What to Bring to the Hospital
I read through the post and people are really covering it 
. I liked my own PJ's and robe. Made me feel "less sick" LOL. Also a great pair of slippers - but make sure they are anti-slip. I took indoor shoes with insoles for comfort.
I did use the TV and my tablet - just depends. But try to be careful with valuables.
I used my cell phone for texting and to go on FB / and this site. HRRH does not have internet for patients. (sucks a bit)
The clothes you are going to wear to go home - make them nice and loose ( maybe elastic) - I was a bit swollen and they band did rub against it.
I also likes my hand / body creme - beside my chap stick. Because yes it is dry in the hospital.
ps - they will give you little 15ml cups to measure. Wash them and take them home with you / or ask the nurse for a few. I did find them very handy initially to measure and time my food intake. 
I 15 ml little cup for each 15 minutes. LOL.
And if you have questions for the NUT - write them down - they will visit you.
Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
I too had a shower before I left. My surgery was on a Wednesday and I showered on the Friday before I left. The Nurse gave me towels and washcloth and changed my dressings once I was done. I used my own body wash, shampoo and conditioner. I loved having earplugs and a sleep mask ( from the $ store) to shut out all the lights and noise for napping and sleeping. I used my own P.J.'s from the night of surgery one (stretchy loose top and bottom) and the nurse helped me into the top because of the IV. I had a stretchy pair of pants and top for the ride home along with a pillow to brace my stomach. I had my cell phone and my Kobo for entertainment. I too got a bill after the fact for a phone in the room that I didn't know was there and did not use.
on 4/7/13 8:18 am
Lots of good suggestions already.....except - EAR PLUGS. Bring a pair as they can be a lifesaver. You get to listen to your own breathing instead of other hospital noises. Another trick as well is to bring your lip balm in a sandwich baggie so it does not roll off the table onto the floor.
If you are bringing a CPAP machine with you, put the lip balm into the pocket of the CPAP bag. It goes with you to surgery, recovery room and your hospital room. When I woke up in recovery I asked the nurse to pass me the cpap bag and used the lip balm immediately.
The morning after surgery I was asked if I wanted to have a shower. I showered (assisted) and was glad that I brought my own supplies as what they had available were not what I would have wanted to use. After the shower, I was in a clean hospital gown and got body lotion rubbed into my dry skin.
Judy
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I better start packing now :) I know my iPad will come with me. It goes everywhere with me. Definitely lip balm and a robe. PJ bottoms and slippers. Toothbrush and a little soap and shampoo. May throw some earplugs in there just in case. I did ask for a private room but I may not get one.
Referral - 12/21/12, Referral Received - 1/10/13, Orientation - 1/21/13, Met Dr. Hagen - 2/20/13, NUT, RN, SW - 3/13/13, Gastroscopy - 3/13/13, Dr. Glazer - 3/21/13, Pick-up Opti - 3/21/13, PATTS - 3/21/13, Surgery - 4/16/13
I asked for a private room as well - and ended up in a 4 person room the first night - then in a 2 person room the following night. The single rooms tend to be reserved for people who need to go into quarantine and are contagious.
They will put you where they have a bed 
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
I didn't bring much, and most of what I did bring stayed packed. I went home in the same clothes I wore to the hospital. I didn't bring shampoo and such because I knew I was only going to be in for 2 days and probably wouldn't have a chance to shower - and sure enough, I didn't. Just spot-washing, and they provide the towels and soap.
I brought puzzle books that I didn't look at because I was too zonked. I did bring my smartphone, which I did use a bit. I brought a night gown that I didn't use - I just used two hospital gowns, one done up at the front, one done up at the back, and walked around in those. My roommate did bring pajama bottoms to wear with her hospital gown, though. Chapstick is a good idea. They didn't give me anything to eat or even drink the same day of surgery when I got to my room - they wouldn't even let me sip water. I thought that was weird, and I had some serious dry mouth. They put vaseline on my lips.
A music player is a good idea too - I didn't pack one though. The day of my surgery, I was so out of it that it wouldn't have been useful to me anyhow - I passed the time by being zoned out and sleeping. The next day, I spent most of my time either sleeping, or walking and sipping, and talking to my roommate or my visitors. The day after that, I was discharged in the morning.
Good luck!
P.S. Oh, one thing I forgot to pack that I could have used was slippers. I was fine without them (just put socks on), but slippers are good for strolling the halls.
Referral to registry: Oct 21, 2011 Orientation (TWH): Feb 22, 2012 Surgery: Nov 7, 2012
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