What to take.

Hi Nina,

I got some soft bras, sports style ones so that they didn't dig in when I was lying down, I also had a few pairs of pyjamas, I needed to change them twice, once when I was sick and again when my incision site leaked. I didn't need a towel, the hospital gave me one and they also had plenty gowns if I had needed one.

I would recommend lozenges as you wake with a dry throat and ear plugs as hospital is noisy, the nurses are in and out on the first night checking blood pressure, etc. Windeez for the wind and ask the hospital for meds if your bowels don't move, I waited four days to take something, that was far too long. Prune juice and orange fibre drinks helped me in the end.

lip balm and hand cream are good as your lips and hands get dry too.

I had my kindle but didn't really read, I was happy watching tv, chatting to visitors, your word search book will probably be good.

I woke up with a catheter in and was glad of it as it meant I could stay in bed, I was sleepily chatting to my husband about an hour after I was taken to the ward and I was awake and chatting to my night time visitors. I didn't have any pain, just pulling and discomfort if I moved the wrong way and I didn't have a morphine pump. I went home after two nights with ibuprofen and paracetamol.

The catheter came out the next morning painlessly then they scanned by bladder to check it emptied ok. I was also able to shower and dress on my own the morning after my op, the nurses were on hand if I needed them.

A cushion is good for holding against your belly when you get up and down and for under the seat belt on your way home.

it really was nowhere near as bad as I expected 

lots of love 

xxx

Thanks. That helps a lot. 

Dont think I could get sports bras being a size 40d ! Hehe

A cushion is something I would never have thought of. I think I’d find that quite nice anyway having something from home with me.

im thinking I won’t bother with socks though as they will be difficult to put on I think.

Hi Nina.  I had to wait for a few hours before surgery, so was glad of a book.  It passed the time and also meant I didn't have to speak to anyone if I didn't want to. I took slip-on shoes, no need to bend down to do laces.  If you have the anti-DVT stockings after the op then tight shoes or boots would be a struggle.  Some people take flip-flops to wear in the shower. I wore stretchy trackie trousers and a long Tshirt to hospital (hmmm, glamorous!), and when I got home it was that or a stretchy dress with leggings until the swollen tummy went back to normal. A friend came to visit me on the ward just after my operation and she brought me some food in case the hospital food wasn't nice. Good luck. The nurses just before the operation and when I woke up again were super-nice.

Not thought about anything in the shower. I will have my slip on shoes and my slippers for walking to the operating theatre, which I know I will have to do. 

I think hubby will be coming with me this time, will still need something to keep me occupied though as he is likely to fall asleep!!

My cushion was a God send, used it to lie on sleeping . I took lots of magazines and then passed them on to a lady opposite me. Think I was high on morphine for awhile so didn't read the book i took with me! Windeze and mints, knickers a bigger size for sure. Good luck x