How & what you pack for your hospital stay, will be dependent on the estimated length of your stay which would vary based on the type of surgery.  You’re typically provided a list of any items that would be essential to bring for your stay, my list was included with my pre-surgical instructions.  My stay was Monday through Friday & I tend to over pack to begin with, so my list is somewhat extensive.  I like to be prepared for anything & figure better to have it & not use it, than not have it & want it!

These are the items I packed for my hospital stay & why.

COMFORT ITEMS  Things to help keep you comfortable during your hospital stay.

Throw Blanket – A throw blanket from home can be so comforting at the hospital!  I brought one that my coworkers gave me in a beautiful gift basket.

Pillow from Home – Same as the throw, a pillow from home is just comfy!

Picture frame of family & friends – I brought a little framed pic of my husband & kids to put in my room.  Their smiling faces made my room feel a little brighter.

 

COSMETIC & HYGENE  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to shower during my stay & was grateful to have some of these items.  I have to admit though, I never did put makeup on during my stay… Being hooked up to so many machines, wires & having so many tubes coming out of me at once… I just couldn’t bring myself to put it on.

Toothbrush & toothpaste– My hospital had these items for me in my room, but I still preferred my own from home.

Floss – I love the little floss sticks, so convenient & even more so after surgery & having lymph nodes removed I wasn’t able to fully use my left arm right away.  These help a lot with one handed flossing!

Mouthwash – Great for a quick refresh throughout the day.  A fresh mouth just helps the rest of you feel a little fresher.

Dry Shampoo – I found one by Pantene.  The scent was nice & it helped absorb some of the oil in my hair after not being able wash it for 4 days.  I was really glad to have this item in my bag of tricks!

Hair brush – Used to work in the dry shampoo & to untangle that mess of hair.

Hair bands or clip – Something to tie your hair back with if you like, whatever you prefer.

Body Wipes – Mine were made by Oil of Olay, found them near the body wash.  These were great & as close to a shower as I could get in the situation!

Body Lotion – A nice fresh scent will help you feel fresher throughout your stay.

Deodorant – Kind of a given here…

Facial wipes – I used these each morning & night before putting on my facial moisturizer, which leads me to…

Facial Moisturizer – Always important every morning & every night.

Makeup – If you want to be a rockstar, I failed here but was at least prepared.  The only people you’ll be seeing are your doctors, nurses & loved ones who visit.  Looking pretty doesn’t need to be priority here.

 

NECESSITIES  The must-have’s for a minimum hospital stay of 1 day.

Anything advised to be a necessity by your Caregiver – My hospital gave me a list of essential items to bring for my stay, be sure to check with your doctor or hospital if needed.  For me this was included in my pre-surgical instructions.

Cell phone & charger – Your phone is important not only for communication but can help with boredom as well, download some new aps to check out.  Don’t forget that charger, its vital!

Laptop & charger – The level of necessity here is dependent on your laptop usage of course.  You may have work that needs to be tended to or emails that will need to be answered which can be a somewhat tedious on a cell.  I also viewed recordings from my home DVR through Comcast.net, not a total necessity but I was only a day late in watching the season finale of my favorite TV show!

 

CLOTHING & ATTIRE  You’ll essentially be living in your hospital gown for the duration of your stay (ask for a change from your nurse if they don’t offer).  Most hospitals will provide you those fuzzy socks with traction on the bottoms as well.

Sweat or yoga pants – After a day or so I was able to put on my yoga pants with my hospital gown.  This was a glorious moment for me!  Remember if you are having reconstruction that will affect the abdomen or back area, your pants need to be a little loose as there will be swelling in these areas initially.

Robe – My robe came in handy for walking the hospital halls once I was able.  Also a great comfort item, to wrap up in a cozy robe from home.

Slippers or slip on shoes – You’ll need a form of footwear for your trips to & from the restroom (floors can be slippery so my hospital required footwear for this short walk) & for walks around the hospital halls.

Underwear – Another given…

 Attire to wear home – You’ll want something loose in the chest area & take into consideration that you may have drain coming from your breast area that will need to be tucked into a pocket or pinned to your clothing.  I had five drains total, one from each hip, two from the left breast & one from the right.  I had to wear loose pants home also, in addition to the drains you’ll be swollen from surgery.  And don’t forget shoes to wear home if you’ve only brought slippers for the hospital duration.

 

BOREDOM PREVENTION  I can only watch television & movies for so long before getting super bored… additional items are essential in avoiding this!  Your cell phone of course is a big asset in this as well.

Books – So many of us enjoy reading but so rarely find the time for it, this is a great time!  Bring a good suspense novel to get lost in or an inspirational book to help lift your spirits.

Coloring Books – Sounds a little juvenile but they have some really great adult coloring books now!  Don’t forget the fine tip makers or colored pencils (plus sharpener if you go with the pencils).

Puzzle Books – Word search, crosswords, Sudoku or a good old fashioned variety puzzle book.

Blank Notebook or Journal – If you’re anything like me & your brain is going nonstop, it helps to have a notebook handy at all times.  Use it as a journal to document your journey or jot down notes of things to be done, make lists, etc.  I find it very therapeutic to write down what’s going on in my head, a lot of times it’s the only way I can get my brain to shut off at night!  I also brought a fun new pen, something about a nice new pen just makes writing enjoyable!

Handheld Electronics – They sell small inexpensive versions of some great family board games such as Yahtzee & solitaire, great for hospital stays if you’re into that sort of thing.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Safety pins – You’ll leave with a set of pins already in your drains, but you may want a couple of sets for back up.  Ask your nurse if they can send you home with a few extras.

Small pillow or blanket to fold – To help keep the seat belt from directly putting pressure on your surgical sites, a pillow to place over the breast area works well, or you could simply wrap a small throw blanket or even towel around the seat belt strap to provide some cushion.