The following things are items that I or my friends have personally tried and found to be very helpful while in the hospital to make things much more bearable and enjoyable.

* Pajamas or NIGHT CLOTHES for each day. You spend all day and night in your PJ’s and tend to sweat more in the hospital,(especially with those plastic coated mattresses,) so you can usually only wear PJ’s for one day. Also don’t go for skimpy items. I have seen patients in hospital PJ’s or other clothing made of nylon and they tend to make you perspire and become uncomfortable, when in bed for any length of time.
* BABY WIPES/ WET WIPES for cleaning up hands, face and bottoms and for overall “freshening up,” especially if you can’t shower as often as you like.
* TOOTHPASTE and MOUTHWASH – for those yucky hospital tastes from medications.
* 2 in 1 SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER – this saves time washing your hair when you feel awful.
* DRY (NO RINSE/ WATERLESS) SHAMPOO – for freshening your hair when you are unable to wash it yourself. This is a product that you apply to your hair and it cleans it, without water. With most of them you seem to apply it, comb your hair and then towel dry, or towel dry and then comb. It removes oil and dirt and gives a fresh smell. While not as good as a real hair wash, if you are unable to get out of bed or wash your hair as much as you would like, then this can be a good alternative.
* TISSUES – Some hospitals supply tissues, but I personally prefer the Aloe Vera ones, and so I take my own (the “normal” ones make my nose sore.) If you are having ANY kind of facial surgery, then I recommend the aloe ones, as they are so much softer.
* MOISTURIZER – Some hospital atmospheres can be very drying on the skin, especially if it has air conditioning or you are having bed baths. (Yep, even for the guys.)
* LOLLIES/ CANDIES TO SUCK ON – to get rid of any horrible tastes from medications, procedures or some hospital food .
* BOOKS AND/OR MAGAZINES – to fill in empty times without visitors and those long lonely nights.
* PUZZLES AND PENS/ HIGHLIGHTERS – to fill them out. Any kind or multiple kinds of puzzle books, depending on your favorites. For my shoulder surgeries I have found that word search books and a highlighter are the easiest, as the highlighter is easier to hold and use with the “wrong” hand and you can still see the letters through the highlighter to finish the puzzle.
* NAIL POLISH, LIPSTICK, COLOURED LIP GLOSS, ETC. – to pamper yourself when feeling up to it (well, maybe not for the guys )
* LIP BALM – is essential as the atmosphere in most hospitals is a bit dry and can crack you lips.
* WALKMAN/ CD PLAYER/ MP3-4 PLAYER – to help combat those boring times between visitors, at night, or when there is nothing good on TV (If you are lucky enough to have or be able to see one.)
* PERFUME/ AFTERSHAVE – this can have an amazing effect on your morale, as it can really lift your mood, to simply apply a little pleasant smell.
* CHOCOLATE – Need I Say More.
* LITTLE CHOCOLATE BARS OR OTHER TREATS – (like chocolate coated fruit and nuts, nuts, cookies, lollipops, sweets, etc.) to give to nurses and other hospital staff. It NEVER hurts to butter up the people looking after you, so simply get a bowl or bag to put them in for easy access.
* A FEW GOOD MAGAZINES AND A TV GUIDE – You know what you like. I also suggest that you take a TV Guide magazine/ pull out, so that you know what is on TV while you are in the hospital.
* PHONE/ ADDRESS BOOK/ NUMBERS – Nothing is worse than trying to remember a phone number while you are groggy, or trying to remember an address when addressing a letter. Don’t forget phone numbers of family and friends. You will need to communicate with them during your stay, especially to bring you some good food.
* A MOBILE/ CELL PHONE -so you can make long distance calls without it costing a fortune for hospital call rates. Just remember that you cannot use mobile phones in some hospitals or parts of hospitals, as they can interfere with equipment.
* A PHONE CARD – which can be used on ANY phone, ANYwhere, and the cost comes off the amount on the card. Look for one you can also refill on the card with a credit card. To use it you just dial the number on the back of the card and then the special PIN number on the card. This makes it so much easier, as you don’t have the awful hospital charges for phone calls when you are discharged from the hospital, and can still make all of the calls you like from any phone.
* A LAPTOP COMPUTER – if you are up to using one and it is “safe” to do so. If you aren’t going to be away from your room very often (you should be able to get the nurses to lock it away for you, if you ask nicely). Also you could add DVDs, Cd’s, Games, a modem and local ISP number (if you wish to access the Internet while in the hospital.)
* STATIONARY ITEMS – so that you can write to others and fill out puzzle books, menus and anything else (things like notepaper, notepad, envelopes, stamps, note cards, pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, sticky tape, pencil sharpener, eraser, string, etc. All come in very handy for the strangest of things sometimes.
