Upcoming Surgery :: What to pack in the Hospital Bag?

I have bypass surgery scheduled for 05/07 and was trying to determine what items people think would be good to take with them to the hospital. I searched and read through some of the posts.

I have heard about chapstick, slippers, and of course DVDs to watch. But what are some of the other items to pack in my "hospital bag"?

pen/notepad
bert's chapstick
zune to listen while walking / charger
mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste
deodorant
CPAP
baby wipes
slipper socks
pillow
laptop
sweatpants/shorts for ride home
earplugs

Am I missing anything crucial?

lip balm...your lips are going to be dry while you're NPO.

My experience is that you don't need much. You will feel like hell, so less is more. I didn't take anything (they have tv etc) and i have not strengh to even hold my ipad. However, I did appreciate having clean clothes (I was in for 3 days and got to shower on day 2) and i had flip flops (easy on and easy off). However chapstick was most important thing to me. Good luck!

You pretty much have everything u need on ur list, i slept most of the time, chapstick was my best friend!! Good luck to you!!!!

Ok, take as little as possible. You will be out of it most of the time and feeling crappy the rest of the time. I threw everything in a reusable grocery store bag. Even when my hubby brought the netbook I was too weak and tired to care or use it . . .I took: cpap, lip balm, several pair of clean underwear, and a tiny lotion that smelled nice and that is all.

You have to wear a hospital gown while you are there. So the clothes you wore there can be the clothes you wear home. They will give you everything else you need: soap, socks, toothbrush and all that. Plus a hospital is a germ pool so I would not even use a bag for which I cared.

Good luck to you!

 they let me put on my own gown to make me more comfortable but i was either sleeping or walking i watched a little tv in the room but not much i wore my gown,housecoat and slippers home i was very sore so it was easy to put on other than that i didnt use anything make sure you take pads if u are still able to have a period cause i started in the hospital which sucked!!

I packed a lot...even a Snuggie and pajamas.

The ONLY thing i used was : 

1) my own soap..I dont trust other people soap.
2) my own rag..
3) my own cloth/towel
4) chap stick!!
5) my phone and charger


Other than that I was too tired from pain meds or too busy walking to do anything else.

 Ohhh I see you have Dr. Chebli! That's my doctor as well! 

My surgery is scheduled for May 21st - Good question I haven't even thought of this yet. I've been googling Protein shakes so much..hahahaha 

I think I'll snag my Robe cause not a huge fan of walking around in the thin nightgown hahaha. Although I work in a hospital and people do it all the time. hahaha 

Yay congrats btw! 

Just put a second hospital gown on backwards as a robe...

Lora

After perusing topics here, I decided to take only chapstick and my phone to the hospital. The day of surgery I spent the majority of my time sleeping, sitting in a chair, and sleeping more. I used the phone briefly to check in with friends and family but didn't have the gumption to even use the internet.

On the second day I used my phone more frequently, but was discharged early in the afternoon after spending so much time walking that the IV pump battery died and refused to turn back on. There wasn't anything I regretted not having with me. I would suggest keeping it simple! The chapstick was a life-saver though, I didn't think my mouth would ever be moist again on day one!