canada was horrible compared to what I am mostly hearing here. Don't let anyone tell you that health care is better in Canada..
The first time I got up, the nurse pulled me out of bed with my catheter still in, plunked me in a chair away from the bell and then left!!! I couldn't get up b/c my catheter was wrapped around the bed (and I would have pulled it out...yuck) and I got extremely dizzy and nauseated and couldn't even call the nurse to help me...I just sat there and started crying.
Anyway, I had previously called my sister in who is a nurse and she came in right then and she was appalled at how little care I was getting. In the nurses defense they were understaffed and I had 3 roommates all who were over 70 and complained constantly ..so the squeaky wheel gets the grease. There were times where I thought "I could die right now...and they probably wouldn't even noticed for several hours". Yes, it was that bad..
Moral of the story...make sure you have someone there with you to advocate for you!
I've learned a few things for next time....hopefully there won't be one!
Carolyn
What the heck Selma there were extra charges to use the tv? That's mean!
I really do appreciate all of your comments :)
I hear you all on having an advocate- I don;t want to even have to think about anything so I asked my sisters and mom to make sure there is someone with me at all times. I know they can;t stay over night in ICU (which is a bummer because that's when you need it the most) but all the other times I don;t want to be alone. When my mom was in the hospital the nurse tried to give her coumadin (sp) without even telling her what it was or if it was ok. Well, I happened to ask her what she was givning her and when she told me i said uh- that is not on the list- and she said - well it's just something we give to prevent clotting. I said well has anyone passed this by my sister? Of course no, long story short, my sister (who is an attorney) DID NOT want this medication to be given to my mother because she has dealt with multiple lawsuits over this medication. Anyway, sometimes doctors just order you things and give it to you without you ever really knowing what it is, and you just might not want it. SOOOO LOL, I am having someone there with me at all times.
I hear you on the cd player, I know for a fact they don't play Christain music and I have to have my daily dose of Francesca Battastelli LOL
Oh- my surgery is at the Medical Center of Aurora -
I really do appreciate all of your comments :)
I hear you all on having an advocate- I don;t want to even have to think about anything so I asked my sisters and mom to make sure there is someone with me at all times. I know they can;t stay over night in ICU (which is a bummer because that's when you need it the most) but all the other times I don;t want to be alone. When my mom was in the hospital the nurse tried to give her coumadin (sp) without even telling her what it was or if it was ok. Well, I happened to ask her what she was givning her and when she told me i said uh- that is not on the list- and she said - well it's just something we give to prevent clotting. I said well has anyone passed this by my sister? Of course no, long story short, my sister (who is an attorney) DID NOT want this medication to be given to my mother because she has dealt with multiple lawsuits over this medication. Anyway, sometimes doctors just order you things and give it to you without you ever really knowing what it is, and you just might not want it. SOOOO LOL, I am having someone there with me at all times.
I hear you on the cd player, I know for a fact they don't play Christain music and I have to have my daily dose of Francesca Battastelli LOL
Oh- my surgery is at the Medical Center of Aurora -
COMMUNITY LEADER
I also did not use the TV or phone...extra charges to use it and I just wanted it to be quiet....
I did use the wipes...hard candies...and my CD player....I listened to audio books.....and music.....and I did wear my own PJ's : )
"selma"
PS-I did wish I has ear plugs
I did use the wipes...hard candies...and my CD player....I listened to audio books.....and music.....and I did wear my own PJ's : )
"selma"
PS-I did wish I has ear plugs
i must agree with you n40066....i never waited for anything...my nurseing staff was right on top of things with me. I never waited for pain meds...they actually had to remind me that i had my pain button on me...lol...and the food was delish there as well...now granted my diet consisted of jello and fruit for the time i was there and lemon water but the last day i tried to eat real food..(ham and cheese omelet)...yuuuuummmmmyyyyy! and HUGE portions. WOWZERS!
It also helped for me to tell the nurses ahead of time what my pain management system was going to be and what i would and would not take and they had no problem with that. I was my own advocate. Sticky situation going on here with me...so that is why I had everything written out and documented on what I would like done and what not.
It also helped for me to tell the nurses ahead of time what my pain management system was going to be and what i would and would not take and they had no problem with that. I was my own advocate. Sticky situation going on here with me...so that is why I had everything written out and documented on what I would like done and what not.
me again...where are you going for your surgery? i had mine done in wisconsin and never wanted for a thing! never had to ask for meds and the food was great! reading all these other posts, i say i got lucky! lol! best of luck to you!!!
I second (or third?) the motion about the pain meds. My nurses were right on que with giving me all the anti-nausea and stool softeners and all that stuff but I had to ask for pain meds. What I started doing was having the nurse write on the little white board (most hospital rooms have them now a days on the wall??) what time my next dose would be so I could call the nurse myself and remind her/him. Also when I asked for pain meds, thats exactly what I got and ALL I got, even though I had a prescription written for vallium. So make sure you ask about that too. It really helped my muscles relax and get some good sleep.
Other than that the only thing I even woke up out of my stupor and got out of bed for was to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth.
Good luck!
Other than that the only thing I even woke up out of my stupor and got out of bed for was to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth.
Good luck!
Thank you guys so much and thank you Selma for giving me the link to that page- I was looking at at at 1:00am and just couldn't think LOL - i am sure you can tell by my post - what a mess!
It is on wednesday the 7th at 1:00. OH MY GOSH HOLY COW I JUST REALIZED THAT IS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. these next couple of days are either going toi drag or go too fast LOL.
amy is the day after tomorrow!
It is on wednesday the 7th at 1:00. OH MY GOSH HOLY COW I JUST REALIZED THAT IS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. these next couple of days are either going toi drag or go too fast LOL.
amy is the day after tomorrow!