* MINI FACIAL KIT – with things like cleanser, toner, moisturizer in small/ sample sizes, as they are more convenient. Giving yourself a facial, or having a friend give you one, can really make you feel a lot better about yourself and make your skin feel refreshed. Again this will depend on the reason you are in hospital. If you have or are having anything done to your face, then you won’t want this, and if you are having upper limb surgery, then you may not be able to do this yourself, but you can probably talk a friend into it.
* SPORTS DRINKS – like Gatorade/ Powerade. My massage therapist got me on to this one, as you can get headaches from being dehydrated from normal means and also from some medications. So what you do is mix ½ water with ½ sports drink, as the 1st step when you get a headache or a few times a day to prevent headaches. That is, provided of course that you are allowed to eat and drink what you like, otherwise ask the hospital staff if it is permitted. This can be hard to find in some hospital cafeterias/ shops too, so you may want to get someone to bring it to you. This really works, I got my Mum onto it while she was going through Chemotherapy, as she was getting headaches from the treatment, which was causing some dehydration as does the vomiting and this really helped her. She would actually make this up into a bottle and take it with her, when she went for her Chemo and also before and after.
* ANY SNACKS OR TREATS – that you are particularly partial to, whether naughty or good for you. Whatever you like.
* ANY SPECIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION – about you and any conditions you have. I personally take a list of ALL operations I have had in the past, (if you are having surgery they ALWAYS ask you this, and they can be hard to think of), ALL medication I take, including those I only take sometimes (generic name, actual drug number, strength and the dose you are on, as well as why you take it), ALL medical conditions that I have and how they affect me, basic information on the rare conditions I have, any dietary restrictions (so that you can talk to the dietitian at the hospital and the kitchen staff as well), any nutritional supplements you are taking currently (as they can interfere with other medications and the hospital staff really need to know if you are taking any vitamins/ minerals etc), general information (like contact details for next of kin, medical insurance details, Medicare number, Medic Alert Number (if you have one), ANY Compensation details (if appropriate) etc).
* A COUPLE OF NICE ZIP OR BUTTON FRONT TOPS – cardigans or vests, etc. so you can use these to go over your PJ’s while sitting in bed. If you get cold this can look nicer (especially if your PJ’s are a little brief or see through.)
* HOSPITAL WRAP – I have also made a “wrap” out of polar fleece, which I find even better than the zip/ button up tops, as this can be put on even if you have an IV in, without needing a nurse to unhook the bag and thread it through the sleeve of your top. This is tedious and it is too hard to take it on and off, depending on how you feel, or to slip it on one arm only and leave it over the arm with the IV in it. The pattern is VERY simple, you need some polar fleece (at least 2 meters, but more depending on how far you want it to come down the front and back and if you want to wear it sitting in bed or as a dressing gown substitute or as both, personally mine is 2.4m.) You will also need some ribbon, button or other closure to help keep it on.
Now all you do is lay the material down on a table and fold in half lengthwise, measure down halfway along the material on the folded side and mark with a pin. At the pin mark measure in 15cm from the fold again, marking with a pin. Cut in the 15cm from the first mark to the second, now cut on an angle back to the fold, then straight down the fold line to the edge (ON ONE SIDE ONLY,) leaving the piece behind the pins intact. To make the wrap shorter, trim equal amounts from the front and back. If you wish you can trim around the side and button edges, then sew a button/ toggle/ ribbon to the front. To wear simply slide it on with the “whole” piece in the back and the “split” piece in the front.
* SOME CASH AND LOOSE CHANGE – for the paper/ snack trolley that comes around in some hospitals or for the cafeteria/ store, so that you can buy some treats, magazines, the paper, etc.
* THE PHONE NUMBERS OF LOCAL FAST FOOD DELIVERY COMPANIES – (pizza, Chinese shops and the like). Most will deliver to the hospital provided you give the full name and address of the hospital, as well as your floor/ ward and room number. I have personally done this when the food was particularly nasty on that night, and if it is too much for one person then you can share with the nurses or invite a nurse to dinner to share with you.
* A TORCH/ HEAD LAMP – so that you can read without disturbing others in your room. It’s also helpful so that you can find the bathroom without having to turn the main lights on and blind yourself. Although the head lamp is GREAT also, as you don’t need one hand to hold the torch, and if having upper limb surgery you still have the other hand free.
* ANY MEDICATIONS, VITAMINS – that you normally take, even if you only take them occasionally As buying/ getting meds from the hospital if not related to your condition of admittance can be very expensive and difficult.
* ANY AIDS OR APPLIANCES – that you normally use (except those that will become obsolete for any surgery you are having), such as wrist splints, knee braces, crutches, or anything for other body parts that you need or use.
