Packing For The Hospital | Ostomy Surgery Prep | What to Bring

What to Bring

Important paperwork:
- Picture ID
- Paperwork from surgeon such as instructions and any pre-authorization numbers
- Directives or Living will copy (if not on file)
- Check hospital paperwork for exact information you’ll need to bring

What to wear?
- Non-slip slippers or socks (hospital usually has but a back up pair won’t hurt)
- A hat (crazy bed hair…)
- Depending on if you’re marked for stoma already, a pair of frequently worn pants (for waist level). underwear- bikini briefs (low waist) or high waisted.
- Elastic waist & roomy long bottoms, and button down or zipper sweat shirt or lightweight robe. When you’re attached to an IV bag, it helps.
- Dirty laundry bag

Help sleeping: hospital still get noisy and you’re constantly bombarded with people coming in to take your blood talk to you about what’s happening, cleaning folks, dietary, etc.
- Ear plugs
- Eye mask
- Lavender essential oil for fav pillow

Mental Health:
- Journal, devotional book, book, writing tablet (paper or iPad style) & fav pen (to document your journey, prepare questions for provider room visits, and create a gratitude & prayer journal).

Electronics:
- Extra long phone charger (and phone w/music access)
- Headphones / ear pods
- Portable USB battery / charger

Treats / Snacks-ish (only if cleared by doc):
- Hard candy / mints / gum
- Gatorade, Propel, Nuun electrolytes drinks/powder
- Refillable water bottle (if you want to shake Propel powder packs). Nurses will measure your intake and output.

Prescriptions:
- Current medicines in their actual pill bottles preferably. Now, they may take those to hold onto them because they have to document what they dispense. They may provide their own instead. I have seen those end up on my bills. If you don’t bring your own medicine at least have a list and that will help them - and you.

Bathing essentials:
- Your own regular bathroom toiletries or buy a small travel pack. Hospitals have provided me basics like a comb, mini toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloths, towels, and bar soap, (no floss or razors, brush in my experience). Maybe shampoo. Maybe deodorant. But I much rather prefer my own if I get the choice anyway. I stored everything in Ziploc bags.
- It’s very dry in the hospital so I would also include lip balm, face & body lotion, and hand sanitizer (that last item will likely be in the room or attached to the wall already).
- Baby wipes. great for a quick freshen up or if you don’t yet have the energy for a shower. I use with bag changes too which I did right in bed since I couldn’t walk after surgery without assistance.

For ostomates or about to be:
- If you have obtained sample wafers / pouches & prep items - bring those too. Small odor eliminating spray for the room, lubricant deodorant for pouch.

Comfort items (if you have the room):
Being in the hospital is not easy but having some comfort items does help me feel like a little bit of home is with me.
- Fav throw, pillow, stuffed animal. My nurses got familiar with my “Sneaky” my Ty beanie bear 🐆

What to carry it all in?
- Honestly, anything that I can drag is my preference.
- I would often have flowers and gifts cards that sweet friends with bring with them when they came to visit me and of course those would leave the hospital with me when I left.

The less I brought to the hospital the better, but these were my staples.

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Y’all Live Blessed!
Karah

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PRODUCTS I Use:

- [ ] #ConvaTec #Natura Moldable Wafer 411802, Natura Pouch 416418. Mini pouch info: the old number was 416408 but it was discontinued by ConvaTec for a new 6” with a filter. Unfortunately, the new product number is not legible on my samples. You can order these as sample using that old number for reference but you’ll need to call them.
- [ ] #SensiCare adhesive remover wipes & spray
- [ ] #Coloplast #Brava deodorant (for inside pouch)
- [ ] Hollister Adapt stoma powder
- [ ] 3M #Cavilon skin prep wipes & spray
- [ ] Doggie bags (from Dollar Tree) to dispose of used appliance & cleaning supplies
- [ ] Viva Signature Cloth paper towels
- [ ] #HyTape (pink)
- [ ] Huggies Natural Care baby wipes
- [ ] #Coloplast #Brava Elastic Strips; “Y” - 120721 & “C” - 120700

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CREDITS:

VIDEOLEAP by LIGHTRICKS Unlimited app: video editing & audio tracks used with permission (in order of appearance): “Corporate Office”

Canva: miscellaneous graphics, gifs & thumbnails (currently utilizing free version!)

Apple: video capture & photos (iPhone 11)

Lighting: UBeesize Ring Light Set (was a gift but was told available on Amazon :-)

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#UOAA reference guide for eating: https://www.ostomy.org/diet-nutrition/

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Link Tree has all my connections in one easy place!

https://linktr.ee/kmtucka