Re: Hospital stay for Myo...what to bring?

[Guest guest]

I packed a whole bunch of stuff and then barely used any of it after

my myo last week. However, there were a few things that I found

helpful and/or essential:

- slippers (comfortable so that it's easier walk around when the

time comes)

- earplugs (in case you get a " whiner " next to you complaining about

the food and her doctor, assuming you don't have a private room)

- light weight magazines (to pass the time - oh, I mean light weight

in the sense that they aren't too heavy to pick up - I had a thick

copy of In Style that I couldn't read too well with only one hand

because the other has the IV)

- throat drops (because the tubes give most people sore throats)

- wish I'd brought a long nightgown to wear home. tho the hospital

let me keep my hospital gown, it would have been nice to wear

something of my own

- if you want a newspaper bring a few bucks to buy them when they

come around to your room

- wish that I had an iPod to listen to music. some like to have

something to relax themselves pre-surgery too, tho it wasn't

necessary in my case.

- cheerful, can-do attitude (the nurses are more helpful to those

who are nicer to them. Do what they say and not only will you win

them over but you'll likely get out sooner. Most know what it takes

to get better so listen to them.)

> Hi Everyone,

> I'm having my myo in 21 days and I wanted to know if some of you

can

> clue me in on what items did you bring w/you to the hospital to

make

> the days go by pleasantly??? I've never stayed in a hospital nor

> have had surgery before. If anyone can give me a list as to what

> worked for them... it'd be great!

>

> Thanks,

> Shaunah

[Guest guest]

One thing I learned from my hospital stay when my daughter was born is that if

you don't expect to be there long, you shouldn't pack as if you're going to be

there a while. You'll just annoy yourself when you have to schlepp all the

unused stuff around

Here's what I used during my myomectomy stay:

bathrobe

walkman

novel

hair brush

toothbrush/toothpaste

anacrostic puzzles

going-home clothes

phone numbers of friends/family to call

And here's stuff I brought but didn't use:

slippers (the hospital provided some)

lip balm

cross-stitch project

blow dryer (I waited until I got home to take a shower)

Cheryl

> Hi Everyone,

> I'm having my myo in 21 days and I wanted to know if some of you

can

> clue me in on what items did you bring w/you to the hospital to

make

> the days go by pleasantly??? I've never stayed in a hospital nor

> have had surgery before. If anyone can give me a list as to what

> worked for them... it'd be great!

[Guest guest]

do you feel anything during the surgery...I am scheduled for a myo 5/19..and im

getting nervous by the minute...all I need to know is will I feel anything

[Guest guest]

Firstly, good luck to everyone about to go into hospital in the not

too distant future. Many people having surgery find it was much

easier than they were expecting. Ask the nurse how to lessen your

chances of being one of the unlucky ones that has nausea, or how to

lessen it if you do get it. Try to avoid using your 'stomach

muscles' too much and you'll be more comfortable. If you are OK with

your pain killer, press the pca button just before getting out of

bed for the first time. With surgery, you'll be feeling better and

stronger every day. Don't rush the recovery, don't try to push, pull

or lift anything heavy during your recovery. Oh...and in hospital,

after the op, helping circulation in the legs a little is a good

idea.

What to take:

See posts:

46686 (mentions other post mumbers to look up as well)

48673

48657

Aztek

p.s: After the operation in hospital, if your gynaecologist visits

you, above all else, ask them if you can contact them when you are

out of hospital directly and how to do so. Say, in the event you

have questions that the GP isn't able to answer. (Gynaecologist

p.a.'s may prove more of an obstacle than a help). Out of hospital

and x weeks after recovery you'll have a clearer idea of what you

need to ask and can't find an answer to anywhere else.

[Guest guest]

When I saw my anesthesiologist before my myomectomy, she said she'd give me pain

medication both during and after the surgery.

Cheryl

sonya jennings sljcsu@...> wrote:

> do you feel anything during the surgery...I am scheduled for a myo 5/19..and

> im getting nervous by the minute...all I need to know is will I feel anything

[Guest guest]

Nope - you don't feel a thing and the best part is you'll be on the road to

recovery as soon as it's over. No more waiting and worrying! Treat yourself to

a nice massage to relax you before you go.

sonya jennings sljcsu@...> wrote:do you feel anything during the

surgery...I am scheduled for a myo 5/19..and im getting nervous by the

minute...all I need to know is will I feel anything

[Guest guest]

Adding my two cents (BTW, there are many versions of lists of things

to take to the hospital on this site if you do a search):

> > Hi Everyone,

> > I'm having my myo in 21 days and I wanted to know if some of you

> can

> > clue me in on what items did you bring w/you to the hospital to

> make

> > the days go by pleasantly??? I've never stayed in a hospital nor

> > have had surgery before. If anyone can give me a list as to what

> > worked for them... it'd be great!

