So, life happens and you need to have surgery. Thankfully nothing that is going to keep you overnight, but still, what do you need to take to the hospital with you? What will help your surgery day go as smoothly as possible? These thoughts crossed my mind as I prepare to go in for my breast reconstruction surgery this next week. I came up with a top ten list that I think covers all the bases to make the day as smooth and comfortable as possible, without dragging along a bunch of extras.
1. Drivers license or ID
Drivers license or ID card: This is pretty much a requirement regardless. Registration will want a copy of your ID to prove you are who you say you are.
2. Insurance Information/Card
Insurance information/card: If you have insurance I would highly suggest you remember to bring your insurance information with you. Ive seen what some of these bill can look like. You really don’t want those bills sent to your house if you can avoid it.
3. Phone and Charger
Phone and charger: Beyond just having your phone, bringing a charger is always a good idea as in the hospital they have no ready access to a cord for you to use. Having your phone is because you just never know when you are going to need it. One time I had surgery and I lost my voice for several hours. Unfortunately for me, this was before I had texting on my plan. My husband called to check on me and I couldn’t talk. Having now a phone with texting, it would be easy to shoot off a quick text or note to indicate, hey, can’t talk.
4. Lip Balm
Lip balm: I dont know about you, but I dry out. Personally I dont like waking up from surgery with chapped, cracking lips, so I bring lip balm which I apply shortly before being taken to surgery. Then it is available when I am ready and need it after the fact.
5. A Soft Blanket
A soft (clean) blanket: Nothing is comforting in the same way as a familiar blanket from home. Personally I find it soothing to have a blanket. Plus hospitals tend to err on the side of cold and the blanket will help you stay warmer. Itโs also nice to have quite often for the drive home. Personally I always make sure the blanket is freshly washed to reduce any germs or bacteria that might be living on it.
6. Loose Clothing
Loose clothing: Generally speaking loose clothing is much easier to put on and take off than tighter garments. So whether you are able to dress yourself after or if you need help, wearing loose clothing will make all the difference in the ease in which you are able to change.
7. Something to Do
Something to do: Be it a tablet, a book, magazine, crossword, crochet, whatever it is that you enjoy and find soothing that you can take with you to keep your mind off any worries you may have surrounding the surgery. Plus, it helps keep you from twiddling your thumbs while you just sit there waiting in between doctors and nurses.
8. Toiletries
Toiletries: toothbrush and paste, hairbrush. Personally I always like to have just a few basic toiletries with me, just in case. Just in case I wake up with a mouthful of gunk. Just in case they say, lets keep you overnight, or whatever. Better to have and not need, than to want and not have.
9. Medications
Medications: Now here there are a coupe of options. If you are confident that you are going to be sent home the same day and/or that the hospital will be able to provide any medications you might need, a simple list of the meds you take with dosages might be sufficient for your needs. Your second option is to just bag them up and bring them with you. That way you have the medications for them to enter into their system, and you have them with you on the off chance you need them. I take medications that are not carried at the hospitals I have been in, so I choose to bring the meds with me so that no one has to drive to my house and get them if I need them.
10. Snack For the Ride Home
A snack for the ride home: Typically after a lot of surgeries, patients are not fed before being sent home. Also typically they dont allow patients to eat before surgery. So you show up, hungry already and then you end up waiting for two hours before going into surgery. By the time you have gone through surgery, then recovery, and discharge, you might be really wanting a little something in your stomach. Maybe not a lot, but something to settle things down a bit. Personally a pudding is usually an ok option for myself, but not everyone will want something that dense in their stomach. Saltines are usually a good option, as long as you can have gluten. Other possible options might be an ensure or a juice to put some fluids in your body, maybe a jello cup. You know your body, so I would say go with something you know your body can handle.
This list may not be for everyone, but hopefully it will help you to get some ideas of what will help make your surgical day a little smoother and a little less stressful. Thats the goal. To make things smoother and less stressful. May God guide the surgeons hands that come your way; to bring healing and renewal to you.
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