Well you've got a lot of good tips and the only other things I can think to add (and it may be here somewhere already) is to bring some mouth wipes and slippers!! The mouth wipes were so great for me for the first 24hrs when they won't let you eat of drink anything...my mouth was so gross and a few ice chips just didn't help it. In my case, they actually had them in the hospital so you just have to ask.
The slippers, of course, are for when they get you up walking and also are great to help keep your feet warm when they are always freezing.
I wanted to touch on the medication thing too...I had a really bad experience when relying on the nurses to give me pain meds on a regular basis. If I didn't ask...they didn't even think to offer...so what Zippyjo mentioned is such a great idea. Record all the times you take you meds so that you can make sure you get them on time..very important!!! When I was in the hospital, hours would go by b4 I would see a nurse unless I rang..it was unacceptable..but being in Canada I am wondering if it was more our Health care system at fault (not enough staff). So make sure you advocate for yourself the whole time!!!
When was your date again?
Good luck
Carolyn
The slippers, of course, are for when they get you up walking and also are great to help keep your feet warm when they are always freezing.
I wanted to touch on the medication thing too...I had a really bad experience when relying on the nurses to give me pain meds on a regular basis. If I didn't ask...they didn't even think to offer...so what Zippyjo mentioned is such a great idea. Record all the times you take you meds so that you can make sure you get them on time..very important!!! When I was in the hospital, hours would go by b4 I would see a nurse unless I rang..it was unacceptable..but being in Canada I am wondering if it was more our Health care system at fault (not enough staff). So make sure you advocate for yourself the whole time!!!
When was your date again?
Good luck
Carolyn
Best thing I took - an ADVOCATE. My husband and sister rotated taking notes on when I got meds, what was happening, and if they were late with meds, reminding the nurses I needed it *now* (I did not have a self-administered type) getting various things. The notebok and pen/pencil combo was key to help them do this.
Might be good to ask and write down when the nurses' shift-changes are - I had a hellacious time getting anything (water, ice chips, pain meds, etc.) anytime within an hour on either side of the shift changes. If you know you are *going* to need some meds, or water, or anything...don't wait until you are out or in pain to ask for it. It may take 30 minutes or more for them to get even the simplest things.
Other things I was glad I had - my own toiletries (toothbrush, face soap, lotion, etc.) and the type of cough drops I like (first day or two you'll probably have a sore throat from the intubation) and my iPod with soothing music was about all I wanted to listen to or do. I liked having some plain crackers (saltines or oyster crackers), herbal teas and a few other snack type things because the food was terrible. (What is it about "vegetarian" that hospitals can't seem to grasp?) Stuff I didn't feel like I needed on the ***** list - books or magazines (did not feel like holding these for quite a while...), head scarf, photos. The thank-you cards, stamps and return-address labels were good for at home (after a week or so, writing those used some time.)
At home: soft pillow is key, a lap-desk thing you can use in bed is nice, as it helps support reading material if you're up for it, and I'd suggest a music setup (with speakers, not earbuds) or something on which you can play music or audiobooks (consider audible.com if you have an MP3 player, or nab CD audiobooks from the library to play on a CD player or boom box), a flexible ice pack and heat pack. Have a space to put flowers and/or cards where you can see them - it's a nice pick-me-up. More easy/comfort foods and snacks, light juices or gatorade-type drinks, and, this may seem like a silly one - articulated drinking straws. Makes things much easier.
Best of luck,
Might be good to ask and write down when the nurses' shift-changes are - I had a hellacious time getting anything (water, ice chips, pain meds, etc.) anytime within an hour on either side of the shift changes. If you know you are *going* to need some meds, or water, or anything...don't wait until you are out or in pain to ask for it. It may take 30 minutes or more for them to get even the simplest things.
Other things I was glad I had - my own toiletries (toothbrush, face soap, lotion, etc.) and the type of cough drops I like (first day or two you'll probably have a sore throat from the intubation) and my iPod with soothing music was about all I wanted to listen to or do. I liked having some plain crackers (saltines or oyster crackers), herbal teas and a few other snack type things because the food was terrible. (What is it about "vegetarian" that hospitals can't seem to grasp?) Stuff I didn't feel like I needed on the ***** list - books or magazines (did not feel like holding these for quite a while...), head scarf, photos. The thank-you cards, stamps and return-address labels were good for at home (after a week or so, writing those used some time.)
At home: soft pillow is key, a lap-desk thing you can use in bed is nice, as it helps support reading material if you're up for it, and I'd suggest a music setup (with speakers, not earbuds) or something on which you can play music or audiobooks (consider audible.com if you have an MP3 player, or nab CD audiobooks from the library to play on a CD player or boom box), a flexible ice pack and heat pack. Have a space to put flowers and/or cards where you can see them - it's a nice pick-me-up. More easy/comfort foods and snacks, light juices or gatorade-type drinks, and, this may seem like a silly one - articulated drinking straws. Makes things much easier.
Best of luck,
honestly, the only thing i used that i took were my pjs, slippers, chapstik, hard candy and camera. i don't believe i used anything else! they kept me so loopy that i didn't even turn the tv on once! just slept. which is the very best thing for us. after i left the hospital, the most important thing was a reaaaalllly soft and squishy pillow that i could mold how i wanted for comfort. best of luck to you, my new friend! when do you go and where are you going?
COMMUNITY LEADER
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/Tips-for-the-Hospital-Stay/show/1136?cid=186
This list was created from several threads ...so we now have it in the Health Pages for easy access.....
This list was created from several threads ...so we now have it in the Health Pages for easy access.....
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