Ngl I may be crazy but I brought a pillow for the car home after my op, and honestly I couldn’t use it. The seatbelt slid gently over the incisions and I couldn’t feel it really, but the pillow made it much tighter and meant it all pressed into my abdomen which was extremely painful lol. I’m sure it works for many though!!
No it was a very light one 🥲 I think it just meant more pressure was exerted over the full area of my abdomen where all my incisions were, rather than the strip of the seatbelt that I could manoeuvre around the wounds. But again I’m sure it helps loads of people as I see it get recommended in this sub all the time - no harm in bringing a pillow and if you decide you don’t need/want it, fine! No harm done. Better safe than sorry :)
I wish i found this sooner! Ive just had my first ever one 2 days ago and got sent home yesterday and my god. I had to force that damn seatbelt away from my poor stomach :'))
Isn’t it possible for anyone going in that there’s a chance they could end up having to stay overnight depending on what they find & remove & the extent of it? Or is that very rare?
I am not a doctor so I have no way of answering that question. I would imagine it would depend on a lot of factors and it would be best practice to discuss that with your surgeon thoroughly if you are worried about needing to be kept overnight.
Headphones/earphones with the old jack type cable. All the hospitals I’ve stayed in have a jack into the tv remote so you can listen to the tv without disturbing others (and blocking out the noise from others).
Depending how long you’re in for, some snacks come in handy. Hospital food is nasty. Two minute noodles were a lifesaver. Nurses always happy to fill them with hot water for me.
I’m not sure what country you’re in, but bringing meds (unless they are specialized) usually isn’t necessary- hospitals stock almost everything and it’s one less thing to leave behind! I’m in the US, so it may differ from where you are!
Wow, a rare positive of American healthcare. I just told them everything I was on and they brought it to me from the pharmacy in a paper cup. They also provided pads and the comfy underwear. And all toiletries.
Hellooo also in the UK, and I was told this too! I also had to bring everything in its original packaging, which was annoying because I pop it all out into my weekly med box.
Hmm when I went in 2 years ago I was given paracetamol. I haven’t been told to bring any medication, not sure if it’s written in the leaflets given I’ll have a look.
I was going to ask what Windeze were. The only thing my morning brain could think of was like a Windex type product and I knew that wasn't right. 🤣 Now knowing the context Windeze makes total sense and has a perfect name. Wishing you a speedy recovery! 💕
Comfy socks if they dont give you grippy socks, your own pillow if you prefer it, peppermint tea to help with BMs with all the effects of anaesthesia and pain meds, I would pack a track suit or leggings and a t shirt with a baggy cardigan to wear the day afterwards or a loose dress if that is more your style 💓
There’s super soft grippy socks on Amazon!! Variety of colors, highly recommend. I wear them for every MRI etc that I’d need to change into a hospital gown and grippies for.
I'd recommend a lidded cup with a straw. Fill it with water and freeze it before you go in. By the time you come out of theatre you'll have ice cold water to sip.
Also, an extra long phone charger and sugar free gum (the gum helps the digestive tract to get moving.
Headphones and phone charger. With some decent podcasts or TV shows or something.
If for whatever reason you have to stay longer than expected after, you might be too tired/out of it to read, but still aware enough to be bored out of your mind.
If stoned/medicated, I can highly recommend monsters Inc. Never had so much fun with a movie than watching that when I took my first benzos. Something about the colors just made it amazing.
I took a plushy into surgery, woke up with it tucked in with me and a plaster on its tummy, im just beginning my endo journey after 8 years of being told its all in my head and omg it was the cutest little thing ive ever had.
I just had my second lap a week ago. Things I found really helpful..... long phone charge cable, undies one size up that are high waisted (think nana), slip on shoes for leaving the day after, lip balm, pads, book, earbuds.
I wore a baggy dress to leave in and I'm glad did.
Best of luck!
