What to bring?

As my day of travel comes ever closer I have to think about what I am going to pack for my voyage over the Pacific.  My fellow CIDP friend, Wendy, came up with a very good idea to send a package over ahead of time.  I wish this was feesable because it would be handy to have my stuff waiting in Chicago  for me and not have to worry about lugging it all over with me.  But the stuff I'd send is quite important and to post it registered over seas would be too expensive.  But hey, it is just a bag, I can take it with me.

One of the issues I do have is size and weight.  If I was going to hospital in Melbourne I would not worry about how much I had to take.  I just shove it all in the car and job done.  If I forget anything, which I have done before, my wife can easily run it down to me.  A luxury I will not have in Chicago.

I have decided to split my list up into four categories.  They are medical items, entertainment and electronics, things to get in Chicago and the usual travel items.  I will start with the usual medical items:-

x-rays- I need to take all relevant films.  I have had a chest x-ray,  sinus CT scan, an old MRI and a kidney x-ray.  The first three the North Western hospital already have copies of, but they have already lost them once, so I will take extras just in case.  The people at North Western also seem to be very thorough, and since I have a kidney disorder they will probably want it checked prior to my SCT.  If I needed treatment for a kidney stone I would like to get it taken care of by my people here in Melbourne who I know and trust and not have to break in a new urologist in Chicago.  Luckily the x-ray was clear, so I will take that as proof.

Other test- ECG's, respiratory function tests etc...  I know that I have sent them all through to Chicago, but just in case, I bring a copy with me anyway.

Letters from doctors-  Most people that have an SCT nearly always have something else wrong with them, big it big or small.  I have two things that I think the guys at North Western have never seen before. First, I have a deep brain stimulator.  It adds a complication as any foreign body in your system can harbour an infection and mine just happens to also go straight into my brain.  The letter from my movement disorder specialist simply acknowledges that I am aware of the complications.  Second, I have a letter from my nephrologist saying there are no contra indications to cystinuria and an SCT.  Lastly, I have a letter from my GP explaining why I have about 100 different types of pills on me and why I cant be scanned at the airport.

Pills- And I have bucket loads of them.  Plus the extras that the lovely people at North Western have asked me to take.  I will get my pharmacist to do my regular medication into Webster packs so it will all be easy to take when I'm over there.

The next category is entertainment and electronics:-

Computer-  If I am going to blog while I am in Chicago I will need my trusty Mac.  I will also need it for keeping in touch with people via facebook and for games and DVD's to stop me from going completely insane.

Camera- Fun, not fun, really not fun, hard etc...  One thing for sure, it will be interesting.  I intend to get pictures of it to share with you all.

Video Camera- I figured after a week of chemotherapy I might not feel like blogging so I might start vlogging.  I hope it will also give people a better and more accurate look at the experience of what I am going through.

Adapters- Those yanks have funny electricity, so I will need all the correct adapters for all my deliciously exciting array of electrical appliances.

iPad- When the computer is too cumbersome I can simply slide my iPad into my satchel and away I go. I also keep my diary on the iPad.

Books- With an awful lot of time to kill I figured it would be a good chance to do some reading.  I already have a small queue of books I want to read but have not got around to yet.

The usual travel items.

Clothes- Yeah, kind of essential.  It is going to be a sizeable amount.  I will need hospital clothes, loose, comfy, daggy.  I will also need clothes for outside the hospital that will have to be a little smarter.  Also,  it will be cold in Chicago, so I'll need to rug up.

Toiletries- Kind of essential.  However, I not going to bore you with the content of my bathroom bag, and beside I don't want to divulge my secret penchant for cross dressing;)

Things to buy when I get there.

Mobile (Cell) phone - just a cheap rubbishy disposable mainly for local calls.  I plan to keep in touch with home using facetime.

Big pillow- I think it is essential for comfort in hospital.  However, big and travel don't go well together, so I'll look for one when I get over there.

Yoga mat- Again, with size limitations it would probably make it easier just to buy one over there.  They are not exactly expensive.

So that about wraps it up.  Fortunately for me my wife will be coming out two weeks after me, so if I forget anything, she could bring it out.  If you have any suggestions of things I should take, let me know.  Until next time, stay well:)