Hospital Kits

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Cross-stitch gal

Cross-stitch gal

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I have currently been putting together a Hospital kit for that someday date that I could be Hospitalized. However, I haven't included a bag or suitcase with this. I was wondering if there might be a rule of thumb as to how big of one to use depending of course on how many items you'll be bringing as well as how many days you'll be in there. Thank you for any suggestions. :)
 
It depends on what you consider necessary! I know first and foremost whenever I go to the hospital I always bring my phone charger, just in case I'll be there overnight. If I stay longer than that, then my family will bring things in for me.

I'd consider any toiletries you need (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc), possibly higher quality toilet paper, clothes (underwear, slippers, socks) and maybe a few things to entertain yourself. On my longer stays I usually ask for my laptop, but otherwise books are always good company, too.

Also, depending on how noisy your hospital is: you might want to consider earplugs, too. :p I did that with my last stay. I was in a semi-private room, but the woman I was sharing my room with had an endless stream of visitors.
 
theOcean has pretty much covered my list of hospital must haves, including ear plugs for noisy wards/fellow patients.

I always took little luxuries for longer stays such as herbal teabags and hand cream, but my best item was my eye mask for sleeping. In some wards the nurses would come in and put all the lights on before 6am and there are always lights from IV machines etc. If you like sleeping in darkness bring an eye mask! I always had a nail file too, jaggy nails are very annoying if you don't have much to distract you!

I had a hospital bag sitting ready for a lot of last year during a period of repeat hospitalisations and would use a large handbag/small holdall type bag. I'd usually run out of clothes after 3 or 4 days and would give my boyfriend a bag of laundry when he brought more in for me.

Hope you don't need the bag but good to be prepared if you think you'll have to go quickly. As theOcean mentioned, always grab your phone charger, just don't forget to take it back out the plug in the hospital wall!

x
 
Thanks:) Here is the list that a few girls and I put together. Also, as far as hospital lists go, we have an actual list in our wiki section.

Bra
Panties
Sweat Pants
T-shirt
Hoodie
Slipper Socks
Slippers
Brush
Toothbrush
Easy Dry Towel
Deodorant
Shampoo
Soap
Hand Sanitizer
Toothpaste
Shower Gel/Body Wash
Eye Glasses
Hand Cream/Lotion
Book
Nail clippers
Pads/Liners
Hand Held Mirror
Chap Stick
Phone Charger
Eye Drops
Tissues
Pillow
Ear Plugs
Cell Phone
Warm Blanket
Flushable Wipes
Laptop/ I-pad
Medication
 
Last edited:
What's a rucksack rygon? Never heard of that. Is that kind of like a backpack?

I've thought of getting a diaper bag to put away for this. Found one on clearance at work & if I can get it for 50 or 60% off along with my discount, it'd be reasonable enough of a price...
 
A rucksack is similar to a backpack, and hikers usually
have one to carry items when walking (hiking).
I keep a small airline overnight bag ready with essentials.
In your list you have glasses---are these for drinks?
Or do you mean eye glasses.
We are not allowed to bring medication, any drugs needed are provided.
A list of current drugs being taken is required.
Your list is very useful, thank you for putting it on the forum.
Hugs
Trysha
 
Thanks Trysha! I googled after posting & found out about the rucksack. Yes, I meant eye glasses. I use (or should always use) reading glasses. Never been hospitalized by experience, I'm mostly using info given from my brothers & sisters here on the forum. :hug:
 
How fortunate you are not having been in hospital.
I have had more hospital emergencies since the crohn's diagnosis than I care to admit.
Hoping to avoid them for the future.........
I did wonder about the glasses, people are so careful these days regarding infections.
However most utensils are disposable these days.
I need two pairs of eye glasses where ever I go.
The other thing friends bring are disinfectant wipes for the table and bedside desk and the bedrails and bathroom...anything that people touch..
Cleaners are not too fussy about these in my experience.
Hugs
Trysha
 
I'm in the hospital a lot. I've considered putting together a bug-out bag, but the only crucial things that I need are my phone, charger, laptop & headphones. I live 3 blocks from my hospital, and friends with spare keys live few minutes away.
However I really should start planning ahead for my surgery next month, so I'm happy for this thread. I'm terrible at packing for anything.
 
vonfunk, good luck on your surgery & please keep us updated. I have this in my medical stuff that I keep on a pen drive I use. Might be a good idea to keep a hospital list in a safe place like that so it's easily accessible if need be...
 
It's my reconnection, when I had my disembowelling I packed my duffel and had my room mate bring it to the hospital later in the day. I currently live alone so I'm not sure how I'll do it. Might have a friend swing by and bring it.
 
I grabbed a few 3oz reusable trial size bottles from work. The kind that will work for taking them on the airplanes. Then, picked up a good sized bottle of this stuff that will work for: body wash & shampoo. I got it not long after Christmas when it was put on clearance for cheap. Figured it'd last a long time and I can always either refill the bottles or have someone else refill them.
 
Cross-stitch gal said:
I grabbed a few 3oz reusable trial size bottles from work. The kind that will work for taking them on the airplanes. Then, picked up a good sized bottle of this stuff that will work for: body wash & shampoo. I got it not long after Christmas when it was put on clearance for cheap. Figured it'd last a long time and I can always either refill the bottles or have someone else refill them.
Click to expand...