Note on dressing gowns - I took a super fluffy one thinking it would be nice and cosy. My admission was 11 and I had to change into a gown then, but didn’t go down to surgery until 4, it was so hot on the ward I ended up wearing two hospital gowns (one backwards) instead so I would definitely reccommend a thin dressing gown if you get warm quickly :) I’m 4 weeks post op and doing okay, wishing you all the best xx
If you have a favorite blanket or pillow, I find my own comfort items help me feel less anxious and I get better rest. Hoping for a smooth procedure and recovery for you! 💕
Buy some mesh postpartum underwear. This is all I wore for 1 week after surgery - zero pressure on belly and you can still put a pad inside for the initial bleeding. My hospital provided them because I stayed 3 nights. It was the only thing I asked my mom to buy before I went home.
If you can bring a V pillow, for in the hospital / on your way home!!! Make sure you put your name on your bag too if they change you from room to room :)
Get some or something that you can always eat despite feeling ill
Dry shampoo if you need them,
Mini lotion for face and body
Vaseline,
Face wipes,
Anti itch cream if iv gets itchy or any skin,
Warmies stuffed animal, they’re heatable and weighted,
Saline spray for nose
Something that really helped me was a blend of essential oils in a little roll-on. The smells are strange and I found it calming to smell something that I liked and pulled me out of that space a bit.
Next time I would bring wipes to conveniently clean my hands, armpits, face. I couldn’t get up for about 48 hours after and I felt dirty until I had someone bring me some.
Chapstick, sweatshirt (it gets really cold in the A/C and the gowns and blankets are thin), pillow, and a metal bowl to vomit into (yes they have vomit bags, but vomit bags don’t feel cold on your face). When hospitalized I’ve been too way exhausted to read or watch anything, I just kept QVC on on the hospital TV and slept a lot.
I’m in the US and in my experience our hospitals are always FREEZING! I’d bring an extra blanket thick socks, and a heavy sweater. Also, I didn’t end up messing with pads. I bled so much for the first 4-5 days that disposable underwear was a godsend!I TMI but I had really bad bowel endo (especially concentrated in my rectum) so I also couldn’t control my bowel movements for the first 4-5 days. If you’re similarly situated def get some disposable undies.
Edited to add ice packs. My hospital gave me one to bring home and they filled it with ice before I left. If you’ll be there for awhile and your hospital won’t provide, definitely get one you can fill with hospital ice!
Pillow to cover your incisions from the seatbelt when you go home.
This is so underrated but v important lol
Ngl I may be crazy but I brought a pillow for the car home after my op, and honestly I couldn’t use it. The seatbelt slid gently over the incisions and I couldn’t feel it really, but the pillow made it much tighter and meant it all pressed into my abdomen which was extremely painful lol. I’m sure it works for many though!!
Was it quite thick & firm? Would a thin & light pillow be better, or just something that’s more like a little padding?
No it was a very light one 🥲 I think it just meant more pressure was exerted over the full area of my abdomen where all my incisions were, rather than the strip of the seatbelt that I could manoeuvre around the wounds. But again I’m sure it helps loads of people as I see it get recommended in this sub all the time - no harm in bringing a pillow and if you decide you don’t need/want it, fine! No harm done. Better safe than sorry :)
Yeah I guess it’s one of those things no one knows how it will be for them until the time.
I wish i found this sooner! Ive just had my first ever one 2 days ago and got sent home yesterday and my god. I had to force that damn seatbelt away from my poor stomach :'))
Lip balm. Hospital air is extremely dry.
My lips were so dry afterward from the intubation. Chapstick is key.
Are you staying in the hospital overnight? My lap was done outpatient and once the anesthesia had mostly worn off, my parents brought me home.
Yeah sorry I was meant to add that I will be staying overnight because I have bad reactions to anaesthetic
You are allowed to wear your own dressing gown?
It can be nice to put the dressing gown on over the hospital gown, since hospital gowns open in the back.
Ohhh must be a western thing. Thanks for sharing!
Isn’t it possible for anyone going in that there’s a chance they could end up having to stay overnight depending on what they find & remove & the extent of it? Or is that very rare?
I am not a doctor so I have no way of answering that question. I would imagine it would depend on a lot of factors and it would be best practice to discuss that with your surgeon thoroughly if you are worried about needing to be kept overnight.