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Shaunah

[Guest guest]

I too brought more than I needed.

The things I found invaluable were:

- My Walkman. Not only to block out hospital noise (it's amazing how

noisy nurses are at 2am!) but to help me relax and forget the pain.

- A light robe - remember, those hospital gowns don't close in the

back!

- my chapstick - the forced air in the hospital made my lips dry all

the time.

Good luck to those having surgery soon!

(7 weeks post myo!)

> Hi Everyone,

> I'm having my myo in 21 days and I wanted to know if some of you

can

> clue me in on what items did you bring w/you to the hospital to

make

> the days go by pleasantly??? I've never stayed in a hospital nor

> have had surgery before. If anyone can give me a list as to what

> worked for them... it'd be great!

>

> Thanks,

> Shaunah

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the lists of stuff to bring and not bring. I had

already decided not to stress about the surgery but about taking

care of myself during my recovery period.

I am having an abdominal myomectomy on an intramural fibroid on June

8.

I was wondering if you have advice on what to have ready for when I

come home. I'll be in the hospital 2-3 days. Do you think I'll be

up to going upstairs on the third day, or should I set up a bed

downstairs? I had a laparoscopy done last year, and it was hard to

wear slacks, because of the belly button incision. Are slacks a

problem with the incision being down low? Do I want to wear dresses

or are slacks ok? Were you basically able to care for yourself

after 2-3 days? (Not cooking & cleaning, but getting a drink, going

to the washroom, getting in and out of bed or a chair, etc.?) I

think I've combined the worst of all my recent disabilities into my

fears. I am guessing that I'll be much more useful to myself now

than when I was on crutches with a broken foot.

[Guest guest]

Before your surgery, it's best to do get the house cleaning, laundry, and

grocery shopping out of the way.

I had to climb stairs when I got home from my myomectomy, too. Our garage

is on the ground floor, and I climbed two flights of stairs (12 stairs) to

get to the floor that our kitchen and bedrooms are on. My doctor said it's

OK to climb stairs; you just have to take it slowly. It will be painful at

first, but you won't be injuring anything. Just take it at your own pace.

I wore sweatpants with a drawstring on the ride home from the hospital, and

then I lounged around at home in nightgowns for a few days. My bikini-cut

incision was about 6 inches long, and my doctor put Steri-Strips over it.

He gave me a few long, rectangular, cushy, non-adhesive bandages that I

could place over the incision before I put my underwear on, in case I was

anxious about having my underwear rub against the incision. I wore those

bandages for a day or two, and then I was fine without them. As it turns

out, the way my underwear fit, I didn't have to worry about them rubbing

against my incision anyway. When I went back to wearing clothes during the

day, I wore sweatpants and pants with drawstrings.

My husband stayed home for the week after my myo in case I needed help, but

I think I would have been fine without him. I could get drinks, make my

meals, and get around the house just fine. I also could go to the washroom,

get in and out of a bed and chair, and all that other good stuff without

any help. I just had to do some things more slowly and carefully than

usual. The biggest challenge is that you'll be more tired than usual.

Cheryl

wrote:

> I was wondering if you have advice on what to have ready for when I

> come home.

> Do you think I'll be

> up to going upstairs on the third day, or should I set up a bed

> downstairs?

> Are slacks a problem with the incision being down low?

> Were you basically able to care for yourself

> after 2-3 days? (Not cooking & cleaning, but getting a drink, going

> to the washroom, getting in and out of bed or a chair, etc.?)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Just take the bland food recommendation upon release from hosp

seriously..My idea of bland is " not texmex " eats and I had some big

trouble with the tummy after pizza and who knew roast beef wasn't

bland.

Had no trouble with stairs or pants and did my own laundry day 1 of

being home and so far no one has yet to boil an egg for me. I had to

cook for the sister who came to care for me! Don't carry anmything

heavy

You'll be fine.

If the pants hurt go for sweats or whatever is comfortable..

Best wishes, jan G

> Thank you for the lists of stuff to bring and not bring. I had

> already decided not to stress about the surgery but about taking

> care of myself during my recovery period.

>

> I am having an abdominal myomectomy on an intramural fibroid on

June

> 8.

>

> I was wondering if you have advice on what to have ready for when I

> come home. I'll be in the hospital 2-3 days. Do you think I'll be

> up to going upstairs on the third day, or should I set up a bed

> downstairs? I had a laparoscopy done last year, and it was hard to

> wear slacks, because of the belly button incision. Are slacks a

> problem with the incision being down low? Do I want to wear

dresses

> or are slacks ok? Were you basically able to care for yourself

> after 2-3 days? (Not cooking & cleaning, but getting a drink,

going

> to the washroom, getting in and out of bed or a chair, etc.?) I

> think I've combined the worst of all my recent disabilities into my

> fears. I am guessing that I'll be much more useful to myself now

> than when I was on crutches with a broken foot.