What Should I wear? Part 4

So what should you bring to hospital? Some people say bring as little as possible because the hospital will provide everything you need. I disagree. Let me use the luxury holiday analogy. You are at a beautiful five star resort, everything is beautiful, waiters and hotel staff cater for your every need and your suite is cleaned every day and your bed linen changed. But even with all the luxury, nothing is quite as comfortable as that first night back at home in your own bed. Now hospitals are not like five star resorts, and unless you live in a clinic they are certainly not like home. But if you can bring a little piece of home with you, then it will make you feel a little more comfortable. Here is my list of what to bring:-

Loose comfortable clothing (one change per day, max of three) - It's not the L'Oreal fashion show, or dinner at the Ritz. Comfort is king. Tracksuit pants and t-shirts are great. Try to avoid buttons and tricky clothing it may seem trivial, but simple things like that can seem like a real effort. Slip on shoes are also preferred as it can be difficult to bend over to tie your shoe laces.

Pyjamas and dressing gown - because they are preferential to the hospital gowns. Hospital gowns are uncomfortable and leave your arse hanging out of the back. You will have to wear a gown at some point as you aren't allowed to go to surgery in your pyjamas.

Entertainment – Hospitals are boring, and when you are bored, anxiety and stress rise and you have time to start thinking about the discomfort. Bring something to entertain yourself. Books, portable game consoles, portable DVD’s, puzzles etc. Whatever will help you pass the time.

Toiletries – Focus on the essentials more than the luxuries. I bring toothbrush and paste, deodorant and soap. Soap is really important as the tiny soap biscuits they have in hospital are easy to drop and it is hard to pick something up off the floor during recovery. I don’t worry about things like my shaving kit as quite simply I really find I can’t be bothered, and lets face it, it’s not a fashion contest.

Pillow – Super Important! The bigger and the comfier the better. Hospital beds are made of plastic for hygiene and cleaning purposes, which means they don’t breath and you end up sweating a lot. I get a body pillow from spotlight and I pretty much sleep on top of it. After a week of hospital, it’s normally ready for the bin.

Creature comforts – If you are in for a long stay, you might want to decorate your hospital ward with a few things from home. Having a little bit of familiarity around will help you feel comfortable.

Food – Again, if you have someone bring you some home cooking that little bit of familiarity might bring with it some comfort (also, hospital food isn’t exactly 5 star).

General – Don’t forget to bring all your current medications and x-rays, and have all your questionnaires filled out as accurately as possible and sent in advance.

Well, I hope that this helps as my last installment on preparing for hospital. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Until next time, stay well:)