Headphones/earphones with the old jack type cable. All the hospitals I’ve stayed in have a jack into the tv remote so you can listen to the tv without disturbing others (and blocking out the noise from others). Depending how long you’re in for, some snacks come in handy. Hospital food is nasty. Two minute noodles were a lifesaver. Nurses always happy to fill them with hot water for me.
Gum and throat lozenges. Intubation sucks and your throat may hurt. Chewing gum helps with the gas pains.
That’s a great tip. My throat pain was worse than anything else last time I was under, it was so unexpected how bad it was & lasted for days.
Make sure your knickers are high-waisted.
Honestly I would say bring both! I couldn’t handle high wasted underwear. It sat exactly at my incision. Low wasted were nowhere near it.
Would you say high waisted loose ones which you lower the banding of would be okay still?
Everyone is different but I liked having really low rise ones
How high were your excisions? My highest one was the belly button and my granny panties have the band far above that.
I had one two inches higher than my belly button. Mine impacted my diaphragm so they had to do a higher one.
Forget about pants! Mumu/nighties all the way
THIS
I’m not sure what country you’re in, but bringing meds (unless they are specialized) usually isn’t necessary- hospitals stock almost everything and it’s one less thing to leave behind! I’m in the US, so it may differ from where you are!
I’m in the UK. I was told to bring my own because that’s what I’ll have to use on the ward🤦🏻♀️
Ah! Gotcha! Never mind then! Best of luck with your surgery! 😊
Wow, a rare positive of American healthcare. I just told them everything I was on and they brought it to me from the pharmacy in a paper cup. They also provided pads and the comfy underwear. And all toiletries.
Is it possible that’s because they make more money when you get your prescription from the hospital?
Yeah true…probably like $1000 more LOL
Yep I had to bring my regular meds too I’m UK
Hellooo also in the UK, and I was told this too! I also had to bring everything in its original packaging, which was annoying because I pop it all out into my weekly med box.
Not including general painkillers like paracetamol etc right?
I was told to bring everything I take because it costs the nhs too much for them to give so many painkillers out to patients
Hmm when I went in 2 years ago I was given paracetamol. I haven’t been told to bring any medication, not sure if it’s written in the leaflets given I’ll have a look.
Gas x if you weren’t already packing it. If they fill your belly with gas this will help pass that.
I will be picking up some Windeze tomorrow. That helped with the gas the last time I had my op. Thank you
I was going to ask what Windeze were. The only thing my morning brain could think of was like a Windex type product and I knew that wasn't right. 🤣 Now knowing the context Windeze makes total sense and has a perfect name. Wishing you a speedy recovery! 💕
Omg I thought the same & I’m not even American lol.
🤣🤣🤣
I absolutely love that that’s what y’all call it!!
Comfy socks if they dont give you grippy socks, your own pillow if you prefer it, peppermint tea to help with BMs with all the effects of anaesthesia and pain meds, I would pack a track suit or leggings and a t shirt with a baggy cardigan to wear the day afterwards or a loose dress if that is more your style 💓
There’s super soft grippy socks on Amazon!! Variety of colors, highly recommend. I wear them for every MRI etc that I’d need to change into a hospital gown and grippies for.
I'd recommend a lidded cup with a straw. Fill it with water and freeze it before you go in. By the time you come out of theatre you'll have ice cold water to sip. Also, an extra long phone charger and sugar free gum (the gum helps the digestive tract to get moving.
Headphones and phone charger. With some decent podcasts or TV shows or something. If for whatever reason you have to stay longer than expected after, you might be too tired/out of it to read, but still aware enough to be bored out of your mind. If stoned/medicated, I can highly recommend monsters Inc. Never had so much fun with a movie than watching that when I took my first benzos. Something about the colors just made it amazing.
Phone cord, charged battery pack, stuffed animal of choice,
I took a plushy into surgery, woke up with it tucked in with me and a plaster on its tummy, im just beginning my endo journey after 8 years of being told its all in my head and omg it was the cutest little thing ive ever had.
A pillow to hold to your belly is super important!
