Re: Hospital care bag

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

Shower shoes are a good addition if you are going to shower while there. Slippers and socks are also nice, especially if they are washable slippers. A can of Lysol and Lysol wipes are good to have.

ChouChou · ‎03-13-2010

I learned a trick from Joan Rivers. I always have both in my hospital bag and my purse the small purse size spray can of Lysol. I am a retired RN and I know that when a room has to be turned over quickly sometimes the housekeeping staff gets rushed and the room doesn't get cleaned properly.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

Some of these replies are crazy. You are not going on vacation when you have a hospital stay.

Normally when you are an inpatient you're pretty sick.

Never take meds. The hospital will not let you take them. They will supply everything you need medically.

If you use a C-pap machine, you might want to take that.

The recommended items include a robe and slippers. You may or may not be able to wear your own Pj's or nightgowns depending on your medical condition. You can take bed socks, but the hospital will provide them if you forget.

A comb or brush and toothpaste and brush is needed. Make-up is not necessary and if you are truly ill, you probably won't feel like wearing it anyway.

Have a list of your Prescription drugs and supplements and a copy of your advanced directive. Also a list of your allergies.

Take your cellphone and charger, glasses and hearing aids and batteries if you wear them. A small mirror and tweezers if you have stray hairs that make you uncomfortable.

Take a copy if your insurance information and ID.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Carmie wrote:
Some of these replies are crazy. You are not going on vacation when you have a hospital stay.

Normally when you are an inpatient you're pretty sick.

Never take meds. The hospital will not let you take them. They will supply everything you need medically.

If you use a C-pap machine, you might want to take that.

The recommended items include a robe and slippers. You may or may not be able to wear your own Pj's or nightgowns depending on your medical condition. You can take bed socks, but the hospital will provide them if you forget.

A comb or brush and toothpaste and brush is needed. Make-up is not necessary and if you are truly ill, you probably won't feel like wearing it anyway.

Have a list of your Prescription drugs and supplements and a copy of your advanced directive. Also a list of your allergies.

Take your cellphone and charger, glasses and hearing aids and batteries if you wear them. A small mirror and tweezers if you have stray hairs that make you uncomfortable.

Take a copy if your insurance information and ID.

With all respect, your experience is your own. I was in intensive care for a week and took my own insulin and determined the dosage @Carmie . I wore makeup because I hate looking sick. And contrary to what you posted about "being truly sick" I preferred looking like myself, it helped the healing process.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

@Carmie wrote:
Some of these replies are crazy. You are not going on vacation when you have a hospital stay.

Normally when you are an inpatient you're pretty sick.

Never take meds. The hospital will not let you take them. They will supply everything you need medically.

If you use a C-pap machine, you might want to take that.

The recommended items include a robe and slippers. You may or may not be able to wear your own Pj's or nightgowns depending on your medical condition. You can take bed socks, but the hospital will provide them if you forget.

A comb or brush and toothpaste and brush is needed. Make-up is not necessary and if you are truly ill, you probably won't feel like wearing it anyway.

Have a list of your Prescription drugs and supplements and a copy of your advanced directive. Also a list of your allergies.

Take your cellphone and charger, glasses and hearing aids and batteries if you wear them. A small mirror and tweezers if you have stray hairs that make you uncomfortable.

Take a copy if your insurance information and ID.

Would I take a lot of what has been mentioned? No - but these are ideas and everyone is different and if there's something that would help somebody's stay be a bit more comfortable or less stressful, fine. Emotional health matters, too.

bells4me · ‎03-13-2010

Reading glasses, skein of yarn & crochet hook, chapstick, Korres body cream, eyebrow pencil.

Stray · ‎04-20-2013

The only thing I need is my phone/charger for contacts & my advanced directive/health care proxy. I’ve only had one emergency admission in my lifetime & my husband had no problem bringing other items I might need & the hospital supplied the vital necessities with no problem like a tooth brush, mouth wash & a comb. I’m

GinaV24 · ‎07-23-2010

Wow @Group 5 minus 1 how sad that someone would deride you for this. It is something that people probably don't think about until it happens to them!

I think all the suggestions from people are great. I have had an emergency bag packed ever since I had to go into the hospital w/o any warning & had to wait a couple of days for a family member to go to my house & get me things. Never again!

Toppers3 · ‎10-25-2016

@Carmie wrote:
Some of these replies are crazy. You are not going on vacation when you have a hospital stay.

Normally when you are an inpatient you're pretty sick.

Never take meds. The hospital will not let you take them. They will supply everything you need medically.

If you use a C-pap machine, you might want to take that.

The recommended items include a robe and slippers. You may or may not be able to wear your own Pj's or nightgowns depending on your medical condition. You can take bed socks, but the hospital will provide them if you forget.

A comb or brush and toothpaste and brush is needed. Make-up is not necessary and if you are truly ill, you probably won't feel like wearing it anyway.

Have a list of your Prescription drugs and supplements and a copy of your advanced directive. Also a list of your allergies.

Take your cellphone and charger, glasses and hearing aids and batteries if you wear them. A small mirror and tweezers if you have stray hairs that make you uncomfortable.

Take a copy if your insurance information and ID.

The times that I've been hospitalized have usually been through a doctor's appointment unexpectedly where I've had to go straight to the hospital for admission from the appointment.

The hospital would usually be able to supply whatever I needed in terms of toiletries. They'll give you a plastic wash basin with small toiletries in it, like toothpaste and a toothbrush, body wash, body lotion, mouthwash, etc.

They would help with washing my hair since I could not stand up to do it due to foot surgery.

When you come in, the nurses will do a thorough intake where they'll go over your medical history with you, and then a staff member from the pharmacy will come and go over your medications with you too, so that you can take them while you're hospitalized.

When I was admitted earlier this year, I asked my husband to bring a hand mirror and some sanitizing wipes and puzzle books, and to also bring my Wet brush from home and then my laptop and charging cords for my laptop and cell. phone because this last time I had to go to the hospital right from a doctor's appointment.

I tend to not be admitted that often where I keep a bag ready to go.

When I'm in the hospital, I'm normally not feeling too well and I just want to try and sleep as much as I can when I'm not being seen by doctors or nurses or having tests done, etc.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@ChouChou wrote:
I learned a trick from Joan Rivers. I always have both in my hospital bag and my purse the small purse size spray can of Lysol. I am a retired RN and I know that when a room has to be turned over quickly sometimes the housekeeping staff gets rushed and the room doesn't get cleaned properly.

That certainly doesn't happen in any hospital I've ever worked in or visited. Every hospital has an infection control department that monitors all aspects of cleanliness throughout the hospital. don't how long ago you were a nurse but it must have decades ago and not in a major hospital.