What do I take to Hosp.

Hello Everyone,
I have only been in Hospital before when I had my kids. I have no clue what to take with me. Will boredom be an issure? When I had the kids I was busy with them, Now it will be just me.
SO far I have 3 nighties, 6 granny panties, 1 pair slippers, some lotion and personal care items.
Will I have the concentration to do word puzzles or should I skip this idea. My insurance has approved 3 night stay. Having TVH, possible BSO, A&P repairs (cystocelle and rectocelle) as well as enterocele (like a rectocelle but higher up and involves small intestines).
I had my tubes tied 14 years ago as outpatient and remember falling asleep and waking up again about 1000 times that day once I was home.
I am petrified of vomiting because I have GERD and erosive esophagitis with hiatal hernia. I also have aortic insufficiency with stenosis, I will need extra antibiotics for this and will probably get a yeast infection as a result......
I am NOT the healthiest 44 yr. old woman. So the potential for being quite ill after is very real............... will I be took sick or too bored?
I am a 30 year smoker and will be quitting THAT next week, am tapering this week and am hoping once I am in Hospital Sept 2, I will be free of that habbit for good!

Well Don't forget your shampoo soap and of course your slippers for walking. I did take a book but I was soooo out of it for the first day and a half I didn't do anything but sleep. TV was good enough for me. I know about the vomiting I usually do after I get put under.. But I talked to the anasteciologist and he made sure I didn't vomit. Trust me though Laughing, sneezing and coughing hurt just the same... UGH!!! But it will be all worth it when you come out on the other side with no pain... Eventually it happens.... The pain goes away little by little each day.. Almost 3 weeks post op here! And I am actually going on little day trips.

Hope this helps

Debbie

A couple of little things you might find useful:

Hard candies (I took vitamin C ones) or gum to keep your throat from getting dry

Some lip balm (no petroleum based products though) in case they don't let you drink right away

I just wore the gowns the hospital gave me and took a long sweatshirt to wear when I went walking (the gown made one and a half wraps, so it wasn't open in the back).

A little notebook with a pencil to write things down when the docs came and commented on stuff about my care

Talk to your doc when they admit you about quitting smoking. They're usually very understanding about giving you a nicotine patch or something if you get antsy and feel like you need it. But good for you for using this time to quit!

Take care!

As far as stimulating reading material, I plan to take one trashy supermarket tabloid with me. That's about as much concentration as I figure I'll be able to muster -- other than that, I'll watch TV.

If you do find yourself wanting reading material, that's always a good errand to send the visitors on -- they'll feel like they're really helping you!

I'm also not bringing nighties, but I'm bringing a lightweight robe to avoid the hospital "breeze" through the backless gown

Good luck to you!