Including anything you will need post operatively if having surgery.
* A TRAVEL OR SMALL ALARM CLOCK – as for some reason most hospital rooms do NOT have clocks.
* A NICE PERFUMED BODY SPRAY – good for getting rid of hospital smells, great if you can’t bathe as often and you would like, nice to pick you up with a pretty smell and most hospitals don’t have air freshener in the toilets (PHEW) and some medications can play havoc with those bodily functions (yes even for the guys – choose a more masculine scent).
* EAR PLUGS – for that awful snorer in the next bed (if you are sharing a room), or to stop the noises of any noisy machinery in your room. For some reason some IV pumps are VERY noisy and make sleep very difficult.
* EYE MASK – in case your room mate is a late night reader or night owl, or to stop any light from the corridor as hospitals are not usually “dark” at night and the nurses patrol the ward, to see if you are asleep or need anything.
* SPARE BATTERIES – for anything you take with you, as it is inevitable that anything that uses batteries will go flat when you most need or want it, or in the middle of the night. So change the batteries just before you go in, take spares and for items that are rechargeable take the chargers for them with you (things like mobile phones, PDA’s, Some MP3 players, etc)
* A LAUNDRY BAG – so that you can give your laundry to family/ friends to wash for you, especially if you end up in the hospital longer than planned. Also, this is a great way of keeping track of how many clean sets of PJ’s/ undies etc. you have left, and also for separating dirty from clean clothes.
* A CRAFT/ HOBBY PROJECT – providing you can still do it with your injury/ surgery/ illness etc. If having upper limb surgery or an injury, then it may be very hard to do a craft/ hobby project with only one hand. Something like knitting, needlepoint, model making, etc.
* SLIPPERS (that slip on) are easier post -surgery as you won’t have to bend over to put them on, or lift your legs Bending forward can make you dizzy post-op and depending on the surgery/ illness you have, then this may not be possible anyway, but make sure they have non-slip soles.
* NICE SMELLING/ SPECIAL TOILETRIES – like shower gels, loofah gloves, body butter, and other fancy skin care items, etc.
* ZIP LOCK BAGS – are another great idea. They have 100+ uses, putting snacks away for later, storing leaking bottles,etc.
* FOOTWEAR – Any closed back, flat shoe or slipper with a non-skid sole is appropriate for the post-op period. Tennis shoes are ideal and inexpensive.
* EQUIPMENT – Any crutches, walkers, braces or other equipment you will use post-operatively should be brought on the day of admission so that they are readily available when you start therapy.
* DOCUMENTS AND PAPERWORK – Ideally, you should bring all the necessary paperwork in one folder, preferably the kind with a tie or snap closure to guarantee that important documents will not be lost. Don’t forget insurance cards, a list of all the medications you are currently taking, and a list of telephone numbers of family and friends. If you have a written power of attorney or living will, always bring those along with you too, or any form of advanced directives. Do NOT forget this, even if you are not terminally ill, as it is best if it is known before hand.
* CLOTHING – You may want to bring comfortable pajamas or lounging clothes, if you’ll be able to wear your own clothing. Bring a supply of loose-fitting underwear and comfortable socks. Short-sleeved PJ’s or Nightie tops are best to accommodate any intravenous (IV) lines you may require. A cardigan-style sweater or bed jacket can help ward off the chill. A pair of regular shoes (flat and something like sneakers is perfect in case you’re allowed to walk outside, and you’ll need them for the trip home anyway).
Sweat pants, flannel pajama bottoms and boxer shorts are great hospital clothes.
* BOXER SHORTS – For all, bring a pair (or more) of boxers to wear when you need to wear a hospital gown. No one wants their bare butt hanging out of a gown.
* JOURNAL – A pad and pen or journal is also good to have for writing things down. If you have a journal, bring it. If you don’t, this may be a good time to start one! It will allow you to write about your feelings and help reduce your stress! Notepaper/ pad is great for general writing, questions or anything else and a pen is a MUST for filling out paperwork/ menus etc.
* Sanitary Products – for some reason surgeries and such can put your menstrual cycle out of whack and having these items on hand (even just a couple to get you out of trouble, until someone can bring you in more, just in case) can make life a LOT easier. The ones that the hospital supplies are archaic – huge, bulky and uncomfortable.

These are ways that I and friends of mine have tried and have found to make life in the hospital more bearable and fun. They are also items that are essential for a hospital stay that you might not think of (like a clock, pen, ear plugs, eye mask, etc).
Article submitted by: “Shazzinoz” on the butyoudontlooksick.com message boards, Butyoudontlooksick.com ©2008