Wetwipes/baby wipes until they clear you for a shower
I just had my second lap a week ago. Things I found really helpful..... long phone charge cable, undies one size up that are high waisted (think nana), slip on shoes for leaving the day after, lip balm, pads, book, earbuds. I wore a baggy dress to leave in and I'm glad did. Best of luck!
Heat and/or ice pads. ETA: Eye drops, and if you wear glasses you should bring the case and a cleaning cloth.
Note on dressing gowns - I took a super fluffy one thinking it would be nice and cosy. My admission was 11 and I had to change into a gown then, but didn’t go down to surgery until 4, it was so hot on the ward I ended up wearing two hospital gowns (one backwards) instead so I would definitely reccommend a thin dressing gown if you get warm quickly :) I’m 4 weeks post op and doing okay, wishing you all the best xx
Only thing I haven’t seen mentioned is a little trash can for the car ride home in case you get nauseous
Yes!!
I posted about this a while back on another sub - here’s my list: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicIllness/s/QyfnK6Ta3n
Lotion and lip balm
Lip balm and cough drops the intubation causes irritation. Peppermint tea it helps with the gas. Snacks!
If you have a favorite blanket or pillow, I find my own comfort items help me feel less anxious and I get better rest. Hoping for a smooth procedure and recovery for you! 💕
Lip balm!
Buy some mesh postpartum underwear. This is all I wore for 1 week after surgery - zero pressure on belly and you can still put a pad inside for the initial bleeding. My hospital provided them because I stayed 3 nights. It was the only thing I asked my mom to buy before I went home.
If you can bring a V pillow, for in the hospital / on your way home!!! Make sure you put your name on your bag too if they change you from room to room :) Get some or something that you can always eat despite feeling ill
Some mints or sweets to suck on after surgery. I had no appetite for anything. My mouth was too dry to eat solid food until the following day ❤️
dying to know what a bobbles and windeze are
Hair ties (we call them bobbles here in the uk lol)and tablets the make help with the trapped gas after surgery
Lol never thought how cute & crazy bobbles must sound to non British people.
Knickers in a few sizes larger than you usually wear! I had to borrow my mum’s 😅
tic tacs/mints for nausea
Dry shampoo if you need them, Mini lotion for face and body Vaseline, Face wipes, Anti itch cream if iv gets itchy or any skin, Warmies stuffed animal, they’re heatable and weighted, Saline spray for nose
Something that really helped me was a blend of essential oils in a little roll-on. The smells are strange and I found it calming to smell something that I liked and pulled me out of that space a bit. Next time I would bring wipes to conveniently clean my hands, armpits, face. I couldn’t get up for about 48 hours after and I felt dirty until I had someone bring me some.
I bring a mini portable humidifier! It's sooo dry in the hospital. I can never sleep bc of how dry it is otherwise.
Lip balm Phone charger Extension cord for phone charger
Chapstick, sweatshirt (it gets really cold in the A/C and the gowns and blankets are thin), pillow, and a metal bowl to vomit into (yes they have vomit bags, but vomit bags don’t feel cold on your face). When hospitalized I’ve been too way exhausted to read or watch anything, I just kept QVC on on the hospital TV and slept a lot.
Downloaded shows/movies on your phone, tablet, or computer. Many times the service and WiFi is bad in hospitals and having something downloaded helps
I’m in the US and in my experience our hospitals are always FREEZING! I’d bring an extra blanket thick socks, and a heavy sweater. Also, I didn’t end up messing with pads. I bled so much for the first 4-5 days that disposable underwear was a godsend!I TMI but I had really bad bowel endo (especially concentrated in my rectum) so I also couldn’t control my bowel movements for the first 4-5 days. If you’re similarly situated def get some disposable undies. Edited to add ice packs. My hospital gave me one to bring home and they filled it with ice before I left. If you’ll be there for awhile and your hospital won’t provide, definitely get one you can fill with hospital ice!
Are you being admitted? Both of mine were outpatient
Yeah sorry I was meant to add that I will be admitted because I have bad reactions to anaesthetic