Now thats a good idea! I never even thought about that
 
I have my list written down in my bag i take! So if it happens to fast to get ready i have the list for the family. So when they come home to get stuff for me its saves time! I also have sleep eye covers! For the nights when they come in for blood work and they put the big lights on. I can get back to sleep soon after. I just put my arm out. Haha! The list you guys is good, just add things that is a comfort to you for your hospital stay stuff animals who cares! I bring movies, ipad to watch movies. Positive podcast with head phones. In the hours of waiting. Take careMaria
 
Was a little unsure of starting this thread since we've got the wiki area for it. But, am thankful to hear that it's been a help for you guys! :)

I also have a label maker so I can know what's in each bottle. We've used those 3oz bottles before while on trips out of town and they've lasted us quite awhile. So, depending on how long your stay is you might not even need to have them refilled while you're in there.

I do like the idea of the list already with your stuff! That too is pretty handy!
 
I would add 2 items to this list. A hair trimmer ( used for women's moustache, stray hairs) and a deck or cards. We use the hair trimmer where they are going to place the IV tape so it doesn't hurt so much taking the tape off. We are also counting on it for D's upcoming trip for her NG tube. I figure the tape on her face And nose will hurt more if we don't remove the hair there. Cards are for fun and D got them in her Starbright bag at our second hospital trip.

For young kids or if you have little kids visiting you I suggest face stickers. A nurse friend suggested it and you put stickers on the bag you have that day and name it. D still will do it sometimes and say she is 'hangin' with her bag friend. Your kid will feel good to put stickers on your bag for you and they can name it for your friend they leave you with during your stay. Gotta stay positive!
 
This kind of list is a good idea not just for us, but for anybody really. You never know when you'll need something like this and that goes for healthy folks as well. Case in point, when my hubby had kidney stones but wasn't diagnosed yet, he had a hideous attack of pain & vomiting late one night and I had to rush him to the ER. Once he got settled into a bed and was on pain meds, he sent me home to get his kindle and ipod as it looked like he would be in there for at least a few hours while he waited for a turn in the CT scanner. If we had had some sort of list or bag, we could have been better prepared. It was just an ER visit, but even so, we were unprepared.
 
I did some adjusting of mine for my husband's. He doesn't take any medications so it's a little easier.


Underwear
Pajama Pants
Sweat Pants
T-shirt
Hoodie
Slipper Socks
Slippers
Comb
Toothbrush
Easy Dry Towel
Shampoo
Soap
Hand Sanitizer
Toothpaste
Shower Gel/Body Wash
Glasses
Hand Cream/Lotion
Book
Nail clippers
Hand Held Mirror
Chap Stick
Phone Charger
Tissues
Pillow
Ear Plugs
Cell Phone
Warm Blanket
Laptop/ I-pad
Contact Solution
Contact Cleaner
Contact Case
 
One thing that I have started including in my hospital bag is pads. Not necessarily for my period. I don't have control over my bladder. I get little warning, when I have to go if I don't find a bathroom right then and there I probably won't make it to the bathroom. So before, when I was in the hospital, whether I am a fall caution and not allowed to get up on my own or I struggled with the darn IV pole I would have an accident. So the last few times in I have worn a pad for extra security. Best decision ever.
 
Something we recently added was a pen flashlight. Since we have to keep track of all the bowel movements on a chart the little flashlight allows me to see in the dark, and not use my phone's light to see. It has made this hospital trip a little easier.
 
SupportiveMom said:
Something we recently added was a pen flashlight. Since we have to keep track of all the bowel movements on a chart the little flashlight allows me to see in the dark, and not use my phone's light to see. It has made this hospital trip a little easier.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I would have never thought of that. Could be a bit helpful if something like that were needed! Boy. Seems like after awhile of putting all this stuff in a kit we almost rather bring practically the whole house with us to the hospital!!! :ybatty:
 
My husband found the Hospital List that I had made for him. We'd been having trouble with our printer and he was looking for things to print. Got pretty confused and asked me if I knew something that he didn't. Told him that I was just playing around, which is the truth. But, at least we have one made for him. Right?
 
Here is my hospital list.. Probably pretty much the same as most others -

- PJs and a nightdress (incase of a catheter)
-Hair ties
-Underwear
-Glasses
-Book
-MP3 player
-Phone and charger
-Small sketch pad/note book and a few pencils (love sketching and doodling, you should see what morphine makes me create :p)
- folding brush with mirror in handle
-Toothbrush
-Toothpaste
-Towels
-Soap /shampoo
-Slippers
-deodorant (roller)
- jogging bottoms
- Loose t-shirt
-Mans hoodie (fits over IVs better than my normal ones)
- Asthma inhalers
-Mini pill
- Vitamins and whatever crohns meds I'm on
 
So because of this thread, I made myself a fairly simple little "go bag". I had a thought - if I have prior warning that I'm going to need to go to the hospital (like if a surgery is scheduled or whatever) then I would theoretically have ample time to pack a proper bag. But if me (or my hubby) gets suddenly ill and needs to go to the ER, a little bag with a few necessary things would suffice - if it ended up being more than just one day in the ER, whoever isn't ill could go home and pack whatever else and bring it to the hospital.

So, I just put together a little tote bag with a few necessary items. It contains:
Hand sanitizer, lotion, kleenex, lip gloss, hair ties, slippers, slipper socks, a pillowcase, a notebook, pens & pencils, a puzzle book to keep me occupied, a sleep mask... that might be it. I want to get a few more things for it, like a small hair brush, but I think that for just a quick-ish trip to the ER, a bag like that could come in very handy. I showed it to my hubby and told him we need to bring it with in the event that one of us needs to go to the ER. He thought it was a good idea.
 

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